Are we deep or shallow? Are we quitters or do we last the distance? Are we choking in worldly cares? Do we receive the word of God? Is it fruitful in us? Let’s understand the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23.
The Parable
Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:3-8 NKJV)
Jesus Explains the Wayside
The word wayside is variously translated as a path (NIV, ESV), footpath (NLT) or road (NASB). The original Greek meaning supports all these possibilities. As we can imagine, birds just love an easy meal that has not been carefully planted in the soil. Jesus explains the spiritual meaning as follows:
Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. (Matthew 13:18-19 NKJV)
When the word of the kingdom comes, do we take time to understand it? Do we let it sink deeply into our souls? Are we careless with the word of God? Is our faith only a superficial label, just on the surface, or something deep down inside of our lives?
Jesus Explains the Stony Places
Rocky soil is a nuisance for any farmers. Over generations, the stones are removed and often laid on the edge of the fields or used for some other purpose, even for building if they are good quality. Some fields are just too rocky to be useful, and cannot be plowed.
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. (Matthew 13:20-21 NKJV)
The seed that fell on the rocks did take root, but it was shallow and didn’t last. Shallow Christianity focuses on good times and materialism, not deep spiritual things, and not persecution or suffering. Shallow Christianity cannot handle the whole truth and so avoids it. But deep-rooted Christianity lives on.
Jesus Explains the Thorns
Two plant species competing for the same soil rarely works well. Though some cases of symbiosis do work well, that is not the purpose of this parable. When there is no symbiosis, we often call the plant we don’t want a weed. Some weeds can even totally destroy a crop.
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22 NKJV)
Like thorns, worldly cares and material wealth can suck the life out of us. We waste time and effort chasing after worldly things. Worldliness becomes our master. We are on a treadmill going nowhere. Important things like the word of the kingdom are neglected. Our lives can become spiritually dead.
Jesus Explains the Good Ground
The main types of soil are sand, silt and clay. To tame deserts experts may mix clay with the sand to hold moisture. In other areas, there may be too much clay and sand is mixed in to improve the soil. Creating and keeping good soil is a constant challenge.
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:23 NKJV)
The Greek implies the good soil is “put together.” The Holy Spirit helps us to put spiritual ideas together producing fruit-filled lives. John the Baptist understood this when he chided the Pharisees about repentance. Genuine repentance, or change of heart, is seen by its fruits. Authentic Christians live fruit-filled lives.
Ears to Hear
He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 13:9 NKJV)
This is a familiar saying of Jesus. He means, pay attention! Hear deep down inside. It is an invitation to think about the deeper, hidden meaning. Why did Jesus paint such familiar farming pictures? His parables require more than ordinary superficial thought to understand. They require meditation, or thinking deeply.
Jesus Explains Why Parables
And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matthew 13:10-17 NKJV)
A parable is a story, an allegory that illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson. Those who have no interest in learning to obey God will not understand them. Those who have the desire can ask God for understanding. Blessed are the eyes and ears of those who see and hear.
Jesus Teaches: Sow Indiscriminately
Jesus spoke of the kingdom like an indiscriminate sower. There is no target audience for the gospel here. The seed of the kingdom is sown with wild abandon, like spreading the Gospel with faith instead of formulas. Jesus said something quite shocking, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18 NKJV).
Jesus Teaches: Fail in Order to Succeed
The road to success is paved with failures. The Gospel fails in three areas: the devil snatches the word of God away, the deceitfulness of wealth chokes out the word, and shallow people quit too easily. Yet, a bumper crop was produced. Failures are inevitable on the way to success.
Let’s share the kingdom with wild abandon, even when some of those we love are taken by the devil, some dear friendships are shallow and short-lived, and some are choked by worldly cares. Let’s rejoice that the kingdom finds deep roots in some hearts, producing lives overflowing with spiritual fruit.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Readings
Genesis 25:19-34 What do we learn from sibling rivalry? How can it affect generations to come?
Psalm 119:105-112 How is God’s Word a lamp to our feet? How are those who despise God’s Word walking in darkness?
Isaiah 55:10-13 What does God’s Word accomplish here on earth?
Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13 Who waters the earth?
Romans 8:1-11 What differences between being fleshly minded and spiritually minded are mentioned here?
Matthew 13:1-23 in Rhyme
When Jesus taught the multitudes
He spoke to them in parables
Behold, a sower went to sow
And seed fell on the path, you know
And the birds came and ate up the seed
On stones the seed came up with speed
But it was soon scorched by the sun
And withered until there was none
And some fell among prickly plants
Which choked them; they had no chance
On good ground a crop of repute
Hundred, sixty, thirtyfold fruit
Who has ears to hear, let them hear
Why did He speak in parables here?
He answered it’s given to you
To know the kingdom’s riddles too
But to them it’s not been given
In their hearts is no provision
Their ears are hard of hearing
And their eyes they’ve shut from seeing
But blessed are your eyes for they see
And your ears hear actually
Many prophets wanted to see
And also hear I’ll guarantee
It’s snatched from those who don’t perceive
And some just quit when they’re aggrieved
Worldliness will choke out the word
And Some bear much fruit undeterred
Children’s Rhyme to Farmer in the Dell
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The farmer plants some seeds
The farmer plants some seeds
Hi ho the derry-o
The farmer plants some seeds
-
And some fell on the path
And some fell on the path
Hi ho the derry-o
And some fell on the path
-
And some fell on the stones
And some fell on the stones
Hi ho the derry-o
And some fell on the stones
-
And some fell in the thorns
And some fell in the thorns
Hi ho the derry-o
And some fell in the thorns
-
And some fell on good soil
And some fell on good soil
Hi ho the derry-o
And some fell on good soil
-
And there it bore much fruit
And there it bore much fruit
Hi ho the derry-o
And there it bore much fruit
