This is one of the few parables that Jesus actually explains in the bible, and probably one of the better known parables. As with all parables, however, there are several things about it that may not appear at first reading.

"Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop1. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred." And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Mark 4:3-9 NKJV

Now, this is frequently translated as being about conversion of new believers. Some will hear, and will ignore the word because it is stolen from them by Satan; some convert quickly, but fall away when persecution occurs; some convert but fall away due to cares or deceit of wealth, a very interesting expression; but some converts, become good Christians, and lead to others being converted. This is indeed a possible application of this parable, however Paul, writing to Timothy, says "all scripture...is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness," (2 Tim 3:16 NKJV). This parable holds much more than just a formula for counting conversions; and, let's face it, how many of us have converted another 10 people, let alone the minimum 30?

So, if this parable is not about conversion, what is it about? Well, as James knew, the scripture is important for our entire Christian walk. He says "...receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21). So, we are to receive the implanted word throughout our walk. This is what this parable is all about, people receiving the word; so, how do we understand what this parable is saying.
Understanding parables

My first approach to dealing with parables is to say what they are about. Well, in this case we have a translation given for us by Jesus, who explained the parable thus.

"The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside, where the word is sown. And when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have not root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation of persecution arises for the world's sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit; some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred." Mark 4:14-20 NKJV

From this description, we see that the parable is about the word. What word? The word of God. OK, so we know that the seed is the word of God, so what happens to the seed in the parable - it enters into four different types of soil. Jesus said the types of soil were people, so the parable must be about the four different ways people react to the word of God when they hear it. You can use this method to begin to understand all the other parables if you have any difficulties. Remember, however, the thing about parables is that they are a bit like an onion, just when you thought you understand them, along comes someone and explains that they are so much more than that. It is just the same with this parable.

This parable is then about four ways of reacting to what James called the implanted word. So, what are these ways, and how do they affect us.

The wayside ground

The first type of reaction mentioned is that of the wayside, or roadway. Here the seed landed, but was quickly snatched up by the birds of the air. It happens when you read your bible, and put it down, and then you can't remember a thing that you read. Possibly you sit in church on Sunday, listen to the sermon, then go away and forget what was preached. This wayside reaction is something we all do. James got it perfect when he said "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." (James 1:23 NKJV)

This is, in fact, the key to the wayside reaction. When we read the bible, what is our attitude towards what we are reading: are we reading a nice story, or some soap opera; are we doing it out of duty; or are we seeking to find God's will for our lives, to put it into action? So, if we are serious about reading the word, or alternatively listening to the sermon, we will be active in our listening to what the word is saying to us. We may ask ourselves "How can I apply this to me now?" Or "What does that mean?" We may discuss what we read or hear with someone else. But we will actively do something about it. In doing this, we give Satan no opportunity to come and steal God's word from our hearts.

If you think of a road way, it does not have much soil on it. And what it does have has probably been scuffed by many different people. Thus if we are not doers of the word, we are shallow in our hearts, and will not bear fruit. If, however, we determine to be doers of the word, our attitude towards the word changes, and we are then able to receive the word into our heart.

The stony ground

The soil is a representation of a person, Jesus told us that one. So what about the stony person - what do the rocks represent. The rocks are the things in our lives that stop us from doing the word, the really big stuff. They hold us back from where God wants us to be. They need to be dug up and removed. The reaction of a person with a rock heart is to receive the word, act on it, but as soon as things get difficult, stop and go back to the old ways. This is a reaction which many of us have. We hear what God is saying, start to do something about it, but then find it causes problems which we didn't think of at first. Perhaps we find it means we have to act differently at work, and our colleagues might not understand. Perhaps it means we have to act differently at home. Perhaps it is simply that it doesn't fit into our lifestyle choice.

Jesus explained it thus "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he had enough to finish it - lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?" (Luke 14:28-31 NKJV). This stony soil is the person who does not consider beforehand exactly what doing the word of God will entail. He has not considered that it will mean giving up his favourite hobby for a week or two, so when he comes to the point where he has to give up his hobby, he is in a quandary, and fails to carry through his intentions.
Jesus says that we must count the cost of being a disciple before we start on the road. He wants us to follow him, to obey the bible, to do what the preacher taught, after we have thought it out. God does not want automatons, who follow his word like lemmings, he wants sons, who obey after they have taken into account everything. So, what happens if we find that we have difficulties that stop us from doing the word of God - then take them to God, and pray about it? At least then we are doing something about it, rather than ignoring the word. This is the situation which Paul talks about in Philippians 2:12-13. "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

Being saved is a two person process. Did you know that God cannot save you unless you let him. He has bound himself over when he made free will. He will not interfere with the way you choose for your life. Even Paul had the ability to say to Jesus "Ok, I see the light, I hear the words, but I'm not going to do what you want." And I am sure you are aware that you cannot be saved without God. God and you must work together, always with God in the drivers seat, for your salvation to come to full fruition. Therefore by taking the big things in your life to God, and asking him for help, then you are working out your salvation, so that God can work in you. And if you do find yourself in the situation where you want to follow God, but you are concerned how your colleagues are going to take it, remember what Jesus said "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Mark 8:38.

Paul himself knew what it was to have big things in his life that were a stumbling block. In Romans 7:15 he says "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do". He goes on to show that sin lives in all of us, and we all have to struggle with it - so don't worry if you find you are having a lot of problems with the big things in your life, Paul went through it too, and he turned out ok.

The crowded ground

What happens here - well the seed gets in the ground, it even starts to grow and put out roots. But then it gets to be a battle between the seed and other things growing in the heart, and the seed does not always win. So, what are the other things growing - "the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things". A picture might be someone who was told to give £200 in the collection one week. He sits down to write the cheque, but then suddenly he thinks, "What about my mortgage? Will I be able to pay if I give all this money." So he does some sums, and works out he can give £150. So he is beginning to write the cheque for this amount, when he suddenly thinks "What about my holiday this year. If I give all this money, I will not be able to go to where I normally go." So he does some more sums, and decides he can give £100. Then as he begins to write, another thought comes to him "My neighbours have just bought a new car, and I was going to save up to buy one too. I won't be able to do that if I don't economise now." Before long, he has got the amount down to under what he normally puts in. This man heard the word, started to do it, but allowed other things to come between him and completing the word.

What would have happened if Paul had turned round to Jesus and said, "I know that you are Lord, and it is important to follow you, but what will the other Jews think?" Or if David had decided it was more important to keep himself alive than obey the word of God and attack Goliath?
It may be that you have volunteered to mow the grass around the church each week. The first week you come along and mow it fine. The next week you are having your children over for a meal, so you can leave it for a bit - you can always mow it next week. The next week there is this really good program on the television you have waited for all week - the grass will still be there next week. Then you find that you need to weed your own garden. The next week you have to attend the opening of your garage door. Slowly, bit by bit, the thing you were eager to do slips down your priorities list until it disappears.

If we are faithful to God in doing his word, he will certainly work out the logistical problems, he will provide funds to pay for anything we need, and as far as what other people think - surely we should be more concerned with what God thinks.

So, we have looked at three types of hearts, and seen a process of preparation of soil. Firstly, we have to be prepared to be doers, by this we move from the roadside to the field, and gain a depth of heart. Then we start to consider what we have to change in order to do the word, and in discussion with God, get our the big things, the rocks in our lives, dug up and dealt with. Then we start to grapple with our cares, and concerns, and at this point we are weeded. If we go through the process of these three grounds, where will we end up.

The fruitful ground

This is the good ground, which produced fruit. And the fruit it produces is not measured by small amounts, but by thirties, sixties and hundreds. If we allow God to plough us, dig up our big problems, and weed out our cares and worries, we will bear fruit, this parable promises that. That is a process that we will go through many times in our lives, over many different things. It's not a one time process - any farmer will tell you that you have to sow seed every year in a field. Christianity is an ongoing process. But this parable gives us a promise that we will produce fruit through this process, perhaps thirty times, perhaps sixty, and perhaps a hundred.

He who has ears, let him hear.