The Sower
The parable of the sower is one of Jesus’ most well-known parables. And for good reason. This story has implications that are as powerful today as the first time Jesus told it.
- Jesus was such an influential teacher because he was so good at telling stories and creating memorable illustrations.
- He illustrated difficult teachings with images that not only help in comprehension but also help us to remember.
- That’s what’s so powerful about the parable of the sower; it’s a perfectly illustrated story that helps us understand the challenges for any person determined to make disciples.
The parable of the sower is found in three Gospels (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:1-15). We will start by looking at the context and the setting in which this story is told. Then, we will look at the parable of the sower’s meaning for us today.
The Setting Of The Parable Of The Sower
Matthew 13:1 gives us some fascinating insight into what was happening before the telling of this parable.
- Jesus went to sit by the lake near a house he was staying in.
- The moment Jesus stepped into public, a crowd gathered around him.
This crowd was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it just offshore (Matthew 13:2).
- In A large crowd, only those closest to Jesus would have been able to hear him.
- The lake also acts as a natural amphitheater; thus, his voice would have easily carried over the water to the entire crowd.
Also, what we need to know is that this is an agrarian society.
- If you didn’t farm, you didn’t eat.
- So, the imagery in this parable of sowing seeds and the related challenges would have been VERY familiar to Jesus’ audience.
The Background.
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.9 He who has ears,[a] let him hear.”
The Purpose of the Parables
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.[b]22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
This parable starts with the farmer going out and spreading the seed.
- And the rest of the parable talks about the soil where this seed falls.
While we call this the parable of the sower, it’s more of a parable of the soil.
- This parable teaches us the sower sows generously.
- But the rest of the parable of the sower meaning centers around the soil.
In total, there are 4 kinds of soil in Jesus’ story.
- Some fell on the path (Matthew 13:4).
- Others fell where the topsoil was thin (Matthew 13:5).
- Some fell in the thorns (Matthew 13:7).
- And finally, some fell in good soil (Matthew 13:8).
The image that should be in our head is a farmer with a bag/pouch full of seeds.
- The farmer is reaching in, grabbing handfuls of seeds, and throwing them on every inch of his land.
- The farmer is not obsessed with the kind of soil the seed falls on.
- He’s simply spreading the seed.
- This is much different than how we farm today.
- In Jesus’ day, you sowed and then plowed.
- Thus, the harsh grounds that choke out life might become fertile.
The sower is sowing generously because he knows the more he sows, the bigger his crop. Yes, he’ll lose some of his seed. But the return is worth the cost.
Let’s look at the parable of the sower meaning in the four soils since that’s the primary focus. Each of these kinds of soils represents our hearts. And the seed is the Gospel. As we look at this, I encourage you to evaluate your heart and see where the seed falls.
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The Seeds On The Path
“As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.” – Matthew 13:4
This first soil shows how generously the sower is sowing. He’s throwing seeds, even when beaten in paths. The seeds cannot penetrate this compressed soil and are eaten by the birds.
- This soil represents those who have hardened their hearts and refuse to listen to the Gospel. They rejected it without taking the time even to consider it.
- Seeds cannot bring life to hard-pressed soil. Similarly, the Gospel cannot take root in a hardened heart.
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The Seeds In The Thin Soil
“Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.” – Matthew 13:5-6
When seed is planted in shallow soil it will often start growing, you’ll see some signs of life. But that life is short-lived.
- The soil is not deep enough to sustain life.
- There’s not enough water for the plant, so eventually, the sun will scorch out all life.
This seed represents a person who was initially enthusiastic. But their roots never went deep.
- Life happened,
- Tragedy struck,
- Or they just got busy, and their faith faded.
- Their faith never got below the surface, and they cannot survive the trials and hardships of life.
Plants need roots that go deep to get water and nutrients to survive. Similarly, Christians need deep roots that continually renew and refresh their faith.
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The Seeds In The Thorns
“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” – Matthew 13:7
When you have fertile soil it’s not just the good seeds that will take root, thorns also try to take advantage of the soil.
- When that happens, the thorns will eventually choke out the good seeds.
- The young seeds can not survive the onslaught.
This seed represents those who may look good on the outside but have let sin creep in on the inside.
- Although they might say that Jesus is Lord, their lives tell a different story.
- It can also refer to those whose lives are entirely of “Good” things, but no energy is left for spiritual matters.
- Either way, they have lordship issues.
It is incorrect to picture little seeds thrown in the middle of a weed patch.
- The thorns, if any are left after the hot, dry summer, would be plowed under after the seed has been sown.
- The accurate picture is a good seed competing with a bad seed.
- Luke uses the word symphyō, meaning “to grow up together.”
- The implication is obvious. Our lives may look pure. Ostensibly, we are in no danger of “bad weeds,” but the seeds are there.”
This is why it’s so important to guard our hearts. We must constantly look for anything that wants to attack our lives.
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The Seeds In The Good Soil
“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” – Matthew 13:8
When seeds find good fertile soil, they will sprout and produce an abundant crop.
- In the parable of the sower, the yield is a hundredfold, which is enormous. And certainly would have grabbed the attention of Jesus’ listeners.
- Getting such a big return was what they all wanted.
This soil represents those who hear the Gospel and follow Jesus.
- Their roots go deep and can sustain the hardships of life.
- They have decided to guard their hearts to ensure no thorns can choke out their life.
- They are primed and ready to grow. And grow, they do.
- But their lives produce is more than they could have ever created, they also receive the help of the Lord.
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Essentially, All The Soil Is The Same
As we try to understand the meaning of the parable of the sower, we need to note that all the soil is essentially the same.
- The difference between the soils is what’s been added to them and how it’s been cultivated (or not).
We are each the cultivators of our soil, our hearts. When looking for disciples, we seek people who intentionally make room for God’s word to grow.
Or we are looking for someone ready to change.
- If your heart is hard,
- your faith is shallow,
- or if something is choking your life out, it’s not too late to change.
God is an expert at producing life from the dry, hard-pressed soil of life.
The parable of the sower challenges us to:
- Cultivate our hearts.
- A promise of a life that God will bring in you and through you, which will be greater than you can imagine.
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The Generosity Of Sower
I said that this parable is more about the soil than the sower. But there is an incredible point that we shouldn’t ignore about the farmer.
In the parable of the sower, the farmer sows generously. He gives every kind of soil a chance to produce life.
The likeliness that seed would take root in rocky soil is slim. But not impossible.
- What the parable of the sower teaches us is that God is generous.
- He’s extended his grace to EVERYONE.
- Even those he knows will likely reject it; he gives it to them anyway in hopes they will cultivate their heart and experience the life he came to give them.
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Our part in the field.
“Essentially, the soil is the same. The difference is what is added to the soil (i.e., weed seed, rocks, or a good trampling). How do these differences come about?
Through hearing.
- Not the simple physiological performance of the ears but the humble acceptance of the heart.
- The word of God must be obeyed and not just heard.
- In Hebrew culture, “to hear” also implied obedience.
- The soil is potentially good for each human heart. The difference is in the will.
This is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Don’t forget to take the review quiz that follows this lesson. also, take a moment to answer one of the two questions in the forum linked below.
https://exartidzo.com/forums/topic/2-the-parable-of-the-sower/
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