The parable of the Sower

Understanding The Parable of the Sower
In a New Light

Matthew 13:3-9
Mark 3:3-14

Luke 8:5-15

The Parable of the Sower What does it mean?
Matthew 13:3-9	Mark 3:3-14	Luke 8:5-15

The parable of the Sower
in Matthew

Matthew 13:3-9

3 And he spoke 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 sixty fold, some thirty fold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.


Insight
The parable of the sower identifies a person delivering the same seed to four different grounds. The GROUND in the illustration actually was the heart of a person.
{para along side}{able= to throw}[i.e. to throw a story along the side of a spiritual principle that could actually illustrate the picture of an idea; maybe an idea not so easy to understand!]


Scientists have discovered that people think primarily in pictures and in images.


No accident that the book of Genesis as well as much of the remainder of the Old Testaments written a s a series of stories, that illustrate a multitude of Human experiences and Problems.


The Bible is the only major religious book that describes it's heroes in any light that could be considered as less than favorable.


Yet not one of the major characters in the Bible is reported with out his or her flaws.


Many times the flaws lead to major changes in the Plot Line


The overall story continues on without missing a step.
The story being one of Redemption, Restoration, Reconciliation of fallen man with the God who created him


Thus we have a ground that can be cultivated and the person himself could control the kind of heart that would receive the seed.

Jesus explains the parable

In Matthew 13:10    we have Jesus' own explanation.


The Disciples did not understand


Matthew 13:10

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why do you speak unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,
but to them it is not given.

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance:
but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.



14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Elijah, which said, By hearing ye shall hear,
and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed;
lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears,
and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see,
and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

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Jesus Explains to his Disciples

Matthew 13:18-25

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not,

then cometh the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart.

This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and at once with joy receives it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but endures for a while:

for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word,

by and by he is offended. {offended: he relapses, or, falls into sin}

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word;

and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it;

which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Jesus Makes a remarkable side note
Mark 3:14

Mark 3:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

Jesus is implying that not understanding this parable would preclude understanding any other miracle!

So what is it that makes this parable so important that the rest of scripture is unattainable. In his recent podcast Robert Morris illustrated this contrast and comparison. While there are five different kinds of grounds, there is only one stealing the seed.

The first hindrance to the effectiveness of the seed would be the Birds! Not having received message into the heart the protection that would come from the Word believed or the Milk of the word being hidden in the heart, the seed fell easy prey to the watchful birds. One might wonder what the birds represent in the scripture.

The next hindrance to the effectiveness of the seed would be the Heat! Watching new believers for some time we see the first obstacle to standing in faith after making a confession is holding out against the anger of family members or close friends. It is only after standing firm in the face of this anger that the faith takes root. By this we remember Jesus words. Not having the moisture that would come from the Word believed or the Milk of the word

Luke 8:5-15
Luke reporting of this teaching

5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Insight

As Usual the inclusion by Luke is always the more heady or intellectual description of the same events that may also be listed in other gospel entries.

Mark 4:3-20
Mark reporting of this teaching

Mark 4:3-20

3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth;
and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

14 The sower slows the word.

15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh
immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

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Heat!

Deuteronomy 29:24

24 Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?

The context of this passage identifies the heat as anger!

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Jesus words.
Confess Jesus
Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.	Luke 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Love Jesus more than others
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.	Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
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