2. Memory Verse But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

3. What is a Parable? A short story that teaches a lesson. Earthly story with Heavenly meaning. comparisonfigurative language teach truth

4. Why did Jesus use Parables? 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. Matthew 13:10-13

5. Why did Jesus use Parables? Two Reasons to reveal (show) the truth to those who wanted to know it to conceal (hide) the truth from those who were not interested

7. Before Jesus tells this parable He is being questioned by the Pharisees and Scribes in Matthew 12. What was happening? (context, location & people ) That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. Matthew 13:1-2

8. What was happening? (context, location & people ) This is the same day the events in Matthew 12 occurred. Jesus sat beside the sea, but as crowds gathered He moved to a boat and sat down. The crowd stood on the shore (beach). The crowd was not just a few people, this was a large crowd, of perhaps hundreds.

9. Seeds were sown by casting (tossing) them from the hands of the sower with a side-to-side sweeping motion. Sowing Seeds in Jesus’ Day Seeds were carried in a bag or basket. Once the seeds were sown they would be covered by a plow or branches tied to the oxen. Since the seeds were sown by casting (tossing) they would not always land on the good soil.

10. 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. Matthew 13:3-8

11. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. These seeds fell on the path, which was hard trampled down dirt. Since the seeds were just laying on top of the hard ground the birds came and ate them.

12. 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. These seeds fell on the rocky ground and stayed near the surface (top) of the ground, planted in shallow soil. Since they were not able to grow deep roots they were scorched and withered by the sun.

13. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. These seeds fell into the unprepared soil which already had thorny plants growing in it. The thorny plants slowly strangled the new plants as they began to grow using all the nutrients from the soil and water choking them out.

14. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. These seeds fell into the good soil which was ready for new seeds and produced a good harvest.

16. What does the parable mean? (Interpretation) There are two parables in the Bible Jesus explains to the disciples. The Parable of the Sower is the first one of these.

17. 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. 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. 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. 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.” Matthew 13:18-23

18. What do the seeds represent? 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. The word of the Kingdom, the Gospel

19. What does the soil represent? The human heart. The importance of this parable is how various hearts respond to the Gospel. Let’s examine the four hearts described in this parable.

20. How is the first heart described? 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. As a trampled down soil path. How does this persons heart receive the Gospel seed? The Gospel is rejected by their hard heart.

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. How is this second heart described?As shallow rocky ground. How does this persons heart receive the Gospel seed? The Gospel does not take root because the persons heart is shallow.

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. How is this third heart described?As thorny ground How does this persons heart receive the Gospel seed? The Gospel is choked out slowly as the heart is strangled by things of the world.

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.” How is this fourth heart described? As good soil How does this persons heart receive the Gospel seed? The Gospel is received by the open heart and grows, producing fruit.

24. What does this mean for us? People will choose not to follow Jesus for many reasons Including fearing men, being persecuted and their own selfish evil desires. Since there is no way for us to tell if someone is going to believe in Jesus we must continue to tell everyone we can about who Jesus is and what He has done for us and for them. We must keep in mind we are commanded to tell people about Jesus. We are not responsible for their decision to believe or not to believe.

25. Memory Verse But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

26. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ® (ESV ® ), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.