Those who come to Jesus and ask the meaning of His word get an explanation. Those not seeking to understand get no understanding. The parables hide the meaning. They aren’t meant to make things easy to understand. It says that Jesus explained everything to His disciples privately.

Get alone with God. Read His Word (or listen to it) and ask Him about it. Let Him be your teacher. He gives understanding. Don’t search it out in your own mind.

And when you sow the word of God, pray for the seed, pray for the soil. Satan wants to come and just take away the word so it doesn’t produce faith.

There are those who respond with rejoicing, but they fall away. The seed didn’t take root. It was just an emotional response to the gospel, not faith and love.

Using persuasive techniques to get people to respond and make a “decision for Christ,” doesn’t necessarily produce salvation or any lasting fruit. The word needs roots. It’s not about just wanting something for yourself. There’s a holy God who has been sinned against.

Discipleship is necessary. The Great Commission isn’t to get decisions for Christ but to teach them to obey all that God commands. Faith is a long walk, not a moment. People need to be taught to go to God in prayer and to His word for guidance. They need to be taught to keep their hearts and thoughts for God alone. Otherwise, the word is choked out and unfruitful.

The ones producing fruit “accept” the word. They take it in and live by it. They give themselves to living by the Word of God.

Salvation is a work of God. We can’t produce regeneration in someone. We need to sow in prayer and not just in word. We can’t rely on our methods and techniques. We pray and look to God alone for salvation. He’s the giver of faith. He alone saves.