The Parables of The Kingdom -- The Sower

Painting of The Sower

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and was seated by the lake. A great crowd of people gathered around him, so he got into a boat while the people listened to him on the shore. He taught them many things in parables saying,"A man went out to sow seed in the earth. While he did so, some seeds were dropped by the wayside, and the birds came and ate them for food. Some of the seed fell among the stones, where it had not much soil, and immediately it grew because the earth was not deep. But when the sun was high, it was burned. Since it had no root, it dried up and died. Some seeds fell among thorns. The thorns grew, but they had no room to grow. Others, falling on good soil, bore fruit, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty as much. He who has ears, let him hear.....

Listen, then, to the story of the man who sowed the seed in the soil. When the news of the Kingdom is preached to someone, and he does not understand, the Evil One comes to quickly steal that which was put in his heart. He is the seed dropped by the wayside. The seed which fell on the stones is he who hearing the word, immediately receives it with joy. But having no root in himself, he lasts only for a time. When trouble or pain comes because of the word, he quickly becomes full of doubts. That which was dropped among the thorns is he who has the word, but the cares of this life, and the deceits of wealth, stunt the growth of the word and it bears no fruit. The seed which was sown in good soil is he who hears the word and understands it. He bears fruit, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times as much."

Kingdom of God
Van Gogh's Paintings