1. Lesson 4:
The Parable of the Sower

2. The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23
Mk. 4:3-8, 14-20
Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15
The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
The 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).

3. The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23
Mk. 4:3-8, 14-20
Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15
The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
The 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 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 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 believe in the seed he sows (Rom. 1:16).

4. The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23
Mk. 4:3-8, 14-20
Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15
The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
The 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).

5. The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23
Mk. 4:3-8, 14-20
Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15
The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
The 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).

6. The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23
Mk. 4:3-8, 14-20
Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15
The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
The 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)
He has chosen not to understand, because…
His heart has been hardened to the truth, because…
He is not interested in the gospel (Matt. 13:19)

7. The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23
Mk. 4:3-8, 14-20
Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15
The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
The 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 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)
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?

8. The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23
Mk. 4:3-8, 14-20
Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15
The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
The 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)
Prejudice, come with idol in heart (cf. Ezek. 14:1-5)
Fear of giving up things (cf. Luke 18:18ff)
Worldliness (cf. Eph. 4:17-18)
No love for truth (cf. 2 Thess. 2:10)
Continually resisting the truth (cf. Ex. 8:19-20)
Habitually practicing sin (cf. Heb. 3:13)

9. The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23
Mk. 4:3-8, 14-20
Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15
The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
The 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 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 have allowed the world to trample hearts so long that they are untouched (cf. 1 Tim. 4:1-2)

10. The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23
Mk. 4:3-8, 14-20
Lk. 8:5-8, 11-15
The Parable of the Sower: The Narrative
The 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 / earnestness
One who is an emotional, superficial, impulsive hearer
One, possibly, who is “won to Christ” on basis of frills
One who sees only pleasant elements of Christianity
One who does not count the cost (Lk. 14:25ff; 9:23)