Jesus, the Teacher: The Parables of the Soils

This is the first in a three-part  “series within a series” that examines those familiar parables of Jesus. The background of this parable is found in the challenge by the religious leaders to the authority of Jesus. Jesus paints a picture that was commonly seen there in Galilee: a farmer out sowing seed upon his fields.  Jesus identifies four types of soils upon which the seed falls.  Each soil is representative of a spiritual attitude – from that of being hard-hearted to that of being receptive. Some of the seed begins well, but soon shrivels up to nothing.  Why does this occur?  We normally associate this parable with evangelism, but I believe a strong underlying theme is that of discipleship – both its success and its failure.