July 16, 2023

Today's Reading: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 3:1-17, Acts 9:1-22

“Behold, a sower went out to sow.”  Matthew 13:3b

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In the Name of Jesus, Amen. Let's start off right away by saying these parables are not about you.  They are not about you  and your role in them or anything else that is about you and what you can do for Jesus.  Don’t ever read the parables that way.  Don’t ask the age-old question churches for the last 100 years have asked with this parable; ”what kind of soil are you?”   As Christians one of the worst things we can do is somehow break these parables down into little object lessons that teach us how to be better little Christians.    

“What kind of soil are you?” is the wrong question. This parable isn’t really about dirt – it’s not really about us – at all, but the Sower and the seed. This Sower  makes a pretty terrible farmer. He will probably lose his farm within a year. Why? Well, he’s pretty reckless with his seeding.  75% of His crops fail. He’s a very inefficient farmer. 

But even then, no matter the condition of the soil, the seed is always powerful. Jesus says very clearly that the seed is the word of the kingdom. The seed is the Word of God. The seed is the Law and the Gospel. Nothing else will do. The parable is all about the Kingdom of God and how it works for you!  Left to ourselves we don’t even want to receive the seed, we don’t want to be near the farmer or His agriculture work. When we look at these parables, look at what Jesus is doing all for you. He is the one who makes you the “good soil” in order to live and flourish in His kingdom. If you know anything about good soil, it is usually tilled and broken up.  Sometimes we call that “plowing” which is a very violent action meant to make the soil good.  The Word of God must plow up our rocky, thorny and stubborn hearts as we hear “repent”.  Confess your sins, die in your Baptism daily, as Christ promises firmly to root and grow in you by His cross which has been planted in the earth for the world.  .  

St. Peter sums this up well when he says; “22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,  1 Peter 1:22-24

So stop asking, “What kind of soil am I?” Instead, ask,“Is the seed, the word of the kingdom, being sown around me? Am I hearing Law and Gospel being planted in my heart daily weekly? Is the forgiveness Jesus won on the cross and provides for me in Baptism and Absolution, regularly watering my soul? Is the fertilizer of his body and blood feeding the seed of faith he has planted?” If those things are true then I can assure these parables are not about you, but all for you.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

-Pastor Kent Schaaf is Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Little Rock. AR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.