Parable of the Sower Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23

Matthew 13:1-8 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spake 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 sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:18-23 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth 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 heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Seed The word of God – Matt. 13:19; Lk. 8:11 The nature of the seed – 1 Pt. 1:22-25 The seed is powerful – Rom. 1:16 The same seed falls on all soils, with the same power The result comes from within – Heb. 4:12-13

Wayside soil – matt. 13:4;19 Packed down from heavy travel – like a road Those who stop their ears and refuse to listen – Acts 7:54,57 In the days of Zechariah – Zech. 7:8-13 Some will listen until they hear something they don’t like! Jews – salvation to the Gentiles – Acts 22:21-23 Some mocked the resurrection – Acts 17:32 The Atheist – until the mention of God The Modernist – until the mention of the inspiration of scriptures

Stony soil – Matt. 13:5-6; 20-21 Rich layer of soil with a little depth, above a layer of bedrock 2 Timothy 3:12 – all will suffer persecution Some, like Demas, won’t endure (2 Tim. 4:10) Failure to count the cost (Luke 14:25-33) Rich young ruler – Mt. 19:16-22; Mk. 10:17-22; Lk. 18:18-23 The chief rulers – John 12:42-43

Thorny soil – Matt. 13:7; 22 Prayer prevents distraction – Matt. 6:11 Martha distracted by the cares of the world – Lk. 10:38-42 Don’t be anxious, pray – Phil. 4:6-9 Learn contentment to prevent becoming entangled – 1 Tim. 6:6-10; 2 Tim. 2:4

Good Soil – Matt. 13:8,23 The only good of the four An honest and good heart – Luke 8:15 (Saul)Paul’s Example – Acts 22,23,26 James 1:21 – those who yield to God – Rom. 6:13 An honest heart understands the word (as opposed to Mt. 13:19) The church at Corinth – 1 Cor. 6:9-11

Fruit – Matt. 13:23 Must bear fruit to be accepted of God – John. 15:1-11 Our fruit pleased the Lord – Col. 1:9-11 Not in comparison to others (Mt. 13:23b – some 100, some 60, some 30) Be as the woman, who did what she could – Mk. 14:3-9