The Parable of the Sower Matthew 13:1-23

Introduction As Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, He did not always find a receptive audience. In this parable Jesus gives us His own explanation so that we may understand all parables. Let’s study the “Parable of the Sower.” 1. a. Even where He did mighty works, some did not repent - Mt 11:20-24 b. Some sought to trick Him, so they might have reason to accuse Him - Mt 12:9-14 Ac 4:16 saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. -- It was for this very reason that Jesus began teaching publicly in “parables” - Mt 13:13 The problem Jesus faced was that many people, though they had ears to hear, their ears had become “hard of hearing” - Mt 13:14-15 To illustrate this problem, Jesus told a parable that has come to be known as “The Parable Of The Sower” 2. The significance of this particular parable is enhanced by the words of Jesus recorded in Mk 4:13...“Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all parables?”

The Parable of the Sower

The Sower Who is “the Sower?” The Sower is anyone who teaches the gospel. Mark 4:14 1. In the parables, Jesus uses examples the people could relate to they would understand who and what a sower does. Not specifically mentioned who the sower is, … except in Mark 4:14 the sower is anyone that sows the word But it is a fair use of the parable to apply it today to anyone who faithfully proclaims the message of the Son of Man The use of sowing is prevalent throughout the New Testament John 4:36-37 "And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.‘ 2Co 9:6 ¶ But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Ga 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

The Parable of the Sower The Sower The Seed

The Seed The seed is “the Word of the kingdom.” Matthew 13:19a The Word is the most important Book you can ever know. John 1:1-5; 14-18 1. I.e., the gospel of the kingdom, which was the theme of Jesus’ preaching - Mt 4:23 It was also an important element of apostolic preaching - cf. Ac 8:12; 28:30-31 2. Romans 10:17 Heb 11:6 Heb 2:1-4 (READ) 2 Tim 3:16-17 The word teaches us how to live life successfully how to be righteous how to be happy As long as we understand it and apply it properly

The Parable of the Sower The Sower The Seed The Types of Ground

The Types of Ground The Wayside. Matthew 13:19 1. This soil represents one who “hears....and does not understand” Has no interest in understanding Puts no effort into study Most likely, these are those who have hardened their hearts prior to hearing the Word – The “birds” represent “the wicked one” (called “the devil” in Lk 8:12) Who snatches away the Word from those whose hearts are hardened 1Pe 5:8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. b. Their condition therefore is one of being “blinded” by Satan to the gospel - cf. 2 Co 4:3-4 While Satan contributes to their blindness, it is precipitated by their own hardness of heart!

The Types of Ground The Wayside. Matthew 13:19 The Stony Place. Matthew 13:20-21 2. 1. This soil represents the one who... “hears the word and immediately receives it with joy” “yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while” “when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles”- Some hear the Word and receive it with great joy... But with no root, they are not grounded in the Word So that when troubles arise, there is no endurance and stumbling occurs ***Here we learn that an emotional reception without a strong foundation based upon the Word will not enable one to stand against tribulation and persecution (Elaborate!!!) All fun and games until called upon to make a sacrifice school, work, family ect

The Types of Ground The Wayside. Matthew 13:19 The Stony Place. Matthew 13:20-21 The Thorns. Matthew 13:22 3. 1. This soil represents the one who... a. “hears the word” - Mt 13:22a b. But whose ability to bear fruit is choked by: 1) “the cares of this world” - Mt 13:22b 2) “the deceitfulness of riches” - Mt 13:22c 3) “pleasures of life” (added in Lk 8:14) 2. How these three “thorns” can cause us to be unfruitful is explained in other portions of God’s Word... a. The cares of this world 1) Can cause us to be unprepared - cf. Lk 21:34-36 2) The evil in cares and anxieties is that they can detract our minds from what is truly important - cf. Lk 12:29-32 b. The deceitfulness of riches 1) The danger is described in 1 Tim 6:9-10 2) Again, the evil in riches lay in diverting our attention away from God, and feeling self-sufficient - 1 Tim 6:17-19 c. Pleasures of life 1) Those involving the flesh in particular divert our minds from the things of the Spirit - cf. Ga 5:17 2) Sowing to the flesh makes it impossible to reap of the Spirit! - Ga 6:7-9

The Types of Ground The Wayside. Matthew 13:19 The Stony Place. Matthew 13:20-21 The Thorns. Matthew 13:22 The Good Ground. Matthew 13:23 This soil represents the one who... “hears the word and understands it” – “indeed bears fruit and produces” – listens to instruction Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. Luke adds that he hears “the word with a noble and good heart”, and then “keeps it and bears fruit with patience” - Lk 8:15 Those with “a noble and good heart”, then, are the ones... Who will understand the Word, Who will keep it, and with patience produce fruit in their lives! ***They will be like the Bereans, who were commended for being “fair-minded”, as they: “received the word will all readiness” & “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” - Ac 17:11 ***Note the importance of “understanding” in relation to “bearing fruit”... Jesus made the connection between the two in this parable - Mt 13:23 -- When one “understands”, they will more likely “bear fruit”; but the key to understanding is having a “good and noble heart” that is willing to listen and learn!

Application What type of soil are you? When you sow, do you sow the seed to any and all types of soil? Test your soil.

Matthew 13:9 "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Invitation Matthew 13:9 "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"