Luke 7:4-15  Luke shares the parable of the sower ... that Jesus spoke to the multitudes that began to follow Him from city to city.  Can you picture Jesus and His disciples walking through the dirt roads.. passing many fields of grain.. perhaps stopping to watch as a farmer is sowing his seeds.. 

Some seeds fell on the hard path where they were walking.  The crowd walked right over those seeds, pressing them into the dirt that has been hardened by the many feet and the hot sun.. It was unplowed.. no shovel or rake.. no tiller has touched this ground.  The seed that landed there had no chance of growing.. only the birds would benefit from these seeds.   Jesus tells His disciples that this is like the Word of God that is spoken but ignored completely.  It is trampled by careless and uncaring feet. Those who happened to hear it would not believe it.. could not even receive it in their hardened hearts. 

As Jesus watched the seeds being thrown by the farmer, He saw some seeds landing in the rocky soil at the edge of the path. Some of these seeds would reach the soil between the rocks and grow up a little.. But there would not be enough good soil to sustain it. It would quickly wither in the hot sun.  Jesus says that these seeds are like those who hear the word and think that it is wonderful. It makes them happy for a while.. but then they move on to the next good thing and forget all about what they had heard. 

Likewise, some seeds fell on the thorny ground, more ground that had not been prepared to receive the seeds properly. It might grow some but then the thorns.. those sharp, thick, nasty thorns that rip through the skin and grab onto your clothes.. they choke out whatever good that was growing.  Jesus compares this to those who receive the good news, but all the worries of life take over.  They worry about their money, their entertainment.. their houses, jobs, families... whatever seems more important than God's word... and they just give up. 

But.. the farmer has a purpose in sowing his seed.. as God has a purpose for sending His Word.. for some falls on good soil... prepared, tilled, fertile soil.. ready to receive the seed and grow the crop that the farmer desires.  Jesus says that the Word of God that is heard by an "honest and good heart".. a heart that will "Hold it fast".. will "bear fruit with perseverance." 

Jesus called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 

Father, we want to hear Your Voice, to receive the Word and live according to it. We believe that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.. Jesus Christ the living Word, the final Word as Hebrews 1 tells us.. and we receive Him in our hearts which You prepared to hold Him fast and to persevere.. so that we can bear fruit as we abide in Him.  To God be the glory!  We pray for those who have heard but have allowed rocks and thorns to choke out the Word. Father, open their ears so that they can truly hear, and believe.  We ask this in Jesus' name.. Amen.