THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

Mt. 13:3-9, l8-23

Mark 4:2-9, 14-20

Luke 8:4-8, 11-15

Introduction:                 This parable is one of the most familiar of the parables Jesus told. The lesson is presented by use of an activity readily grasped by the common people. (McGarvey:  “We note here...the fidelity to nature which is maintained throughout. Every person acquainted with farming operations must be struck with the faithfulness of the picture.”)

We shall notice this parable under the following sections:  I.  The Setting; II. The Parable Itself; III. Jesus’ Interpretation; and IV. The Lesson.

I.               The Setting

A.         “Jesus went out of the house...”

1.         “The house” was probably in Capernaum, and may have been Peter’s house.

a.         Mt. 8:5 - Jesus entered into Capernaum.

b.         Mt. 8:14 - he entered into Simon Peter’s house.

2.         Mt. 8:23-34 - Jesus went across the sea (of Galilee, or Tiberias, or Gennesaret) to the land of the Gerasenes.

3.         Then, in Mt. 9:1, “Jesus cometh to his own city” (Capernaum, not Nazareth, for Nazareth was not on the sea coast. Also, see Mt. 13:53, where Jesus departed, and went to Nazareth.)

4.         Mt. 9:35; 11:1 - Jesus traveled, preaching and teaching in “their” cities? What cities?

a.         Note Mt. 11:20—24 — Jesus upbraided “the cities where most of his mighty works were done.”

b.        Chorazin

c.         Bethsaida    (All grouped on the North shore of the

d.        Capernaum Sea of Galilee.)

B.         Jesus went to the seashore.

1.         The multitude was so great, that he got into a ship, and sat.

2.         The crowd gathered around the shore, and listened to his words.

C.         The scene Jesus could see:

1.         “A slight recess in the hillside...disclosed at once... every feature of the great parable… There was the undulating cornfield descending to the water’s edge. There was the trodden pathway running through the midst of it, with no fence or hedge to prevent the seed from falling here and there on either side of it, or upon it... There was the ‘good’ rich soil, which distinguishes the whole of that plain and its neighborhood from the bare hills elsewhere...and which produces one vast mass of corn. There was the rocky ground of the hillside...There were the large bushes of thorn...” (Quoted from Trench’s Notes on the Parables, p.66.)

2.         Quite possibly, there was a man doing this very thing as Jesus spoke!

II.             The Parable Itself

A.         The sower “went forth” to sow.

1.         The farmers lived in villages, and their fields were out away from the houses.

2.         “Going forth” was a necessity for sowing!

B.         The Kinds of soil.

1.         “Wayside” - a path that went through the field, sometimes marking boundaries. There were no fences.

a.         The wayside would be packed, due to the constant traffic upon it.

b.         The result would be that the seed would lie on the top of the soil, and the birds would come and eat it.

2.         “Stony places”

a.         Does not mean soil with rocks or stones scattered in it.

b.         Denotes ground that has a thin layer of soil covering a large stony mass.

c.         Result - the seed grows into a plant, but is quickly scorched because the roots could not go deep enough to get enough moisture (Cf. Luke 8:6).

3.         “Among thorns” - soil infested with the roots of thorns. “Since generally nothing grows faster than that which is not wanted, and each patch of ground had adequate room for only a definitely restricted amount of healthy plant life, it is not surprising that the faster growing weeds were soon choking the very life out of the noble grain.”  (Quoted from Hendriksen).

4.         “Good ground” - earth which was actually suitable for producing the good crop and the desired harvest.

III.           The Interpretation

A.         Since Jesus gives the interpretation, there should be no mistake as to its meaning!

B.         Sower —

1.         Represents he who preaches.

1.         Represents one who preaches.

2.         See Mt. 13:37 - as he interprets the Parable of the Tares, the sower there is “The Son of Man.”

3.         Earlier, the disciples were “sent forth” to preach to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt. 10:5,6).

4.         Later, they would be “sent forth” into “all the world” (Mt. 28:18-20).

C.         The seed —

             1.         “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11)

2.         This one statement shows the great importance of the word of God.

a.         Alexander Campbell, in his debate with N. L. Rice, said: “I regard this...argument...as a host in itself… I regard this argument, when fully canvassed and deve­loped, as enough on this subject; I am willing to place the whole cause upon it.” (p. 665).

b.         Just as the seed is essential to produce a plant, just so is the word of God essential to produce a Christian.

                              3.            1 Pet. 1: 23 - “being born again … of incorruptible seed – the word of God.”

                              4.            James 1:18 – “he begat us with the word of truth.”

               D.           The soil is the human heart.

                  1.            In the Bible, the heart is where man’s intellect is based (Rom. 10:9,10).

                  2.            In the Bible, the heart is where man’s emotions are based (Matt. 22:37).

                 3.            In the Bible, the heart is where man’s volition is based (Rom. 6:6,17).

                 4.            The heart must be kept with diligence, “for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

                 5.            “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

                 6.            Types of soil:

               a.       Wayside - a hard heart that does not allow the seed (word) to penetrate. (Note

                        the description of the one who “snatches the word away”: Matthew-the wicked

                         one; Mark-Satan; Luke-the devil.)

                       (1)          Hearts are hardened by the “deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13).

                       (2)          Hearts are hardened by persistence in sin (Rom. 1:18-32).

                       (3)          Hearts are hardened by failure to heed warnings (1 Tim. 4:2).

                    b.            Stony - a heart without strong convictions; represents those who begin and

                                   look like they will do well, but soon quit. (See Gal. 5:7).

                       (1)          He is impulsive, perhaps obeying the gospel before counting the cost.’’

                       (2)          His response is based more on emotion than convic­tion!

                       (3)          Note the passages which emphasize being firmly established in the

                                      faith: Eph. 3:17; 1 Pet. 2:2; Col. 1:23.

                    c.            Thorny - represents a heart too crowded!

                       (1)          The plant comes up (becomes a Christian), but is “choked” out with the

                                      cares of the world!

                       (2)          The heart can produce either thorns or fruit, but it cannot produce both!

                                      We must choose whom we will serve (Mt. 6:24 — God or mammon,

                                      but not both: Josh. 24:15 – “choose...whom ye will serve.”

                       (3)          Cares of this world - must keep them in proper perspective.

                       (4)          Deceitfulness of riches - (1 Tim. 6:10)

                       (5)          Lusts of other things - strong desires for things other than the word of

                                      God will lead to death - James 1:13-16.

                      (6)          Pleasures of this life - Paul told Timothy to turn away from this group (2 Tim. 3:3).

                    d.            Good Soil - represents the “honest and good heart” (Luke 8:15).

                       (1)          He hears, understands, obeys, and continues to bear fruit.

                       (2)          We must bring forth fruit (John 15:1-14; Gal. 5:22-25).

                       (3)          When the word reaches this kind of heart, God will give the increase (1

                                      Corinthians 3:6,7).

                       (4)          “Bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).

IV.            The Lesson

A.        Stresses the importance of hearing.

                          1.         Notice:

                                       a.           Matthew 13:9 - “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
                                       b.         Mark 4:3, 9  - “Hearken...” “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
                                       c.           Luke 8:8 - “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

                          2.         A great responsibility rests on the hearer!

B.        Many passages emphasize the responsibility of the preacher or teacher to teach “sound doctrine,” “truth,” etc.

1.         Many are quick to criticize the preacher!

2.         But here, in this parable, the Perfect Preacher stresses the obligation of the hearers

a.        Take heed what ye hear!

b.        Take heed how ye hear!

Conclusion:                How is your heart, and how are your ears?