The Parable of the Sower

Tonight we are making our way into Mark 4 and we are going to cover about 20 verses. Does anyone in here like to garden? Or does anyone in here farm? If not, it’s OK. I know absolutely nothing about gardening or farming other than seeds need water, dirt, and sunshine to grow. But you can’t give them too much water or too much sun or else they won’t grow properly. Something else that I know and I actually know it more from what we are going to read tonight than from observing in nature is that there are different types of dirt and soil and the dirt and the soil that you put the seed in is going to greatly impact how the seed will grow. It should go without saying that if I drop a seed on the carpet here it won’t grow right? But what happens if I put it in good soil? It should grow right? You guys may not know a lot about gardening or farming but you at least knew that. I say this because tonight we are going to look at one of the parables of Jesus, a very well-known parable, called the parable of the Sower and soils. Who remembers and can tell me what a parable is? We talked about what they were about a month or so ago when we came across one. A parable is a teaching method that while not created by Jesus, was used often by Jesus. A parable is designed to point people to the truth through a story like format. I have heard that a parable, specifically a parable of Jesus, can be summarized as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. As we listen to the parables, we should hopefully be able to see how these truths connect to our lives and as we look at this parable tonight, there is not a single person in this room that is not represented in this parable. Why do you guys think that stories or parables are such a helpful way to communicate? Something else that is unique about this parable is that it is quite possibly the easiest parable in the Bible to preach because it is one of the only parables where Jesus explains the meaning to the parable. Usually the meaning of a parable can be simple enough to discover but this one is unique because as we will see in verses 13-20, Jesus explains exactly what the parable means and what the various elements of the parable represent. What I want to do tonight is talk about 3 things and they all relate to the Gospel: 1. The Recipients of the Gospel. 2. The reception of the Gospel. 3. The effects of the Gospel. Let’s pray together and then we will read Mark 4:1-20

Mark 4:1–20 NASB95

He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. “Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. “And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. “Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. “Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.” And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? “The sower sows the word. “These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. “In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. “And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

The Recipients of the Gospel

As we go into chapter 4, Jesus is really at the height of His popularity, or at least His ministry is at the height of its popularity. We know this because in verse 1 we see that Jesus is teaching by the sea again. We read that it is not just a crowd that has gathered to Him, not even just a large crowd, but a very large crowd. The crowd is so big that Jesus has to get into a boat and the people sit on the land to hear Him speak. As we have gone through these last few chapters, Mark is really emphasizing just how expansive Christ’s ministry has become. This is no roadside attraction that is catching a few onlookers, no this is an enormous following. To maybe get a sense of how large this crowd was, in Mark 6 where we see the feeding of the 5,000, Mark only describes that crowd as large. That 5,000 was just counting the men so it stands to reason that if we were to count women and children that there could have easily been over 10,000 following Jesus in Mark 6. So, if Mark uses the phrase very large crowd in Mark 4, it is likely well over 5,000 people and maybe even up to 20,000. Look at it in this way, in 2022 the census that was taken in South Hill said that 4,752 people living in South Hill. Imagine if the entire population of South Hill came to church today. Imagine that and multiply it by maybe 4 and you have the size of the crowd that was coming to Jesus. It is important to note then that as Jesus is telling this parable that He recognizes this great opportunity to speak to this great number of people. He doesn’t just recognize the number, He recognizes those that are represented in the crowd and that is why He tells them this parable. It should be clear to us that the sower that is mentioned in verse 3 is to represent Jesus. He is the One that throws the seed out in this parable and we know that this seed is the Gospel. Notice how the sower is throwing out the seed. He doesn’t just stop in one spot and lay down one seed at a time. No, instead He is going out and tossing it very broadly. Some of the seeds will land on great soil, some will land on the road, some among thorns, and some will land on the rocks. To the first century Jewish man or woman, this was a common sight to see, a sower going out with a bag of seeds and tossing it far and wide. The message here reiterates that the Gospel is to be given to every single person. We do not get to dictate who is worthy to receive this Gospel but we are instead to go to the highways and the byways and declare the truth of this Word. Who then is the recipients of the Gospel message? It’s everyone. Everyone needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and because everyone is the recipient, it is here where we will look at the reception because I am sure that you have noticed that not every one responds or receives the Gospel in the same way.

The Reception of the Gospel

You may have noticed this in your life as you have been to different ministry events or camps but have you noticed how a preacher can preach a message and how many different ways people can respond to that message. Some people think that the message that they heard was the greatest thing that they have ever heard while others may think the total opposite. Look at your time at YC and take any lesson that you have heard from me and you can probably find someone who has had their lives changed or had thoughts that they never thought before and then you have others who think that it was the worst thing ever. The message is the same but the reception is totally different. Jesus knows this and this is seen in the parable. Before we dive too much further into this, I do want to ask you this: If you were a part of this crowd that heard this parable, do you think that you would be able to make the connection to what Jesus was saying? Do you think that you would be able to understand that Jesus is doing more than just giving gardening tips? Remember, it is only to the disciples that Jesus explains the parable to. If we listen to this parable with solely human ears and understanding, we will miss out on what Jesus is using this parable for. What are the different ways that people can respond to this Gospel? You probably notice that there are four ways and 3 of those ways are negative. So let’s look at these four ways in verses 13-20 and see what Jesus has to say about them.

The Road, the Birds, and the Devil (V. 15)

In verse 15 Jesus says, “These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown, and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.” Now, what do you think He means by this? What sort of reception do you think is being represented here? These are those that hear the Word preached and totally reject it. The road represents the hard hearts of those that reject the Gospel. They are so put off by the things of God that it is almost like any good word could not penetrate the stony heart. John Piper mentions that there are at least three ways that Satan works and he works through people’s inattention, their ill-will, and through ignorance. What this means is that Satan often will do all that he can to make sure that people do not hear the Gospel. Maybe He will throw distractions at you on Sunday morning or Wednesday night. Maybe he will give you something to distract you from reading your Bible or seeking the Lord in prayer, whatever he does, he wants to make sure that you do not see the truth in Scripture. What are some other ways or methods that Satan might use to distract you? Another way is that Satan will use ill-will or use your feelings against you. John Piper said, “People may hear and understand exactly what is being said, but despise it. Satan gives people such a high estimation of themselves that the evangelical message of brokenness before the cross for our sin is disgusting and threatening.” Finally, Satan uses ignorance. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:3–4 “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Satan takes the Word away by blinding the eyes of people so that they are totally ignorant to the things of God. So here we see the first negative reception that we see: total rejection because the Word, or the seed, is taken away.

The Joyful but un-firm foundation (Vs 16-17)

In verses 16 and 17 we see an initially better response to the Gospel but an initial positive is not a positive if it doesn’t stay a positive. In these verses, Jesus talks about those that hear the Gospel initially and it excites them. They have a tremendous emotional or physical response to the Gospel and it seems like for a certain amount of time, they are totally on fire for the Gospel. But notice that in verse 17 that Jesus says that there is no firm root in themselves and that the response is only temporary. What makes it temporary? He says when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately these people fall away. Now what might this look like? I’ve told you all this before but I remember a student I had back in Georgia who said she believed in Jesus and got baptized. I look back on the decision to baptize her as one of my greatest regrets in ministry. Why? Because deep down I knew she wasn’t ready. Not only did I know that she wasn’t ready, I made the mistake of thinking that if I just went ahead and baptized her then maybe that would be enough to really move her along in the Christian life. Nope, didn’t happen. Instead what happened? Well her grandmother passed away and she prayed for her grandmother and just like that, she was gone. It took one thing to move her away from Jesus and I look back on the decision to baptize her as maybe the biggest ministry mistake of my life. She was joyful and then affliction came and that joy was gone. Now, she will tell you she’s a Christian because she got baptized but deep down I know, the seed had no firm root.

The responsive but non-receptive (Vs. 18-19)

In verses 18-19 we see what I call the responsive but non-receptive. What do I mean by that? What I mean is that they respond in a way to the Gospel but they are so concerned about the things of this world that those things become an idol and they replace what Jesus is supposed to be in their life. I think of 2 Timothy 4:10 when Paul speaks about Demas. Demas was a partner in ministry with Paul but the concerns of this world were more important to him than the things of the next world. Paul writes, “for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” People respond to the Gospel, they can even work for the Gospel, but a time comes when they are so concerned about worldly riches and the things of this world that they leave the Gospel behind. Their heart is divided but God will not share the center of your heart with anything or anyone else. Adrian Rogers said, “Anything that you love more, fear more, and serve more than God is an idol in your life. You can’t hold onto God with one hand and this world with the other. You just can’t do it.”

The fruit-bearing (V. 20)

After 3 negatives, you would think that there would be no hope. If you were a preacher and you heard that the first 3 people totally rejected your message, wouldn’t you be left thinking, “Well what’s the point of trying to do this then?” But Jesus saves the best for last, doesn’t He? He says in verse 20, “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” There is always a remnant chosen by grace. All of those that have had the seed cast to them hear the word but these are the one’s that not only accept it, but they bear fruit. Why is it that we can share the Gospel with hope and confidence? Because we know that which makes the soil good and that which makes the seed grow does not lay in our own words and power but in the strength and goodness of God. What is the seed in your heart doing? J.C. Ryle said, “Let us ask ourselves, what are we? Under which class of hearers ought we be numbered? With what kind of hearts do we hear the Word? Never, never may we forget that there are three ways of hearing without profit, and only one way of hearing that is right! Never, never may we forget that there is only one infallible mark of being a right-hearted hearer! That mark is to bear fruit. To be without fruit, is to be in the way to hell.” It is the righteous and not the wicked or unbelieving generations that will see the fruit of their faithfulness. Even the Old Testament points to this in Psalm 92:12–13 “The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, They will flourish in the courts of our God.” What is the effect of the Gospel in our lives? It’s that we would bear fruit.

The Effects of the Gospel

Not only does the Gospel bear fruit, it bears fruit exponentially. That’s why Jesus says it bears fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Despite all of the negativity that is seen in the first three groups that were mentioned, the Gospel has such power that it will produce beyond what man is capable of imagining. This parable shows just how greatly the Gospel will come into the world. It will not come into the world in a whisper, it will come with strength and power.

James Edwards said:

The parable represents the historical inbreaking of God’s kingdom in Jesus, the sower of the gospel. The astounding harvest in v. 8 is an important clue that the growth is not owing to human activity but to God’s providential power. God is at work—hidden and unobserved—in Jesus and the gospel to produce a yield wholly disproportionate to human prospects and merit.

Here is what all of this means for us. If you are a Christian today, the effect of the Gospel in your life will be that you are a witness to others. You will bear fruit. There should be visible evidence that God has saved you. What does it mean for you to bear fruit for the Gospel? It means that you are faithful and while you are not responsible to create faith in anyone, you are responsible to share your faith with everyone. You think, that’s insane, that’s too much pressure, what if I mess up? Well, who grew the seed in your life? You didn’t. I certainly didn’t. Your parents or your pastor didn’t. Who did? It was God. The Sower Himself is the one that gives the growth. Do you remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:5–7? He says, “What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” Dear Christian go bear fruit. Go make a change in the world with the Gospel with the full knowledge that our Heavenly Father is seeing to it that no good seed will fail to sprout. John Calvin encourages us when he wrote, “Our Heavenly Father does not reject our work in cultivating His soil, and does not allow it to be unfruitful, He nevertheless desires its success to depend on His blessing alone, so that all the praise might remain His. Therefore if we want to gain any benefit from our working, our striving, and our pressing on, we should be aware that we shall make no progress unless He prospers our work, our exertions, and perseverance, so that we may commit ourselves and whatever we do to His grace.” My dear children, I want to know what group you belong to. How deeply has the seed of the Gospel taken root in your heart? But I don’t want you to just think about it, I want you to have visible reminders of it. All of you are going home tonight with a seed and you can do whatever you want with it. But I hope that you take it and you plant it and watch it grow as a visible reminder of what the Gospel does in your heart and in your life. I want you to see how the Gospel is able to start very small and grow exponentially. If you aren’t sure what the seed of the word is doing in your heart and in your life, make sure you take the time to talk to me or a leader tonight. Let’s pray together.