And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spoke by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

The parable of the sower which is contained in these verses — is reported more frequently than any parable in the Bible. It is a parable of universal application . The things it relates are continually going on in every congregation to which the Gospel is preached. The four kinds of hearts it describes, are to be found in every assembly which hears the word. These circumstances should make us always read the parable with a deep sense of its importance. We should say to ourselves, as we read it, "This concerns me! My heart is to be seen in this parable. I, too, am here!"

The passage itself requires little explanation. In fact, the meaning of the whole picture is so fully explained by our Lord — that no exposition of man can throw much additional light on it.

The parable is preeminently a parable of caution — and caution about a most important subject — the way of hearing the word of God . It was meant to be a warning to the apostles — not to expect too much from hearers. It was meant to be a warning to all ministers of the Gospel — not to look for too great results from their sermons. It was meant, not least, to be a warning to hearers — to take heed how they hear.

Preaching is an ordinance of which the value can never be overrated in the Church of Christ. But it should never be forgotten, that there must not only be good preaching — but good hearing.

The first caution that we learn from the parable of the sower — is to beware of the devil when we hear the Word.

The second caution that we learn from the parable of the sower — is to beware of resting on mere temporary impressions when we have heard the word.

Feelings, no doubt, fill a most important office in our personal Christianity. Without them there can be no saving religion. Hope, and joy, and peace, and confidence, and resignation, and love, and fear — are things which must be felt, if they really exist.

But it must never be forgotten that there are religious affections which are spurious and false — and spring from nothing better than fleshly excitement. It is quite possible to feel great pleasure, or deep alarm, under the preaching of the Gospel — and yet to be utterly destitute of the grace of God. The tears of some hearers of sermons, and the extravagant delight of others — are no certain marks of conversion. We may be warm admirers of favorite preachers — and yet remain nothing better than stony-ground hearers.

Nothing should content us but a deep, humbling, self-mortifying work of the Holy Spirit — and a heart-union with Christ.

The third caution contained in the parable of the sower — is to beware of the cares of this world .

The things of this world, form one of the greatest dangers which beset a Christian's path. The money, the pleasures, the daily business of the world — are so many traps to catch souls! Thousands of things, which in themselves are innocent, become, when followed to excess — little better than soul-poisons, and helps to Hell.

Open sin is not the only thing that ruins souls. In the midst of our families, and in the pursuit of our lawful callings — we have need to be on our guard. Unless we watch and pray — these temporal things may rob us of Heaven, and smother every sermon we hear. We may live and die as thorny-ground hearers!

The last caution contained in the parable of the sower — is to beware of being content with any religion which does not bear FRUIT in our lives.

Forever let us bear in mind, that this is the only religion that saves souls. Outward profession of Christianity — and the formal use of Church ordinances and sacraments, never yet gave man a solid hope in life, or peace in death, or rest in the world beyond the grave. There must be fruits of the Spirit in our hearts and lives — or else the Gospel is preached to us in vain. Only those who bear such fruits — shall be found at Christ's right hand in the day of His appearing.

Let us leave the parable with a deep sense of the danger and responsibility of all hearers of the Gospel. There are four ways in which we may hear — and of these four, only one is right. There are three kinds of hearers whose souls are in imminent peril. How many of these three kinds are to be found in every congregation! There is only one class of hearers which is right in the sight of God. And what are we? Do we belong to that one?

Finally, let us leave the parable with a solemn recollection of the duty of every faithful preacher to separate his congregation — and give to each class his portion. The clergyman who ascends his pulpit every Sunday, and addresses his congregation as if he thought that each one was going to Heaven — is surely not doing his duty to God or man. His preaching is flatly contradictory to the parable of the sower!