The parable of the sower is among the popular parables that Jesus used to teach his disciples. It is common even to the church of today because it is an easy to remember parable. Like every other parable, it uses an easy analogy that would have stuck in the minds of the listeners because of how relatable it was. The use of parables was not because Jesus wanted to prove how smart he was, but everything, he taught; he taught through parables. This was a fulfillment of the prophecy from the Maskil of Asaph in Psalm 78:2 as well as in Matthew 13
All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.
Matthew 13:34-35 (ESV)
On this particular day, Jesus sat beside the sea and he taught from a boat. This was one of his tendencies. He sat in a boat and taught from the boat. We see this severally in the gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This is interesting because a fisherman operates in a boat… Jesus, who would be teaching them to be fishers of men… He goes ahead and teaches…
And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:3-9 (ESV)
I also found the ending of this parable to be very interesting as well. There was a ‘hearing’ here that he probably implied was definitely beyond the physical hearing. Jesus used a common phrase after his teachings; “He who has ears, let him hear”. Definitely, everyone in the hearing of his voice heard that parable, but then there was another level to it.
Thousands of years later, I also heard this parable. I read it… and heard it read several other times. Along the way, I picked up several of its teachings and ran with one. The doctrine of good seed and good ground. Calling it as it is now, the bad/ wrong doctrine of good seed good ground. Apply this to the “Prosperity Doctrine”. For a while there, I taught alongside the parable of the Sower that when you sow a good seed on good ground, you will get a good return. By this, I mean that when you put in a good ‘offering’ of any kind; whether in the Lord’s house or elsewhere, you would get a good return. Alternatively, let us just say, when you give and give well, to the right people or places, you will most definitely get a very good return. I will give an example – The most common example that I used. When you find a beggar on the street and give them 5 Shillings, you would rather have given 500 Shillings to a decently dressed acquaintance of yours. In short, buy things for your well-of friends, pastors, bosses, etc, gift your influential people more, etc., etc. The ‘idea’ here is, that you will get a better return in this way, as compared to the 5 shillings you would be giving because it’s the loose change you have – an afterthought. Extend this mentality to the mindset that you give more to those who are “anointed” because you will get a return in the long run, compared to what you gave in return. Break down good seed and good ground to “sow a seed” and you will get where I was coming from. This was a false teaching I supported, and still is.
‘Good Seed Good Ground’ works as a principle. Independently. Farmers will tell you that the process of selecting the right seed is a key determinant in the outcomes of whatever the endeavor is. I have watched my friend follow the family tree of a Bull before choosing the seed to inseminate his cows. This depends on the quality of milk he needed at the time. It goes for maize farmers, wheat farmers etc. Same case for investment. You find a good investment vehicle and you put your money there, you will get a good return. So, yes, if you sow a good seed on good ground, you will get a good harvest. However, the parable of the sower is not for this context. The parable of the Sower has nothing to do with financial success or blessings or anointing. So do not be out there sowing good seeds so that you can tap into some anointing here and there because the parable of the sower said so.
Consider this a public withdrawal of my former belief. As I had shared on Tiktok, I no longer share in that teaching. I apologize to those I taught this earlier in my walk with God. I misdirected you. Give how God wants you to. We cannot buy God’s grace, God’s Favor. We cannot buy the anointing; we cannot ‘tap’ into it with money and things. I thank God because I learn that it has been given to us who are Disciples of Christ, to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus Christ himself explained what this Parable is all about. We find it in Verse 19 of the same chapter. Right below the parable itself. It also goes a long way to show how when we count on others to read the word of God for us, it is very easy to be swayed to believe and understand outside God’s intended meaning of His word.
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
Matthew 13:19 (ESV)
Meaning the seed in this context is “The Word of God”. The rest of the word goes ahead to explain the different terrains on which this seed fell.
As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Matthew 13:23 (ESV)
So brethren, my days of false teaching with this particular parable ended at some point. I felt convicted to come out and rectify my own undoing of God’s word as I let the holy spirit guide me accordingly in the rest of my walk with Christ. In my current season, there is a lot of correction and rectification going on since there are so many things and concepts that I am getting to unlearn and relearn. I pray to God that I am obedient and submissive enough to be who God need’s me to be, and let go of who I was to fulfill God’s Purpose.