In one of the Collects of the church we pray that God's "Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ's holy people." Today's Holy Gospel is our Lord's own teaching as to how the Word of God does indeed have free course, finally producing a hundred-fold harvest. In this parable Jesus is giving comfort both to preachers who proclaim His Word and hearers who receive that Word. Preaching is not in vain because it is through preaching that God plants the Gospel in our hearts. And hearing the Gospel is not futile, for it is through hearing this Gospel that God creates faith. "Faith comes by hearing," says the Apostle Paul, "and hearing by the word of God."

Now it is clear from our Lord's own exposition of the parable that the seed is the Word of God. Today's parable along with the Old Testament Reading and the Epistle shows us that God's Word is powerful. God's Word carries His own authority. Just as the rain and the snow fall from the clouds causing the earth to bring forth vegetation, so the Word from God's mouth is an efficacious Word; it accomplishes the very purposes of God Himself. Listen again to the Old Testament Reading where God says: "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." In other words, God's Word is effective. It does what God wills it to do. At creation God spoke saying, "let there be light," and there was light. God's Word is packed with His own power. The Letter to the Hebrews describes it as "living and powerful...sharper than any two-edged sword."

God's Word alone has the power to convert people from unbelief to faith and bring them from death to life. It is only through the preaching of God's Word that the church is built up and grows. Slick programs designed to meet the so-called "felt needs" of a particular audience might draw a large number of people, but it is only God's Word that creates believers in Jesus Christ.

But why do some who hear this Word believe, while others who also hear it reject it in unbelief? Human reason might answer that some people are by nature fertile ground, well-suited to receive the Word of God, while others are more hard-hearted, rocky ground unsuited for the things of the Spirit. Such an interpretation over-looks the fact that all of us are by nature resistant to the Word of God, for we are all children of Adam and as such are equally sinful and corrupt, dead in trespasses and sin. Others might try to fix the blame on God, arguing that perhaps the quality of the seed varies or that God does not allow His Word to take root in some. Such reasoning leads to the erroneous doctrine that God predestines some to damnation and hell. On this side of eternity no fully satisfying answer can be given to the question, "Why do some believe and not others." But we do know this, that it is God's good pleasure in Christ to save sinners. And this salvation, won by our Lord on the cross, is bestowed on us through His Word. His Word alone has the power to impart salvation to those who hear it. Therefore Jesus says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

In today's parable our Lord provides four "case histories" of how the Word of God is heard. Three of the four end in failure. The parable does not seem to be very optimistic about the success of preaching. But the focus is not on the three scenarios where there is no fruit but on the one scene which ends with a harvest. The language of harvest points to the last day when God will gather His crop into His heavenly kingdom. In spite of all the impediments and obstacles to God's Word, there will be a harvest. Some will hear and hold fast to the Word in patient endurance to the end. Now the success of the Word of the Lord is most often hidden from our eyes. But because the Word which we preach is God's Word, it will achieve the purpose for which He sent it.

Therefore our Lord's parable is aimed at how we are to hear His Word. In the first scene the seed is trampled down on the well-worn path. It never impregnates the ground. Instead it is plucked up by hungry birds. Jesus tells us that this illustrates how satan comes and "takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they believe and be saved." You see, God's seed is not planted in neutral territory. The prince of this world wants to rob you of the implanted Word which is able to save your souls. Where God's Word is being preached there is a battle going on. This is not a war of flesh and blood, but a spiritual conflict. Satan wants to separate you from the Triune God forever. The only way in which he can achieve that goal is to separate you from the Word of God. We know his deceitful tricks. If he cannot keep you away from the place where God's Word is being preached, he will try to remove that Word from your heart. He will try to convince you that the life and salvation which God promises to you in His Word is not really for you. Satan will do everything in his power to intercept the Word between your ear and your heart.

Then Jesus paints a second picture. There are those who receive the seed of God's Word. It even germinates and begins to grow. But, alas, it withers and dies because it has no root to tap moisture from the soil. A seed which is planted but not watered will soon die. So it is with faith. Faith which is not continually nourished and enlivened by the Word of God is not able to withstand temptation. There may be an initial burst of enthusiasm but without the moisture of the daily application of our Baptism, the ongoing hearing of God's Word, and regular feasting on His body and blood in the Holy Supper, faith wilts away and ultimately dies.

Thirdly, there is the seed that fails among the briars. This seed sprouts and grows up. But finally the life is choked out of the new plant by thorns which entangle the plant. Jesus says that this scene represents those whose faith is overcome by "the cares, riches, and pleasures of life." In short, these are those who are possessed by their possessions. These are those who are too occupied with other things - careers, relationships, recreation, money -that they just don't have any time for God's Word. Attendance at the Divine Service comes only if it fits into my schedule. The "one thing needful" is exchanged for other things and finally faith is perverted and dies.

But then there is the seed which falls on the good ground, grows up and yields a hundred-fold harvest. Our Lord says this final scenario is that of those "who having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience." A bit later on in Luke's Gospel Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep." That is to say, blessed are those who cling to God's Word in life and death, refusing to let go of the salvation won by the blood of Jesus Christ which that Word delivers to us.

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.