Hearts that Hear: The Great Sower

Jesus teaches in parables in order to reveal the Kingdom to those who have ears and hearts prepared by God’s sovereign grace, but to those who do not have ears and hearts prepared by God’s grace, the parables veil the Kingdom because “seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand” (Luke 8:10). The secrets or mysteries of the Kingdom are revealed to those who are united to Jesus by faith. The parable of the sower of the seeds reveals that the Kingdom expands and is extended through the proclamation of the gospel, and there are four soils, or kinds of hearts that respond to the Kingdom Gospel Proclamation. Those who are shown grace by God are those who respond by faith and obedience to Jesus, and are Jesus’ “mother and brothers” or true covenant family made up of both men and women who are united to him (Luke 8:21).