The Parable of the Sower: Summary of Affliction

“Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root…The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away” Mathew 13: 5,6, 20. 21.

The sun in this passage represents trouble or affliction. And it is really like double-edged sword. Troubles and trials can make you bitter or better. They can kill you or make you stronger.

And like the sun, scorch and wither you, or ripen you.

Outcome Determined by the Soil

The outcome is determined by the soil of the heart the seed is planted in. Before we continue, if you would like to read the surrounding text for context, click here.

If there are hard rocky places in our heart, we’ll be scorched and withered by the sun of affliction.

But if the soil of our heart is soft and loamy, the sun will only ripen and mature the fruit produced by the seed.

Every hard thing we go through will either harm us, or help us, depending on the state of our heart.

Trials Never Leave Us the Same

One thing is sure: trials never leave us the same.

A soft, believing, obedient heart can only be blessed and ripened by every difficult trial.

But a hard, shallow, unbelieving one can only be cursed and scorched by them.

Now, the truth is, we are sometimes a mixture of both good soil and rocky soil.

In my life, for example, my painful trials having to do with my marriage did me much good. They served to transform me into a new creature as I responded in faith.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” 2 Corinthians 5:17! 

Parable of the Sower: Summary of Rocky Places

But I also had rocky areas in my heart. When my kids or ex-husband, or anyone else for that matter made me angry. . .

Let’s just say I did not respond in faith and obedience. Instead, I said many unnecessary, hurtful, devastating things. I responded to the provocation with unbelief and rebellion.

I didn’t really believe God expected me to overcome my anger. So, I justified it. And decided that no one would be able respond any differently to my kids, or whoever.

I gave up in my time of trial and temptation. Until God finally got my attention in a way that I won’t soon forget. But that’s for a different blog post.

To read another post related to The Parable of the Sower: Summary of Affliction, see What the Bible Says About the Power of a Grateful Heart.

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