Comparison:
Jesus uses this parable because it shows clearly that there are a lot of different ways in which the Word of God could be received, and it was not just a case of people either receiving and accepting it, or rejecting it.
So for this reason, there are many different ways of receiving the parable as well. The audience (the general crowd) is compared to the soil, with the seed being the Word of God sown by Jesus. The different types of soil are the different ways in which people can receive the good news.
The seed that falls by the way side or on a path, represents the word that is heard but never makes any progress because, as Jesus says 4 : 15 "... Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts" Satan in this instance is like the birds that came and ate up the seed.
The seed falling on the rocky ground is the word that is superficially accepted, but the people have no fortitude and so when times become difficult they lose faith, and the Word soon loses its place in their lives.
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