“The seed is the word of God,” explained Jesus to the disciples, who had asked about the meaning of the parable of the sower (Luke 8:11). Every seed, given proper conditions, reproduces after its kind (Genesis 1:11). The proper conditions for the word of God are “an honest and good heart” (Luke 8:15). As the spiritual seed which brings life to dead souls, its primary quality — its “kind,” if you will — is “imperishable” (1 Peter 1:23). When an animal dies, it is dead forever. When a soul lives because the seed is implanted in it, it lives forever, because the seed is the “living and enduring word of God.”

Our Lord spoke his words about the seed to a large crowd that was gathering, as people came from town after town to see him and to seek some benefit. The parable was a divider, to separate the curiosity seekers and the selfish from the pursuers of God. The gospel is not a spear that forces its way into the heart, but a seed that must be received in order to bear fruit. The parable contained the truth for those who wanted to find it.

As he explained the parable, its truth served the disciples, also. It warned them against attempting to judge soils, but reminded them to spread the word to all, for only in the sowing would the honest and good heart appear. When they might be tempted to give in to discouragement, after rejection, the parable would also remind them that, somewhere out there, good soil is waiting for the seed.

In another critical moment, Peter takes the word of God as the seed. He remembers the parable when Jesus spoke it that day, and how some of the seed fell on the rock. When the time of testing came, those who had initially received the message with joy fell away. Now, years later, Christians he knows and loves are being tested and are on the verge of chunking the faith to save themselves. He writes and reminds them of the type of seed that caused them to be “born anew” (1 Peter 1:23).

If this seed is imperishable, and if this word is living and enduring, how is it then that they can consider extinguishing their zeal for God? A key thought for Peter is value (see 1 Peter 2:7, NET), what is precious. These faltering saints need to go to the balance sheet and consider how much their faith is really worth. The nature of the word of God as the powerful, imperishable seed increases the value of their confession.

The seed is the word of God. From a small seed, to great and eternal fruit.

J. Randal Matheny @ www.forthright.net