08.16.2026 | Jesus Taught in Parables
Matthew 13:1-9,18-23; Mark 4:1-9,13-20; Luke 8:4-15
Have you ever wondered why people can hear the same message about Jesus, and some believe while others don’t? You might think, If the gospel is so good … why doesn’t everyone receive it with joy?
This question isn’t new. Even the disciples struggled to understand it. They watched Jesus teach crowds of people—some were amazed, some were confused, and some were totally uninterested. If Jesus Himself was speaking, why didn’t everyone follow Him?
To help them understand, Jesus told the parable of the soils. Jesus explained that the seeds are like God’s Word. And the different soils are like the condition of our hearts. Some hearts are hard and don’t want to listen. Some get excited at first but give up when things get tough. Some want to follow Jesus, but there are too many distractions—worries, drama, pressure, or the desire to fit in.
But the good soil is a heart that listens and understands the gospel. This person believes God’s Word, and it changes their life. Like a seed planted in good soil, they begin to grow in faith. When we are open to God’s truth, He softens our hearts and opens our eyes to see our need for Jesus. Having a heart of good soil means repenting and trusting in Jesus, receiving His forgiveness, and allowing His Word and Spirit to take root in our lives so our faith grows and changes the way we live.
Not everyone who hears about Jesus believes in Him. Some people don’t understand the gospel, and some people care more about the things of this world than they do God’s kingdom. But people who believe in Jesus and follow Him will grow to be like Him and will share His good news so others can believe too.
