Read Luke 8:4-8

THE PARABLE OF THE FOUR SOILS
Jesus often communicated spiritual truth through short stories, called parables. These parables describe a familiar object or situation and give it a startling new twist. By linking the known with the hidden and forcing listeners to think, parables can point to spiritual truths. A parable compels listeners to discover the truth for themselves, and it conceals the truth from those too lazy or dull to understand it. In reading Jesus’ parables, you must be careful not to read too much into them. Most have only one point and one meaning.
Why would a farmer allow precious seed to land on the footpath, on rocks, or among thorns? This is not an irresponsible farmer scattering seeds at random. He is using the acceptable method of seeding a large field by tossing it by the handfuls as he walks through the field. His goal is to get as much seed as possible to take root in good soil, but there is inevitable waste as some falls or is blown into less productive areas. That some of the seed produced no crop was not the fault of the faithful farmer or of the seed. The yield depended on the condition of the soil where the seed fell. It is our responsibility to spread the seed, God’s message of Salvation, but we should not give up when some of our efforts fail. Remember not every seed falls on good soil.