1. Matthew 13:3-9:
3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
April 28, 2019

3. The Parable of the Sower:
3 Basic Features of Parables

4. Matthew 13:3-9:
3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.
April 28, 2019

5. Matthew 13:3-9:
7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
April 28, 2019

6. The Parable of the Sower: 3 Basic Features of Parables
1. Parables are analogies taken from everyday life.

7. The Parable of the Sower: 3 Basic Features of Parables
Parables illustrate and teach truths about the kingdom of God.
Matthew 13:10-11: 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven….”

8. The Parable of the Sower: 3 Basic Features of Parables
Parables aim to change the way we see reality and transform our actions.
“Parables seek to change behavior and create disciples, but they do so by telling about God and his kingdom, the new reality God seeks to establish on earth,”
(Klyne Snodgrass, Stories with Intent)

9. There are ways NOT to hear
Matthew 13:10-13:
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

10. The seed along the path Matthew 13:18-19:
18 Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

11. The seed on rocky ground
Matthew 13:20-21:
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

12. The seed among thorns Matthew 13:22:
22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

13. The seed in good soil Matthew 13:23:
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.

14. The seed in good soil
Matthew 13:11: 11 And he answered them [the disciples] “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven….
But Jesus still had to explain the parable to them.
To hear and understand requires time and investment.

15. The seed in good soil This parable calls us to…
Ask “Have I really listened carefully to Jesus’ teaching?
Lean into Jesus’ teaching…to put down deep roots.
To ultimately bear good fruit in a world that is used to so much sin and brokenness.

16. The seed in good soil
Klyne Snodgrass, “People think they can look like giant oaks without putting down deep roots. When they realize how much effort it takes to put down deep roots, they too often settle for being bramble bushes.”