The parable in Mt 13:1-23, known as the parable of the Sower, has been the object of much debate among the exegetes. In the ancient world, parables were meant to involve the audience in thinking, reflecting, and responding. They were told to challenge!
Does it focus on the Sower or rather seed? Does it focus on seed or rather on the soil? The parable is about the seed merging with the soil to produce a crop. The focus then is not only on one or the other. The focus is on both; the focus is on collaboration! The seed becomes fruitful in the soil that offers good or best conditions.
The sower, the seed, and the method of sowing are the same in each case. As Jesus explains it, the Word of the Kingdom (of God) is generously sown everywhere. The Sower, the Messiah, gives it equally to everyone. He does not have any preferences, giving more to some and making others disadvantageous. This strongly suggests that the point has to do with the reception of the seed, not the seed itself.
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The parable relates to the prophecy of Isaiah as well (Is 55:10-11), where the word of God is effective, accomplishing the purpose it was sent for. The Lord explains that his word becomes effective help for any type of person and in any type of life situation. The word of God becomes seed for the one that sows and bread for the one that must eat (Is 55:10). The ‘one who sows’ represents an active state of life, and the word of God helps, fosters and empowers the active. On the other hand, the same word becomes bread for the one who must eat (Hebrew original).The ‘one who must eat’ is the hungry one. The hungry represents all those who are in need, suffer, impaired in different ways, do not have the ability or possibility to lead an active life. Consequently, the word of God becomes exactly what ‘you need’! Its aim is to prosper you! Let us be clear, however, not what you want but what is for your salvation. Never forget that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so anyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Whether one is hard-hearted, soft-hearted, distracted or attentive will affect how and whether one receives the message Jesus is proclaiming. The word of God is effective, life giving (Hebrew 4:12), its potential is unquestionable. However, it requires the collaboration of humans. Otherwise, its potential remains barren or very limited. Why is it so? God created us according to his image (Gen 1:27) and part of this image is the relational character of humans. Men and women are relational beings designed for communion, where spiritual health is found in a dynamic partnership with God rather than isolated self-definition. Rather than viewing salvation as a unilateral act by God or a purely human achievement, the Byzantine theology and spirituality understand salvation as a mutual engagement where humans actively respond to and cooperate with God. This is called synergy – collaboration.
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The parables were meant to challenge the audience. The more we read this one, the more clearly a question arises: is there any chance for the change of character? Could the soil, as a symbol of the human heart, change? This is exactly the type of challenge the parable brings about. The answer lies in your hands, dear reader! Nevertheless, there is already a hint. In the time of Jesus plowing followed sowing. In this way, the seeds got deep into the soil, fostering the chances of growth. The soil became “better”.
When anyone has zeal and eagerness, there will be given to him on God’s part all things sufficient for his needs but if he lacks any responsiveness and is not ready to contribute his own share neither are God’s gifts bestowed. In that case even “what he seems to have”, so Jesus says, “shall be taken away from him.” Here it is not so much God taking something away from him as it is his own unreadiness to receive these gifts.
We ourselves do this all the time. When we see someone listening carelessly and when with much effort, we cannot persuade him to listen at all, then it remains for us to be silent. For if we continue, even his carelessness is aggravated. But for someone who is striving to learn, we lead on and pour in a lot. (St. John Chrysostom, The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 45.1)