Parable of the Soils
And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:3-9
This is a popular text and there’s a lot to get out of it about various responses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The main point of this parable is certainly how the soil (people’s hearts) may not be receptive to the news that Jesus died for our sins and we can have a new, righteous, eternal life in him. He explains it more explicitly to his disciples just a few verses on.
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.
Matthew 13:19-23
Many sermons have been preached on this parable and with Jesus explaining it so well in the text it’s pretty easy for most Christians to understand what is being said today.
Gospels for the Wrong Soil
However, not to be deterred by bad soil, some enterprising people have taken it upon themselves to create a new seed which will fair better in the arid wastes of sinners hearts. Armed with the belief that all people are capable of a good response to the gospel regardless of regeneration, some have become convicted that the problem isn’t so much with the soil as it is with the seed! If it were a bit more hardy or less appealing to the birds, maybe the seeds wouldn’t be wasted regardless of where they fall.
A Gospel for the Birds
At first glance, we may think this seed would be the most easy to spot. A seed that Satan doesn’t desire to snatch away? That would be the most obviously sinister false gospel of them all, right? Sinister? Yes. Obvious? Not at all.
We should consider more at the first part of the issue: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it”. In 1 Corinthians 1:23, we’re told how the gospel seems as foolishness to the gentiles. The faith doesn’t make sense to those who are living for the things of this world.
This false teaching is born from the desire to recognize more of the worldly “wisdom” of our time. By removing the parts of the gospel which run so contrary to the wisdom of the age and inserting more contemporary beliefs, some determined evangelists have endeavored to create a “kind of” gospel which doesn’t sound quite so foolish to those who are perishing.
The reason it is so insidious is because it sounds like a combination of the gospel we know with the worldly teachings we also know. The easiest way to spot this particular counterfeit is to realize the gospel of Christ has been taught by the church since the resurrection. While there is plenty we have yet, as a church, to fully understand, if what we are suddenly considering is how the historical gospel needs to incorporate more of the doctrines of our present time to be less repugnant to our contemporaries it is certainly not because the world just happened to “figure out” a part of the gospel better than the church.
When you find a teaching which would play better to those who you know reject God and would find more resistance among the church, it’s a gospel for the birds.
The Shallow Roots
Sometimes people actually do find something in the gospel that appeals to them. How many of us haven’t made enough mistakes that we’re longing for a new life? Wouldn’t it be great to have God in our corner?! The fellowship of believers is one where people actually care for one another. Better than any club! Eternal life anyone?
There are many blessings that come with the gospel. Some which are not promised anywhere else. However, there are also truths that many would find difficult to bear. What is all of this stuff about dying to self? Why is my unbelieving grandma heading for a burning pit? Most people aren’t really that sinful, are we? Friendship with the world is enmity with God?
What if we just read off the “pros” column and left the “cons” for later (if ever)? After all, gospel means good news right? Is Gehenna really the article you’d expect to be front page on the “Happy Times” newspaper? Maybe we don’t need to tell people about the harassment most believers face for their faith. Certainly, we don’t need to tell them about the violent persecution Christians experience around the world. What about that same persecution spreading even into Europe and other historically Christian places under communism?
There are two main problems with this approach. First, the good news cannot be fully appreciated without understanding just how much we need it. While we may never fully understand our depravity, we must at least recognize that we not only make mistakes but are, in our very natures, sinful in order to fully understand the importance of justification. We must understand how that sin causes suffering to understand why eternal life would be torture without sin’s destruction.
Second is what is addressed in the parable of the soil, and more explicitly in verses like this:
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:62
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
Luke 14:26-30
Following Christ is absolutely worth it. However, it will never be easy. Hiding that from people isn’t a solution to this problem. In fact, it only makes it worse, because the fall will be that much harder and we did nothing to prepare people for that if we’re preaching a happy, feel good version.
The Wrong Riches
What about those who we can tell like the sound of eternal life, aren’t afraid of a bit of persecution, but want to make sure their bottom line is going to improve? After all, there are plenty of examples of men like Abraham and Job in scripture who, because they faithfully followed God, they became extremely wealthy. David even was made king! Surely, the gospel promises riches for those who would follow Christ right?
It does! However, that richness is laid up in heaven. In order to obtain those riches, we don’t need to be poor in this life, but we need to be willing to be so or we’ll miss it!
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Mark 10:21-22
Is it really necessary to have such a low view of material wealth in this life?
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
A gospel which appeals to our desire for earthly wealth is one which misses the point. When someone is telling you how faith in Jesus Christ will lead you to material prosperity and temporal health, they’re advocating for the very weeds which would destroy actual faith!
The Truth Sets Us Free
Instead of a message which appeals to the very desires in us which are killing us, the gospel appeals to the spiritual desires God creates in those whom he is saving. Those who are perishing will find it repulsive, but that’s not a problem with the message! It’s the only one that can save. For a more direct treatment of the seed which grows in good soil, it can be found here.
Any modification designed to “work” with the soil on the path or full of rocks or weeds is a message that has not meaning or lasting power. They may fill a building for a time but like all lies, they only have power over those who believe them and ultimately lead to ruin.
