The Bible makes a distinction between good seed and bad seed, and it teaches many lessons about seed sowing.

In this post, we will explore both the literal and the symbolic meanings of seed sowing in the Bible.

Our Bible Quotation of Focus

Let us consider, for the purposes of this post, the following Bible quotation.

“Now he that ministereth [supplies] seed to the sower both minister [supply] bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:10.

For those who are new to Bible notation, “2 Corinthians 9:10” is a reference to the Bible, which itself is a collection of books. In the Bible, each book consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation referred to as “2 Corinthians 9:10” then is taken from the book of 2 Corinthians in the Bible, the 9^th chapter and the 10^th verse.

The Bible and God

Now it is a fact that we cannot understand the Bible without understanding who God is.

God is a Family of three divine Persons, namely, the Father, the Son called Christ, and the Holy Spirit. This Family is known as “the Godhead” (Acts 17:29) in the Bible. What is God like? “God is love.” 1 John 4:8.

The Literal Meaning

We will first of all look at one literal meanings of the word “seed” as found in the Bible. That is, we will consider seeds as that which is sown in the soil and that grows to produce plants.

The Backstory

God says of Himself, “God created man [human beings] in his own image [with a character of love identical to God’s own character], in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27.

Thus, God created the first human pair—a man named Adam and a woman named Eve.

“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden…and out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:8, 9.

So, this answers the question, Which came first, the seed or the tree? As the Bible states, God created the tree first.

You may be asking, What are “the tree of life…and the tree of knowledge of good and evil”? Genesis 2:9.

“The tree of life” (Genesis 2:9) gave eternal life to anyone who ate from it. On the other hand, “the tree of knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9) was a tree “pleasant to the sight, and good for food.” Genesis 2:9.

This latter tree was placed in the garden of Eden as the only tree from which God withheld permission for Adam and Eve to eat. Thus, this tree was a small test of Adam and Eve’s obedience to God by their not eating from this tree. In essence, for them to eat from this tree would be to steal from God.

The Source of Good Seed

For to Adam and Eve, “God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat [food]. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat [food]: and it was so.” Genesis 1:29, 30.

Thus, God is “he that ministereth [supplies] seed to the sower.” 2 Corinthians 9:10.

We see then that God is the Source of all good seeds. For at this time of earth’s history, there were no weeds or poisonous plants.

As an aside, note that Adam and Eve’s diet, the original diet of the human race, did not include any animal flesh or animal products such as milk, cheese, butter. That is, Adam and Eve’s diet was vegan vegetarian.

The Agricultural Cycle and the Good Seed

There is an agricultural cycle which I will describe using the example of wheat. First, the wheat grain is planted, this seed germinates, the seed grows into a plant which bears ripened heads of wheat and which is consumed as food, and coming full cycle, some of the grain is planted for a new crop of wheat.

The Symbolic Meaning

Let us now consider a symbolic meaning of the word “seed” that is related to the literal meaning of “seed” as something that is sown in the earth.

The Truth About Christ

Christ was born in human flesh as a baby boy named “Jesus” (Matthew 1:21) over 2,000 years ago.

Why did Christ come to the earth? He came to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), where sin is evil and wrongdoing.

Now “all [humanity] have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is [eternal] death [which is annihilation]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

That is, “his [Christ’s] people” (Matthew 1:21) are those people who, through “the power of God” (1 Peter 1:5) “cease from sin.” 2 Peter 2:14.

These are the people who will receive “eternal life” (Romans 6:23) from God in “the world to come” (Mark 10:30) when “this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4), the world that now is, will come to an end.

The Sower of Good Seed

Now when Christ was on earth, He spoke many parables, where a parable is a short story giving moral instruction.

So, by storytelling, Christ aroused the interest of the people who heard Him and the people were, therefore, able to retain His teachings.

The Parable of the Sower and the Soils

Let us now consider one of Christ’s parables. “And he [Christ] spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow.” Matthew 13:3.

“And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.” Matthew 13:4.

“Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.” Matthew 13:5, 6.

“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:7, 8.

“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 13:9.

The Interpretation of the Parable of the Sower and the Soils

Christ Himself gave the interpretation of His parable of the sower and the soils, saying, “Hear [understand] ye therefore the parable of the sower.” Matthew 13:18.

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11) and “the sower [Christ] soweth the word.” Mark 4:14.

“When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” Matthew 13:19.

“But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth [endures] for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” Matthew 13:20, 21.

“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” Matthew 13:22.

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:23.

What moral lesson then does the parable of the sower and the soils teach? First note that the seed that is sown is good seed which produces a plant bearing good fruit.

The lesson is that, unless your heart is truly willing to obey the word of God, the Bible, you will not benefit from the word so that you are “transformed” (Romans 12:2) from sinfulness to a character of love.

Good Seed, Bad Seed

Let us also consider another of Christ’s parable, one which is known as the parable of the wheat and the tares, where the tares are weeds.

“Another parable put he [Christ] forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares [weeds] among the wheat, and went his way.” Matthew 13:24, 25.

“But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares [weeds] also.” Matthew 13:26.

“So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares [weeds]?” Matthew 13:27.

“He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares [weeds], ye root up also the wheat with them.” Matthew 13:28, 29.

“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares [weeds], and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matthew 13:30.

The Interpretation of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Weeds)

Again, Christ Himself gave the interpretation of the parable of the wheat and the tares.

“He [Christ]…said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man [Christ]; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares [weeds] are the children of the wicked one.” Matthew 13:37, 38.

“The enemy that sowed them is the devil [Satan]; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares [weeds] are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.” Matthew 13:39, 40.

“The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend [are evil], and them which do iniquity [wickedness]; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire” (Matthew 13:41, 42), where “the wicked…they shall be ashes under the soles of your [the righteous ones’] feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD [God] of hosts” (Malachi 4:3), and “there shall be wailing [weeping] and gnashing [grinding] of teeth.” Matthew 13:42.

“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 13:43.

What is the moral lesson that the parable of the wheat and the tares teaches?

The lesson is that Christ works upon humanity to the end that they all have a character of love and, hence, will receive eternal life from God and be citizens of God’s kingdom to come.

On the other hand, the devil who is also called Satan, as the enemy of God and humanity, works to prevent the good work of God. As a result, there is developed among humanity a group of people who will receive eternal death (annihilation) from God because of their wickedness.

Who is Satan?

God, the Creator of all that exists in the universe, created intelligent beings called angels who reside with God in heaven.

The angels were all perfect in love and there was joy, peace, and harmony in the universe until Lucifer, an angel of high rank, rebelled by sinning against God. Lucifer convinced some of the angels to join him in his rebellion and God changed Lucifer’s name to Satan.

 “And there was war in heaven: Michael [Christ] and his angels fought against the dragon [Satan]; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan…he was cast out…and his angels were cast out with him. ” Revelation 12:7-9.

Satan, when he was cast out of heaven, as “the tempter” (Matthew 4:3) went about all “the worlds” (Hebrews 1:2) inhabited by intelligent beings to seek those who would join him in his rebellion against God.

So, Satan came to the first human pair, Adam and Eve, and succeeded in causing them transfer their loyalty from God to him. That is, both Adam and Eve fell into sin.

All humanity, as descendants of Adam and Eve, have inherited their disposition to sin and, hence, are destined to receive eternal death (annihilation) from God for their sins.

But God is “not willing that any [person] should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), which is to have deep sorrow for their sins. Therefore, God sent Christ to the earth to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21) so that they might receive eternal life from God.

The Grain that Dies

When Christ was on earth, He spoke of Himself, saying, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn [grain] of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” John 12:24.

Here Christ, as the grain of wheat, refers to His death “for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2) which exhausted the penalty of eternal death (annihilation) for the human race.

If Christ had not died, there would be no hope of salvation, that is, the saving from eternal death (annihilation) for humanity.

But because Christ died, as “the just [holy] for the unjust [unholy human race]” (1 Peter 3:18), He made possible the forgiveness of every individual’s past sins by God, and the end of all sin in the individual’s present and future life.

Thus, Christ’s death was effective in bringing forth “much fruit” (John 12:24), in other words, “in bringing many sons [and daughters] unto glory.” Hebrews 2:10. This glory is when an individual has a character of love identical to that of God’s character.

So, Christ is the Good Seed that was sown to bring about the salvation of all humanity.

Growth of the Good Seed

Now God says, “The kingdom of God [is] as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.” Mark 4:26, 27.

“For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn [grain of wheat] in the ear.” Mark 4:28.

“But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Mark 4:29.

Here, Christ is the One who sows good seed, the word of God which is the Bible, in the world.

The good seed germinates in the hearts of those persons who have responded positively to “the grace of God” (Luke 2:40) which is God’s unmerited favour in blessing humanity.

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13) by ceasing from sin. Thus, the good seed, the word of God, grows every day in the individual’s heart and transforms their life without anyone knowing how.

That is, the seed produces a plant at different stages of growth until it reaches maturity, “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn [grain of wheat] in the ear.” Mark 4:28.

At maturity, the individual is ready for the harvest when God reaps the earth of all those persons who had become sinless through “the power of God” (1 Peter 1:5) and grants them eternal life.

Christ as the Good Seed

Now Christ is also known as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8. This means that from before the time when Adam and Eve were created, Christ was set aside by God to save humanity from eternal death (annihilation) in the event that sin should enter into the world.

When Adam and Eve did sin, as a promise of Christ’s future death, Christ was as the Good Seed sown in their hearts to make them obedient to God’s will in that they would become sinless.

The Good Seed and the Christian

What are the characteristics of those persons who have responded positively to God’s grace?

These are the people who of whom Christ speaks when He says, “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:25.

“If any man [person] serve me, let him follow me; and where I am [in heaven], there shall also my servant be: if any man [person] serve me, him [or her] will my Father honour.” John 12:26.

What does all this mean? The central truth is that such persons no longer love their present evil life which reflects their upbringing in the School of Satan, but they hate this life.

In so doing, they turn away from their evil life to start a new life reflecting their enrolment in the School of Christ, having become followers of Christ.

That is, in this new life, they become “labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9), serving God by seeking the salvation of their fellow human beings. Such individuals are known as Christians.

The Christian as a Sower of Good Seed

“Now [Christ is] he that ministereth [supplies] seed to the sower.” 2 Corinthians 9:10. For, as those who serve God, as the followers of Christ called Christians, Christ supplies Christians with spiritual seed, the word of God, which they “sow.”

Christians then are sowers who share of the word of God with the world for this is their “holy calling” (2 Timothy 1:9) from God.

The sum of all this is that Christ Himself sows the good seed in the hearts of everyone which causes the receptive people to become Christians, who in turn, sow spiritual seed in the world.

The Good Seed and Bread for Food

“Now he [Christ] that ministereth [supplies] seed to the sower…minister [supply] bread for your food.” 2 Corinthians 9:10.

What does this mean? Well, in ancient Israel, God “rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn [grain] of heaven. Man [people] did eat angels’ food [food prepared by angels]: he [God] sent them meat [food] to the full.” Psalm 78:24, 25.

Israel’s leader, “Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD [God] hath given you to eat.” Exodus 16:15.

The manna, the bread from heaven, was symbolic of the word of God, the Bible, which as “the engrafted [implanted] word…[is] is able to save your souls” (James 1:21), save you from eternal death (annihilation).

So, not only does Christ supply good seed to the sower which is the Christian, He also gives the sower, the Christian, spiritual bread from heaven for their own spiritual food to nourish them as they labour together with God.

This food is “the word of his [God’s] grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified [made holy, that is, made perfect in love].” Acts 20:32.

Therefore, all humanity should say to God, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law [of love, given by God in the whole Bible].” Psalm 119:18.

“O send out thy [God’s] light and thy [God’s] truth: let them lead me” (Psalm 43:3), “lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:24.

So, when God opens the eyes of your understanding and leads you out of spiritual darkness into His light and truth, you would have indeed received bread from heaven, spiritual food that can save your soul.

The Good Seed Multiplied

“Now he [Christ] that ministereth [supplies] seed to the sower both minister [supply] bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown.” 2 Corinthians 9:10.

Again, what does it mean to “multiply your seed sown” (2 Corinthians 9:10)?

Here God is teaching us that, just as Christ sows good seed to cause individuals to become Christians, and the Christian, in turn, sows good seed being nourished by Christ as they labour together with God, Christ also causes the Christian’s labour to not be in vain.

For the good seed which is the word of God, the Bible, sown by the Christian as “labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9), produces new Christians through “the power of God.” 1 Peter 1:5.

In other words, God says, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward [one who manages the property, money, and other affairs of another], whom his lord [God] shall make ruler over his household [over humanity], to give them their portion of meat [their portion of spiritual food from the word of God, the Bible] in due season?” Luke 12:42.

God Himself answers His question by saying, “As every man [person] hath received the [spiritual] gift [of righteousness from God], even so minister [serve] the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold [multifaceted] grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10.

For “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He [or she] that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed [the word of God, the Bible], shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his [or her] sheaves [bundles of wheat] with him [or her].” Psalm 126:5, 6.

 What then are these sheaves? They are the result of the Christian’s labour whereby “the word of God increased…[in that] and the number of the disciples [followers of Christ] multiplied…greatly…[such that] a great company [a great number of new Christians]…were obedient to the [requirements of] faith [in Christ].” Acts 6:7.

That is to say, your Christian labour will not be in vain for God will “multiply your seed sown.” 2 Corinthians 9:10.

The Good Seed and Fruits of Righteousness

“Now he [Christ] that ministereth [supplies] seed to the sower both minister [supply] bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:10.

What does “increase the fruits of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10) mean?

It is to say, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you [the Christian who sows good seed]; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things [pertaining to God], may abound to every good work [in accordance with God’s character of love]…being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness [of love], which causeth through us [who had preached the word of God to you to make you a Christian] thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:8-11.

For “the liberal [generous] soul [person who preaches the word of God] shall be made fat [spiritually prosperous]: and he [or she] that watereth [the seed sown] shall be watered [receive the blessing of spiritual food from God] also himself [or herself].” Proverbs 11:25.

This then is how God will “increase the fruits of your righteousness [as a Christian]” (2 Corinthians 9:10) in that God makes you abound in love (righteousness), which love is forever reaching out to work for the salvation of your fellow human being.

The Good Seed and Thanksgiving to God

Now, why does God say that is there “thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11) caused by those who preach?

The reason is that there is a need to thank and praise God, first, by the Christian who sowed good seed in preaching the word of God. Second, by the new Christian produced by preaching. Third, by the other new Christians produced by the preaching of the new Christian convert to Christ, and so on and on as each Christian produces new Christians.

We can call this a spiritual ripple effect, just as a stone cast into a body of water causes ripples to propagate outwards from the centre, with Christ being the One who initiates the process by casting the stone.

In other words, the good seed sown by Christ produces Christians, who themselves sow good seed thereby producing new Christians, and these new Christians also produce other Christians, and so on and on.

This then is the purpose of Christ in sowing good seed in the world in that His work of love can be multiplied to save all humanity from eternal death (annihilation).

For “a man [or woman] can receive nothing, except it be given him [or her] from heaven.” John 3:27.

That is, without Christ Himself being the Good Seed and His sowing of good seed (Himself), for “his name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13), none among humanity could be saved.

Let us then say to God, “Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD [God]…and sing praises unto thy name.” Psalm 18:49.

The Good Seed and the Growth of Christianity

“Another parable put he [Christ] forth…saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least [smallest] of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.” Matthew 13:31, 32.

Here Christ, as the Good Seed, likens Himself to a mustard seed in that Christ’s life on earth and His shameful and wrongful death seemed insignificant to many at the time.

But today, in the twenty-first century, the number of Christians, the followers of Christ, worldwide is approximately 2.3 billion people out of a total world population of about 7.67 billion. In addition, there are the millions of Christians who have died over the past six thousand years since the death of Abel, the first Christian martyr, who was killed by His brother, Cain.

Cain and Abel were the first two children of Adam and Eve. “Cain, who was of that wicked one [Satan]…slew [killed] his brother. And wherefore [why] slew [killed] he him? Because his [Cain’s] own works were evil, and his brother’s [Abel’s] righteous.” 1 John 3:12.

Thus, God sums up the growth of Christianity by saying, “Therefore sprang there even of one [Christ], and him…dead, so many [Christians] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.” Hebrews 11:12. Truly, the mustard seed has grown to huge proportions.

Of course, this statement by God was made in the first century at a time when people could not count to one million, much less to more than two billion, and so God used terms that the people living then could understand.

The Good Seed and the Harvest

As was said before, Christ’s death, as the Good Seed that was sown, was effective in bringing forth “much fruit” (John 12:24), in other words, “in bringing many sons [and daughters] unto glory.” Hebrews 2:10. This glory is when an individual has a character of love identical to that of God’s character.

And we have seen that there are billions of Christians today, but does this mean that all humanity, or even a majority of humanity, shall be saved by God?

God answers this question by saying, “Enter ye in [into the kingdom of heaven] at the strait [narrow] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction [eternal death (annihilation)], and many there be which go in thereat [there]: Because strait [narrow] is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto [eternal] life, and few [people] there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13.

“Strive to enter in [into the kingdom of heaven] at the strait [narrow] gate: for many [people], I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:24.

Therefore, we see that the majority of humanity, by their own choice, will be excluded by God from the kingdom of heaven and, hence, will receive eternal death (annihilation) from God.

“Who then can be saved?” Matthew 19:25. Christ’s answer is, “Fear not, little flock [of true Christians]; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom [of heaven].” Luke 12:32.

Only true Christians, genuine Christians, those who have become sinless, will be saved by God unto eternal life in the world to come. These are they that make up God’s harvest at the end of world as we now know it.

Conclusion

In this post, we have unpacked our Bible quotation of focus: “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:10.

This Bible verse speaks of a wonderful transformation of individuals from sinfulness to a character of love identical to God’s character. This transformation originates from Christ, the Good Seed that was sown, or in other words, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8.

Let us not fail to receive Christ as the Good Seed in our hearts. Let us enter into a spiritual journey with God which ends in our receiving eternal life from God.

Don’t miss out on the rewarding work of making other Christians as you are “labourers together with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9. For “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament [sky]; and they that turn many to righteousness [that make Christians] as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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