Lesson 5: The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The SowerThe Sower –The sower went forth to sow, as was common in those days –Initially, the sower represented Christ, who went out teaching and sowing the Word. –In application and principle, it is the responsibility of every Christian to be the sower, sowing the seed of the kingdom (cf. Acts 8:4). Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The SowerThe Sower –Some Truths for the Sower He must sow the seed and leave the increase to God (Isa. 55:10-11; 1 Cor. 3:6).He must sow the seed and leave the increase to God (Isa. 55:10-11; 1 Cor. 3:6). He must sow at all times, not waiting until everything is favorable (Ecc. 11:4-6; 2 Tim. 4:2).He must sow at all times, not waiting until everything is favorable (Ecc. 11:4-6; 2 Tim. 4:2). He must sow, realizing that others may reap the harvest (John 4:35-38).He must sow, realizing that others may reap the harvest (John 4:35-38). He must sow on all kinds of soil (Matt. 13:3-8).He must sow on all kinds of soil (Matt. 13:3-8). He must sow with the right attitude (2 Tim. 2:24-28; Eph. 4:15).He must sow with the right attitude (2 Tim. 2:24-28; Eph. 4:15). He must believe in the seed he sows (Rom. 1:16).He must believe in the seed he sows (Rom. 1:16). Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The SeedThe Seed –The seed was dispersed by the sower. –The seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11). –The seed, representing the Word of God, is that which contains life (John 6:63; 1 Peter 1:23). –The seed always produces after its kind (Gen. 1:11; Gal. 6:7). –The seed produced Christians only in the first century and will produce the same today. –The seed can be mixed (Mt. 13:24-25; Ga. 1:6-9). Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The SoilsThe Soils –The soils denote the various sorts of attitudes that men have towards the gospel. –The success of the sowing depends upon the soils into which the seed falls. –Hearts must be prepared to seek and receive the Word (2 Chron. 19:3; 30:19; Ezra 7:10). Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The Soils—The Wayside SoilThe Soils—The Wayside Soil (Matt. 13:3-4, 19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:5, 12) –Hard path that is fertile, but packed & unplowed –The seed makes contact, but because the soil is so hard, it cannot penetrate. –The wayside soil represents: One who does not believe, because… (Luke 8:12)One who does not believe, because… (Luke 8:12) He has chosen not to understand, because…He has chosen not to understand, because… His heart has been hardened to the truth, because…His heart has been hardened to the truth, because… He is not interested in the gospel (Matt. 13:19)He is not interested in the gospel (Matt. 13:19) Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The Soils—The Wayside SoilThe Soils—The Wayside Soil (Matt. 13:3-4, 19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:5, 12) –The birds symbolize Satan (Matt. 13:19) Satan comes immediately (Mark 4:15) and snatches the seed away (Matt. 13:19)Satan comes immediately (Mark 4:15) and snatches the seed away (Matt. 13:19) Satan only takes the seed after the soil has rejected itSatan only takes the seed after the soil has rejected it Satan is ever happy to cooperate with those who reject the truth (John 13:27; Matt. 27:4; Acts 5:3-4)Satan is ever happy to cooperate with those who reject the truth (John 13:27; Matt. 27:4; Acts 5:3-4) If the Word dwelt in the heart long enough for faith to result, salvation could follow (Luke 8:12).If the Word dwelt in the heart long enough for faith to result, salvation could follow (Luke 8:12). What methods does he use to snatch the Word away?What methods does he use to snatch the Word away? Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The Soils—The Wayside SoilThe Soils—The Wayside Soil (Matt. 13:3-4, 19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:5, 12) –What are some reasons hearts are hardened? Pride (cf. Prov. 16:18)Pride (cf. Prov. 16:18) Prejudice, come with idol in heart (cf. Ezek. 14:1-5)Prejudice, come with idol in heart (cf. Ezek. 14:1-5) Fear of giving up things (cf. Luke 18:18ff)Fear of giving up things (cf. Luke 18:18ff) Worldliness (cf. Eph. 4:17-18)Worldliness (cf. Eph. 4:17-18) No love for truth (cf. 2 Thess. 2:10)No love for truth (cf. 2 Thess. 2:10) Continually resisting the truth (cf. Ex. 8:19-20)Continually resisting the truth (cf. Ex. 8:19-20) Habitually practicing sin (cf. Heb. 3:13)Habitually practicing sin (cf. Heb. 3:13) Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The Soils—The Wayside SoilThe Soils—The Wayside Soil (Matt. 13:3-4, 19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:5, 12) –Do you know any wayside soils? Hear the Word with their minds already made up (cf. Acts 17:21)Hear the Word with their minds already made up (cf. Acts 17:21) Hear but think the truth applies to someone else (cf. John 8:33)Hear but think the truth applies to someone else (cf. John 8:33) Hear but go out and live as they did before (cf. Jas. 1:22-25)Hear but go out and live as they did before (cf. Jas. 1:22-25) Hear but have allowed the world to trample hearts so long that they are untouched (cf. 1 Tim. 4:1-2)Hear but have allowed the world to trample hearts so long that they are untouched (cf. 1 Tim. 4:1-2) Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The Soils—The Stony/Rocky SoilThe Soils—The Stony/Rocky Soil (Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21; Mark 4:16-17; Luke 8:6, 13) –A thin layer of soil overlying a solid ledge of rock; fertility is not the problem, depth is –Plants spring up immediately (b/c lacks depth) –The stony/rocky soil represents: One who lacks any strong convictions / earnestnessOne who lacks any strong convictions / earnestness One who is an emotional, superficial, impulsive hearerOne who is an emotional, superficial, impulsive hearer One, possibly, who is “won to Christ” on basis of frillsOne, possibly, who is “won to Christ” on basis of frills One who sees only pleasant elements of ChristianityOne who sees only pleasant elements of Christianity One who does not count the cost (Lk. 14:25ff; 9:23)One who does not count the cost (Lk. 14:25ff; 9:23) Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The Soils—The Stony/Rocky SoilThe Soils—The Stony/Rocky Soil (Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21; Mark 4:16-17; Luke 8:6, 13) –The seed has no depth, therefore no root, without which no plant can survive – Christians must be rooted in Christ (Col. 2:7; Eph. 3:17) –One cannot afford for his faith to be shallow. –Faith must grow inward (and deeply) and not be merely outward. Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The Soils—The Stony/Rocky SoilThe Soils—The Stony/Rocky Soil (Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21; Mark 4:16-17; Luke 8:6, 13) –Thus, when the sun was risen (tribulation and persecution arose because of the Word), the “shallow” soul folks “immediately” “fell away” Those who respond to the Lord impulsively are prone to quickly fall.Those who respond to the Lord impulsively are prone to quickly fall. The sun (tribulations/persecutions) destroys the shallow-rooted person, but makes stronger the deeply rooted Christian (cf. James 1:2-4).The sun (tribulations/persecutions) destroys the shallow-rooted person, but makes stronger the deeply rooted Christian (cf. James 1:2-4). Though these believed for a while (Luke 8:13), they fell away. A child of God can fall away and be lost.Though these believed for a while (Luke 8:13), they fell away. A child of God can fall away and be lost. Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The Soils—The Stony/Rocky SoilThe Soils—The Stony/Rocky Soil (Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21; Mark 4:16-17; Luke 8:6, 13) –Do you know any stony soils? Hears the Word, obeys the Word quickly, and then falls away.Hears the Word, obeys the Word quickly, and then falls away. Have emotions stirred and make sudden impulse decision.Have emotions stirred and make sudden impulse decision. Obey without counting the cost & commitment involved and all one must endure.Obey without counting the cost & commitment involved and all one must endure. Some people are easily excited, always starting projects but never completing them. Sometimes describes some Christians.Some people are easily excited, always starting projects but never completing them. Sometimes describes some Christians. Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The Soils—The Thorny SoilThe Soils—The Thorny Soil (Matt. 13:7, 22; Mark 4:7, 18-19; Luke 8:14) –The soil is fit/fertile, but it’s crowded. –The seeds of the thorns were already in the ground, implying inadequate preparation. –The thorny soil represents: The pre-occupied hearerThe pre-occupied hearer A divided heart with divided loyalties (cf. Matt. 6:24)A divided heart with divided loyalties (cf. Matt. 6:24) One who is so busy with other things he cannot be busy for ChristOne who is so busy with other things he cannot be busy for Christ Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15

The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative The Soils—The Thorny SoilThe Soils—The Thorny Soil (Matt. 13:7, 22; Mark 4:7, 18-19; Luke 8:14) –Thorns: The cares of this world (Mt. 13:22) These are the distracting anxieties/worries of this lifeThese are the distracting anxieties/worries of this life Day-to-day worries about living can distract (Prov. 30:8-9; Matt. 6:25-34).Day-to-day worries about living can distract (Prov. 30:8-9; Matt. 6:25-34). Worry and anxiety in the example of Martha choked out the good part (Luke 10:38-42).Worry and anxiety in the example of Martha choked out the good part (Luke 10:38-42). Sometimes we allow the lesser important to choke out the most important (Luke 21:34-35).Sometimes we allow the lesser important to choke out the most important (Luke 21:34-35). Mt. 13:3-8, Mk. 4:3-8, Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15