The parable of the sower is given in verses 3-9 of St. Mathew 13. Jesus Himself gives the explanation (v. 19-23). Through this parable Jesus taught that in the field (the world) the see (God’s words) may not produce the same yield. The quantity of the yield often depends on the soil.

God’s word is sown among the people in this world. When a sower sows the seeds, some may fall by the way side, some on the rocks or among the thorns. Similarly the people who hear the words of God are of four kinds.

1. Those who do not study or think about the words they have heard. Satan may take away the words from them. These words will not be fruitful in them.
2. Those who accept the word with pleasure on hearing may not be fruitful because they are destroyed in the face of stress or strain.
3. Those who accept the words happily may make them useless when they are concerned with the worries of the world and the desire for wealth. Those who listen to the word, understand it and love according to it, produce fruit. They may produce the yield up to thirty, sixty or hundred fold.

All do not attain growth in the same level. By the results we can find out to which group we belong. For the fruitful Christian life, Bible reading and attending Sunday School classes are not enough. We should understand the word of God and live according to it. "Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard lest we drift away from it" (Hebrews 2:1).

Memorization: (Galatians 5:22-23)
"But the fruit of Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control."

Questions:

1. What is the lesson taught by Jesus through the parable of the sower?
2. How do the words, which we hear become useless?