I read the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 this morning.  As I read on to Jesus' explanation of the parable; "When people hear the message about the Kingdom and do not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their hearts".  I felt the Holy Spirit asking me; "Who's fault is it that they did not understand?"  The hearer?  Or is it the speaker?

I have always assumed it was the hearer.  The faithful farmer sowed the seed as he was taught but the ground (unbelieving people) did not accept it.  But, perhaps the sower is at fault for not sowing the seed in a way they could understand.  Perhaps we are at fault when we present the Gospel to oral learners (which includes most of the remaining unreached peoples) using literate means such as printed Bibles, tracts or even preaching three point sermons and they do not understand it.  For these oral learners it is our responsibility to share the Gospel in a way which they can understand and accept.