One of the most well-known stories of the Bible and of the teaching of Jesus is the Parable of the Sower The story was set in a farming context, in a world where everyone knew about sowing seed in hostile conditions. It was a story waiting to be told. In the area of Galilee, just to the north of the lakeside, the land rises to reach the heights of the Golan. However, on the lower slopes there is rolling countryside with many natural amphitheatres where Jesus could have taught, surrounded by the thousands of fascinated listeners.

The listeners could have looked across the slopes to see the farmer sowing his seed, but not into well-cultivated fields of rich soil, rather into rough ground, full of stones with giant thistles and many black rocks. It would be fortunate for seed to find an occasional corner of soil in which to germinate, even rarer to find soil of depth and quality to enable the corn to grow to full maturity With this picture in our minds we can appreciate the obvious reason for Jesus using this story as part of his teaching.

"Behold a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth: they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground, and yielded a crop - some a hundredfold, ' some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:3-8)

Let us consider each stage of the story in turn;

A farmer went to sow his seed; The farmer is different from everyone else in the story. He is the one who takes the initiative; he has the seed, he goes out sowing, he wants a harvest, he does the work. The seed is spread far and wide, he takes a handful and throws it in a deliberate manner, spreading it thinly but evenly, allowing the seed to run between his fingers as he opens his hand to sow

The seed falls in a haphazard way. Ideally the farmer would like it to fall on the rich fertile soil but that is impossible for in the Galilean landscape there are more stones than anything else. Good soil is a rare phenomenon and even if it does exist, it is thin, barren and poor, bereft of moisture. Growth has to be nurtured carefully. Where there is deeper soil, the thistles have made it their home and they will easily choke any tender cereal plant with their strong, coarse stems with long spines. Finally, meandering between the plots of cultivated land, would be the twisting, well-worn pathways leading from one area to another and from one village to another.

The story has therefore a reality which would not be lost on its first audience - they would turn to each other with knowing looks and compare their own circumstances with his and think about the meaning and ponder its message.

"Hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stoney places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures only a while. For when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately stumbles. Now he who received the seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:18-23)

It is really a story of people, each type characterised by the growth of the seed in the form of a crop plant. The seed is the Word of God, which contains the teaching and preaching of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. Hearers of this teaching can allow it to be lost by the presence of this world's thinking in their lives. It is just kicked along in the pathway of life until it is lost in the rush of everyday existence. However there are some people who respond initially to the teaching of the Gospel. They have great enthusiasm, they are unrealistically committed so that when hardship enters their life, when challenge occurs, they lose their 'first love' and leave the faith. Still, others hear and respond, becoming good disciples for a time but then they are choked by the obsessive power of wealth and/or the worry of daily survival. This chokes the life of discipleship and failure results. Few respond faithfully and even fewer survive the trials of life to the final harvest.

The message of the parable is simple:-
a) hear the Gospel,
b) understand its message,
c) respond in faith,
d) obey its commands, and give the results to God.

Summary

The Sower	=	God
Seed	=	Gospel message
Stony ground	=	people who do not respond
Thorny ground	=	having responded, 'lose their faith'
Good soil	=	people who respond to the 'Gospel of Salvation' in faith & obedience

Having studied the parable, let us now consider the quality of the seed or to be specific - the Word of God. The parable takes it for granted that the Bible, or the Word of the Kingdom, in the terms of the interpretation of the parable, is able on its own to teach people the Gospel. Just as in nature, the seed given the right conditions, can grow into a plant bearing flower and fruit, so in the spiritual world - the Word of God can produce characters of beauty and quality.

In the prophet Isaiah there is an interesting passage;

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven ... but water the earth ... and make it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall My word be that goes forth from my mouth, it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please." (Isaiah 55:10 & 11)

In other words, just as the rain and snow are able to provide the life for plants to grow and produce flowers and fruit, so God's Word has been provided to achieve a response in the lives of men and women. That Word is sufficient on its own to achieve that aim, all that it requires is a certain seeking after truth, a certain commitment to discover the message of salvation, with prayer and in humility The Bible interprets itself, as it states;

"These things we also speak; not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual". (1 Corinthians 2:13)

The key to easier (not necessarily easy) understanding of the Bible is found within its own pages. The Bible is its own instruction book. It may look like an impossible maze, but as we go along we find we are more certain of the direction to take because of what we have learnt already and the signposts along the way Your questions about what God is teaching in the Bible are answered in the Bible - God's Word - for it alone is The Word of Salvation.

Over 40 writers were involved over a period of 1,600 years in producing the canon of Scripture. Yet it claims to be the 'Word of God'. How? The writers were guided by the power of God to write His thoughts and words:

"... prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit'. (2 Peter 1:21)

and the Apostle Paul reminded Timothy -

"... you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work".
(2 Timothy 3:15-17)

By reading these words, by meditating upon them and obeying the teaching contained in them, we can gain peace and hope for the future:

"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to glory and virtue..."
(2 Peter 1:2-3)

"So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."
(Romans 10:17)