Luke 8:4-8 - The Parable of the Sower.

In Luke 8:4-8, Jesus tells a parable about a farmer, sowing a field. Obviously there wasn't any mechanisation in the time of Christ, so the sowing had to be done by hand. Because of this, not all the seed landed where the farmer wanted it. In this parable Jesus describes 4 different circumstances in which a seed may find itself: (1) on a path, (2) on rocky ground with shallow soil, (3) among thorns, and (4) in good, furtile soil. The seed that landed on the path was picked up and eaten by the birds. The seed that landed on the rocky ground germinated quickly but soon shriveled up in the heat of the day. The seed that landed among the thorns also germinated and began to grow, but was soon choked by the surrounding thorns. But the seed that landed in the good soil, grew up to maturity and produced a bumper crop. Later on in the chapter, Jesus interprets the parable (vv. 11-15): the seed that landed on the path represents a person who hears the word of God but allows Satan to snatch it away, stopping them from believing. The seed that landed on the rocky ground represents a person who accepts the word of God with joy and enthusiasm, but quickly loses interest and crumbles under the pressure of life. The seed that landed among the thorns represents a person who also receives the word of God with joy and enthusiasm, but then gets distracted and choked by the pursuit of money and pleasure. The seed that landed in good soil represents a person who hears the word of God, retains it, and then produces fruit. Many interpreters have debated about which of these people are truly saved. Most agree those represented by the seed in the good soil are truly saved, while those represented by the seed on the path are not, but there is no consensus concerning the other cases. However, to ask such questions is to miss the point of the parable. The point of the parable is how different people respond to the word of God. Jesus did not tell the parable in order to teach who is and isn't truly saved. As with all His parables, Jesus told it to provoke a response. He wanted his audience to ask themselves: "Which seed represents me?" Now may be a good time to ask yourself that same question...