All three Synoptic Gospels include the Parable of the Four Soils and Jesus’ explanation of what the parable means (Matt 13:3–9; 18–23; Mark 4:3–9; 13–20; Luke 8:4–8; 11–15). The second soil—the stony soil—represents a believer who does not endure. He gives up when things get tough. He will be in the kingdom but will not be richly rewarded in it. The Lord Jesus uses the sun to illustrate the hard times this believer faces before he turns his back on the faith. The sun beats down on the plant that springs up from the stony ground. However, because this plant lacks deep roots, the sun scorches it. Matthew and Mark say the sun is a picture of tribulation and persecution. Luke says the sun’s heat is an illustration of times of temptation.
The Lord taught a great deal about His coming kingdom. He said that Christians who endure tribulation, persecution, and temptation for the Lord will be great in that kingdom. But a believer will give up if he does not allow what the Lord teaches about rewards to take deep root in his heart. He will not be motivated to suffer for the Lord. What the sun represents in the parable—tribulation, persecution, and temptation—are the enemies of spiritual growth and future reward for this kind of Christian. Such a believer is like a plant that withers away under the intense heat of the summer sun.
But the good soil in the parable represents a believer in whose heart the Lord’s teaching concerning kingdom rewards has taken deep root. He is one who faithfully endures the trials and temptations that come with being faithful to the Lord. Luke says he endures with patience.
It recently occurred to me that, although the Lord does not mention it, the sun also plays a role in this believer’s life. The plant in this illustration also has the sun beating down on it. I think there is a point here.
I don’t know much about horticulture, but I do know that plants need sunlight to grow. I vaguely remember something called photosynthesis. I’ve heard experts discussing the importance of moving a plant to give it more sunlight.
The plant in good soil uses the sun to produce a huge crop for the kingdom. It is consistent with the context of this parable to understand that for this believer, suffering, temptation, tribulations, and persecution produce fruit. For the believer in rocky soil, they brought defeat. But in the parable, the sun is a friend of the believer pictured by the good soil.
Numerous times, the NT teaches that suffering in the life of a believer can have outstanding results (e.g., Acts 5:41; 2 Tim 2:12; Rom 8:17). Whether the sun is a friend or a foe of the believer in the parable depends on his roots. If the teachings regarding eternal rewards have taken hold of a believer’s thoughts, the sunrays of difficult times can produce a rich crop. He understands that the Lord uses those times to make him more like Christ. If those teachings do not have a firm grip on a believer’s heart, the heat of the sun will cause him to wither away.
One believer in the parable views the sun as an enemy. Another views the sun as a friend. How do we view it?
