The four fields

Different reactions to the Gospel
By José Bernardo

Why do people react so differently to the communication of the Gospel? This was a valid question for Jesus and he specifically addressed it on his “parable of the sower”, as registered in Mathew 13:1-9, 18-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15. It is clearly about the hearers not the evangelists, but when Jesus named the parable after the sower, he applied it to any situation of evangelization as he said in John 15:20: “If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” Therefore, we can trust to find this answer here.

In considering hearts of hearers as fields, Jesus conveyed four different possibilities. Field of Habituation – “…along the path; it (the seed) was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.” Luke 8:5. A path where many people walk and birds easily find things is a soil conditioned by use. After hearing the Word they are not able to put it together with what they already have, there is no assimilation, thus it is easy for the devil to come and take it away. Field of Superficiality – “…rocky places, where it did not have much soil.” Mathew 13:5. The shallow soil that offers no moisture (Luke 8:6) and causes plants to grow no roots. They quickly spring up and quickly fall away (into a trap). Only in this soil the Word is received with joy, which makes us question whether this is the right way to receive the Word. Field of Diversity – “…among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” Mathew 13:7. Mark describes the thorns as “worries (to be divided) of this life, the deceitfulness (false impression) of wealth and the desires for other things” Mark 4:19. The soil is good, both plants and thorns grow there. Thorns grow after the Word is heard and then choke the existent plant. Field of Perseverance – “…on good soil, where it produced a crop…” Mathew 13:8. Luke describes the good soil as a “noble and good heart” and the process as “…hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” Luke 8:15.

It is important to observe, that Jesus defines the situation as an initial presentation of the Word, which speaks about evangelization regardless the religious background. There are three important principles governing the communication of the Gospel here. First, the fields are never classified before the communication of the gospel and the Word is uniformly presented in every field. Second, it is the Word that manifests each type of soil, which is in turn revealed in reaction to the Word. The classification explains but does not predict the reaction. Third, there are many other factors besides the soil that influence the communication of the Word and thus the crop: people trampling, birds eating and thorns choking.

It is possible to represent the four fields in a Cartesian Coordinate System. Axis ‘x’ would measure the reaction of internal factors (the soil) and axis ‘y’, the reaction of external factors. Then, in Quadrant I we have the Field of Perseverance, which is positive in internal and external reactive factors. In Quadrant II, the Field of Superficiality, is also positive in external but negative in internal reactive factors. Quadrant III brings the Field of Habituation, which is doubly negative in internal and external reactive factors. Finally, Quadrant IV is completely taken by the Field of Diversity, with positive internal and negative external reactive factors. “Whoever has ears, let them hear” Mateus 13:9.
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Jose Bernardo is the OneHope vice-president for lusophone countries. OneHope is a global agency of the Bible that has worked in 145 countries giving the Word of God to every child.