Hello ,

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Stony Places

The soil that Jesus is describing as "the stony" places isn't describing loose stones, but rather something like a rock ledge with a thin layer of soil over the top of it. 

The gospel seed falls on the shallow soil, and there's enough dirt to cause the seed to germinate, but not enough to grow crop producing plants. 

The analogy is sobering.

The gospel appeals to the emotions of those that struggle with "The Stony Places" and they make quick decisions when they hear it; but it doesn't last because there's no depth in the soil. 

The rock underneath the soil prevents the seed from becoming mature, just like the "rock" of selfishness prevents any reform from take place in the life of the one that possesses it. 

God loves us, and will accept us right where we are; but it will never leave us in that place.

The gospel seed has appeal to them when it is first presented, but the shallowness of the soil doesn't effect any lasting change in their lives. 

This part of the parable makes it clear that there needs to be some depth in the spirituality of the person who hears the gospel message. 

Tomorrow, we'll dicuss the thorny areas.

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word