Raising Disciples to Cultivate Good Soil

Many of Jesus’ teachings were in the form of parables—stories Jesus told to illustrate what the Kingdom of God is like in concrete, earthly terms. One day as Jesus taught a crowd of people, including the Twelve, He told them a story about a farmer.

Luke 8:5-8:

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

The scene of a farmer throwing seeds into rows during planting season—and some of that seed falling elsewhere—would have been commonplace. Throughout that region, there would have been hardened soil paths formed by people walking (or armies marching) through the area. That area does not have rich soil; instead, a layer of rock lies underneath a thin layer of soil. Palestinian weeds that steal nutrients from the soil grow up to six feet tall and choke out other plants. Good soil takes work.

Jesus then took His disciples aside and explained to them the meaning of the parable. The seed is the Word of God, and that which fell on the path could be snatched by the devil. The seed on the rocky ground would lead to no roots for a lasting faith. The seed among the thorns would grow—but not to full maturity because people’s faith would be choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures.

Luke 8:15:

“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

If our hope is to plant the seed, the Word of God, deep into the good soil of children, we must follow the example of Jesus, teaching them in ways they can understand and guiding them to discover the meaning of God’s Word.

Questions for Reflection

• How can you cultivate good soil in your life today?
• How can you encourage your child to hear the Word of God?