"Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold." (Mt 13:18-23)
Has Jesus taken this explanation from the reactions of the people to his preaching? It could be. Jesus experienced that there were people of low understanding, people of distraction (because of tribulation and persecution) and people of anxiety among his listeners. They were, in a sense, his followers but because of their lack of understanding, distractions and anxieties they were not able to produce the fruits of the kingdom.
Ministry of the word was very important in the activities of Jesus. He spoke God’s word and that was informing them of the arrival of the kingdom. As prophet Isaiah would say that the word of God would go into the world and produce its effect and it would not come back without doing its activities.
The words of Jesus did produce its effects. There were hundredfold, sixty and thirtyfold fruit at the end of the ministry. Word of God is not just for reading or hearing. It is for understanding. Care should be taken to understand the word of God. There should be efforts to help the word of God to take roots in the lives by removing the stones and the thistles (distractions and anxieties).
