OCTOBER 27, 2026 – THE SOWER

READ: Luke 8:1-15: … He who has ears to hear, let him hear …

Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God everywhere: God is King. When He is acknowledged by people, they will direct their lives toward this King, obey Him, and be ruled by Him. Such a person is completely delivered from every other dominion and may receive eternal life.

In addition to the twelve disciples, a number of women now follow Him with loving devotion. But the response of the great multitude varies greatly. Jesus now indicates in a parable the reason for this difference. He then explains it specifically to His disciples.

The parable is very vivid because it concerns a familiar scene: a farmer sowing wheat or other kinds of grain in his field. As the seed is scattered, the grains fall on different kinds of soil. Three of them prove insufficient.

On the hard path, the seed is trampled and picked up by birds. On rocky ground there is only a thin layer of soil: the seed springs up quickly, but because it develops no roots, it soon withers. And the seed that falls among thorns is eventually choked after some growth. But there is also fertile soil, where the plant grows well and produces fruit. .

There is an increasing development in the four kinds of soil mentioned. Ultimately, only the good soil is suitable for the seed. Jesus now says: let everyone take this to heart carefully (v.8)!

The disciples ask for an explanation. The seed is the Word of God as Jesus is now proclaiming it. Trampled or picked away: the Word encounters hard hearts or people who consider themselves too good to examine themselves in the light of what they hear. Rocky ground refers to people, who, after hearing, initially show great enthusiasm, but what has been heard does not take root; when they are tested, they lose their faith. Among the thorns refers to people who show a beginning of faith, but earthly worries or earthly pleasures gradually gain control over them, so that ultimately they also lose their faith.

Over against all these failures stands the good soil: there the Word is received, held fast with perseverance, and bears fruit as a blessing from God.

Can you do anything yourself about your own ‘soil’?

Sing: Ps. 16:1