The Story of the Farmer

One day, Jesus was down by the sea, teaching great crowds of people. The crowd got so big, that Jesus got into a boat and began speaking from there so that more people could hear what he had to say. Jesus liked to teach in parables. Parables are simple stories the teach a spiritual truth.

Jesus told this parable. "A farmer went out to plant some grain. As he was spreading the seeds by hand, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it all.

Other seeds fell on a very rocky place, where there was not much soil. The seeds in the rocky soil sprouted quickly. But, when the sun came up and it got hot, the plants withered and died since there was no place for the roots to grow down.

Still other seeds fell among thorny bushes. Those seeds were choked by the thorns and did not produce any grain.

Other seeds fell into good soil. These seeds grew up and produced thirty, sixty, or even one hundred times as much grain as had been planted. He who has ears, let him hear!"

This parable confused the disciples. Later, when they were alone with Jesus, they asked him what it meant. He explained, "The seed represents the word of God. The seeds falling on the path represents people who have heard God's word, but the devil comes and takes the word from them before they can believe. The seeds that fell on the rocky soil are like people who hear the word of God and accept it with joy.

"But in a time of hardship or persecution, they fall away because they have no maturity. The seeds that fell in the thorns are like people who hear God's word and believe it, but as time passes, their love for God is choked out by the cares, riches and pleasures of life. That means that the teaching they heard does not mature or produce anything in their lives.

But the seeds that fall on good soil represent people with good hearts, who hear the word of God and believe it. They remember what they heard, and persevere to produce a spiritual harvest."

Jesus told many other parables about the Kingdom of God. He said, "The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. When it is a seed, it is the smallest seed of all.

But when it has grown, it is the largest of all garden plants, big enough that even the birds come and make nests in its branches."

Jesus told another parable, "The kingdom of God is like yeast that a woman mixed into some bread dough until it spread through all the way through."

"The kingdom of God is also like hidden treasure in a field which a man found and then buried again. In his joy, he went and sold everything that he had and bought that field."

"Again, the kingdom of God is like a pearl merchant who was looking for perfect pearls. When he found one of great price, he sold all that he had and bought it."

Then Jesus told a parable about people who trust in their own righteousness and despise other people. "Two men went up to the Temple to pray. One of them was a tax collector, and the other a religious leader.

The religious leader prayed like this, 'Thank you God that I am not like other men - thieves, unjust men, adulterers, or even like that tax collector.

I fast two times every week and I give you ten percent of everything I get.'

But the tax collector stood far away, did not even lift his eyes up to heaven, beat his chest and prayed, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

I tell you the truth, the tax collector went home forgiven, and not the religious leader. Everyone who is proud of himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be praised."