The Hearts Of Men
One of the best-known
parables of Jesus is that of the sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8). Jesus tells of a sower that went forth to sow
with the seed landing on four different types of ground. In His explanation, Jesus states that the
seed is the Word of God and the ground representative of the hearts of the
hearers of that Word. Consider the
different attitudes displayed by men when hearing God’s Word.
The Hard
Heart. This heart is represented by the wayside ground. Their heart, for a number of reasons, is hard
to the Word and they will not allow it to be penetrated by God’s message. Since it lies on top of the ground, Satan
snatches it away that they might not receive it (cf. Matthew
The Shallow Heart. This
heart is represented by the stony ground.
It is a heart that receives the Word but does not allow it to grow and
truly become part of them. They serve
with vigor for a while, but when the slightest event comes to shake them up,
they abandon God’s will (cf. I Timothy
The Distracted
Heart. This heart is represented by the thorny
ground. It is one who receives and
starts to grow, but becomes distracted by the things of this life. So many individuals fall from the Way when
they become distracted by things of this world (cf. II Timothy
The Honest Heart. This is the heart we should seek to have and to find among others. This is one who, in sincerity and obedience, brings forth fruit. Remember that Jesus said, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away” (John 15:2).