“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, ”He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”… Then Jesus said to them, ”Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.” (Mark 4:3-20)
The four soils represent four kinds of people and the effect that the message of Christ has on them. This is obviously a very important parable. We might even say that it is foundational to understanding all of the other parables about the Kingdom of God. Jesus said if we don’t understand this parable, then how will we understand any other parable? So he explained it to his disciples so that they would understand.
The first soil is hard and unreceptive. The seed never penetrates the hard exterior, and so the seed is wasted and unproductive on this person. We have all met people like this, who never pay any attention to the Word of God, and probably don’t even hear what you are saying when you tell them about Jesus.
The second soil is shallow and rocky, and the roots are unable to go very deep. Any growth that takes place is quickly destroyed by hard times or persecution. Perhaps they saw receiving Christ as a way to make life better, and troubles and persecution were not part of their plan. Jesus is great when life is good, but when things get tough they turn away.
The third soil is full of thorns and weeds. This person is interested in Christ, and has some spiritual growth, but they are more concerned with the things of this world than with the things of God. They are committed to a life of comfort not service. Worry, wealth, and earthly desires choke out the Word of God in their life, making it impossible for these people to produce any fruit.
The fourth soil is good soil. It is broken and fertilized soil, free of rocks and weeds, and is soft and easy for the Word of God to grow in. These people produce a harvest, of thirty, sixty, and even one hundred times over.
If we look at scripture, we are able to find some clues as to where to find the good soil. The broken and fertilized soil that is ready for the seed to be planted.
The most obvious place to find good soil is where there is plenty of fertilizer. Jesus said “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Jesus hung out with sinners and prostitutes. He knew that the “good people” (righteous) do not realize their need for a savior, but sinners are fertilized soil that is ready to receive the Word of God.
Brokenness is another important key element in good soil. People who are broken need to be healed. This could be sick people, poor people, un-loved and un-wanted people, lonely people, people who are excluded or discriminated against, outcasts, uneducated, powerless, oppressed, defeated, and all around damaged people. These people are yearning for hope. These people need love. These people welcome the Gospel with open arms. The soil is already tilled, the ground is broken, the dirt is soft, and free of weeds. These are the people that Jesus went to, and these are the people that we should be going to also.
The Bible also gives us direction about where the bad soil can be found, so that we don’t waste our seed on the wrong people. These are the places where we are not as likely to find good soil.
Intellectuals and people of power or influence make bad soil for the Gospel, as do people who see themselves as “good people.” It is also very unlikely for good soil to be found among the wealthy and successful of this world. The people who have the desires of their heart are unable to desire the things of God. Remember the story of the “Rich Young Ruler”? This man is the embodiment of all of these things. He was educated, was considered righteous according to the Law, and he was wealthy. Jesus told him how to become good soil, but the man went away sad. The Pharisees are another good example of bad soil. They were righteous, educated, and influential people in society.
It is not that smart, moral, wealthy, and influential people cannot come to Christ and bear fruit; it is just less likely that they will. Not many of these people are receptive to the Gospel. Yet some will be.
It is interesting to note that most of our modern “church planting” attempts are geared toward the bad soil. Church planters target the upper-middle-class americans living in the suburbs.
If we want to see lives transformed by the Word of God, then we need to go where the good soil can be found, and leave the rocky, shallow, thorny soil alone. We have thousands of planters scattering seed on bad soil, and very few planters actually planting in the good soil.
There are so many fields of good soil that are ready to receive the Gospel, and so few people who are willing to take it to them.
Here are a few scriptures to consider about Good Soil:
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.” (Matt 4:23-24)
“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” (Matt 11:4)
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners’.” (Matt 11:19)
“Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” (Matt 21:31)
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matt 25:40)
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. ”Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.” (Luke 6:20-23)
“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:12-14)
“Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” (James 2:5)
Here are a few scriptures to consider about bad soil:
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:21)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 7:21)
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 19:23)
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.” (Luke 6:24-26)
“The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.” (Luke 16:14)
“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” (John 12:42-43)
“But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?” (James 2:6-7)
“So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:16-17)