“Parsing out the meaning—and living it”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Matthew 13:1-9 (Forward, p. 94) CEV p. 998
Little do many readers realize that today’s short passage, often called the Parable of the Sower, or, more aptly, the Parable of the Soils and Seeds, actually evokes a great deal of scholarly interest and debate. Most of us read the passage in conjunction with verses 18-23, where Jesus takes pains to explain the meaning of the parable. This gives all of us ‘a heads up’ in terms of understanding it. However, this is where we ‘run into trouble’, as it were, for most critics assume—or, go as far as categorically stating—that all public statements, whether parables, prophecies, teachings or anything else, had an immediate meaning and application to the particular audience that was listening to them on that occasion.
So, then, given that assumption, what would the immediate hearers of this parable have gotten from it? This simple question has prompted a debate that has raged for years, namely over the purpose of parables in the first place. The assumption from many is that they were simply designed as a teaching device, as a means to convey a truth or a teaching. But what if that truth or teaching was not obvious but was more hidden or oblique? That would seem to be the case here.
Some would therefore say that they were purposely meant to ‘separate the sheep from the goats’, as it were. The ‘sheep’ would be those who were intrigued, who had their curiosity or interest aroused, and wanted to know more and were willing to dig deeper and ponder what had been said. Whereas, the ‘goats’ would be those who just took it as a fine or interesting story that had no deeper meaning and left it as that. Thus, the parable becomes a kind of mental or intellectual challenge and as a way of sorting the one from the other. However, there ‘may’ well be more to it that just that. Maybe the ‘sheep’, as I have described them, also had an openness or willingness to hear, to explore, to understand more deeply. Maybe they had grasped something of the uniqueness of the Christ who was presently speaking to them and maybe they realized that the kingdom was indeed already there, already breaking into their midst. Indeed, I think that If they already had a ‘kingdom mind set’, this parable would have naturally raised thoughts about how this kingdom is venturing into our world and how people in general might respond to it. And so, it was not like throwing the
truth indiscriminately to those who reject it, like ‘throwing pearls before swine’, as it were, but rather bestowing precious pearls, pearls of great price, to those who would totally appreciate them.
All this, however, raises questions for us. We, as followers and friends of Jesus, have been privileged to truly understand God’s message and God’s purposes for our lives. So, the first question is whether we will truly hear that message, His word, and whether we will allow it to find a place in our hearts and lives and grow up and bring forth fruit in abundance. And, the second question is this, whether we will heed it and obey it and thus allow the kingdom to be more fully evident in our lives. These are pertinent questions for all of us. Thanks be to God.
Forward notes: ˆOther seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (verse 8).
“Today’s reading from Matthew is the parable of the sower, which talks about scattering seeds and seeing what happens. Some seeds fell on bad soil and fail to grow, while other seeds fall on good soil and thrive. Sometimes though, it takes a long time to see the effects of the seeds that have been planted.
“This is a helpful analogy for me when I reflect on my career as an elementary school teacher. As a teacher, I planted seeds of learning in my students. I have been lucky enough to maintain contact with a few of my students and their families and see how those seeds took root in their souls and helped them grow into the people God made them to be. But for most students, I will never know which seeds brought forth grain and which tell on fallow ground. The gift God gives us is not a certainty in the outcome but the honour of labouring together in the field.”
Moving Forward: “Is there a particular teacher who planted seeds in your life? Take time to reach out and express your gratitude.