The parable that breaks a pastor's heart

The parable that is often said to break a pastor's heart is the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23). This parable illustrates how the word of God can be received and how different responses can lead to varying degrees of spiritual growth, or lack thereof. Pastors often witness firsthand the different ways people respond to the gospel, and the parable of the sower highlights the potential for shallow faith and the disappointment of seeing those who initially embrace the word later fall away Matthew 13:1-9. 1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.