Today, we are going to look at Matthew’s ‘the parable of the sower’. You can also find this parable in Mark 4:3-9, 13-20 and Luke 8:5-8, 11-15. Many scholars believe that Mark wrote it first and then Matthew and Luke gave their versions with a few small tweaks. The truths are the same in all three versions of Jesus’ parable.
Notice the picture that Bev put in the bulletin. There are four types of soil shown and it asks, ‘What type of soil are you?’
The Word of God needs good soil to be able to grow, so I am asking ‘Are you planted in good soil?’ What is your lifestyle – a trodden path, rocky ground, full of weeds, or good soil? Which kind of soil are you choosing to produce?
Now, on to the text. Matthew 13 is the first time in Matthew that Jesus teaches using a parable. The word ‘parable’ comes from two Greek words (para and ballo), which together mean ‘to throw alongside.’ A parable, like an illustration, makes a comparison between a known truth and an unknown truth; it throws them alongside each other.
Warren Wiersbe, in his book ‘Windows on the Parables’, opens with this statement:
‘But let me warn you: studying the parables is like exposing yourself to a laser beam! It is a dangerous thing to approach our Lord’s parables with a careless attitude…. The parables are not bedtime stories to put us to sleep, but bugle calls to wake us up! So, if you find yourself jolted by some lesson that is taught, give thanks to God and immediately apply that lesson to your life.’ 1
This passage is the first parable which Jesus gives to those around Him. It is also His way of preparing them to receive further teaching. They must decide which type of soil they are, and if not good soil, then work towards that goal.
Read with me The Parable of the Sower.
Matthew 13: 1-9 NIV
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.
2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Verse 9 is the bugle call to wake up! When you read this, you are to hear and do what it says. This is not just a neat story – it is a direct word from God as to how we should live! We choose which type of soil we want to stay living in, therefore we choose which type of soil we are for God’s Word to grow in.
Now we read the explanation that Jesus gives for this parable. Hear what He says!
Matthew 13: 18-23 NIV
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
The Bible Knowledge Commentary states:
‘In this second passage, Jesus compares the four results of sowing to four responses to the Kingdom message. This was the message preached by John, Jesus, and the apostles.’2
It continues with:
‘The difference in these results was not in the seed, but in the soil on which the seed fell. As the Gospel of the kingdom was presented, the good news was the same. The difference was in the individuals who heard that Word’. 3
And then lastly:
’In this parable, Jesus demonstrated why the Pharisees and religious leaders rejected His message. They were not “prepared soil” for the Word. The “mystery” concerning the kingdom Jesus presented here was the truth that the good news was rejected by the majority. This had not been revealed in the Old Testament.’ 4
I like to think that our Lord Jesus was using a common activity that most people would understand to give direction to them. Farming was a part of everyone’s lives and very important in their daily existence. God had been doing that before Christ’s time on earth. In fact, God set the tone for this parable back in the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 40:8 NIV
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever.
The Word of God will stand, so our choice is whether we stand with it or wither and fall away. Therefore, the type of soil that we choose to be and choose to grow in will dictate the outcome.
If we choose to spend our time on the well-worn path of mankind, we set ourselves up for Satan to grab us away from God.
If we choose to walk along the rocky ground, then we get excited about God but do not put roots down (study God’s Word, prayer and fellowship with other believers) and our excitement dulls and we wander away.
If we choose to walk among the thorns and weeds, we soon become entangled in the mess. Our walk with God stops and we are separated from God by lies, doubt, success and chasing prosperity.
If we choose to walk in good soil, such as reading God’s Word daily, prayer and fellowship with other believers, then we will stay away from the areas of life in which Satan travels. We will avoid buying into lies, doubt, success at all costs, and chasing prosperity for greed’s sake.
When we live in and become good soil, God’s Word grows in us and out from us! Then we are providing a good soil for our neighbours to start to grow in.
And that is what God wants us to do – be strong and share what makes us strong!
This brings another farming passage to mind.
John 15:1-8 NIV
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
When we are grounded in good soil, God just has to prune us to make us the best we can be. Then we bear much fruit, which is, we lead many more to God and help them grow into fruit bearers too.
What is your soil type? Do you need to change what you are doing?
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