The Parable of the sower

What is the point of Parables?

For Pointed saying or proverbs(Matthew 15:15, Mark 3:23, Luke 4:23)

For a figure or type(Hebrews 6:9, 11:19)

For a comparison in the form of a story(like this one)

First you need to capture the attention of the audience.

Mark 4:1-2

Mark 4:1–2 NIV84

Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:

Jesus teaching from a boat: Not only gave to crowd a focal point but gave Jesus a surrounding to point out as He taught nature’s illustrations.

Telling of the story

Mark 4:3-9

Mark 4:3–9 NIV84

“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

What is meant by “He who has ears to hear, let him hear?

Purpose of the Parable

Mark 4:10-12

Mark 4:10–12 NIV84

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

To disclose kingdom truths

Explanation not for everyone but for certain followers

Why do you think Jesus only shared meaning with the followers that surrounded HIM?

The explanation

Mark 4:13-20

Mark 4:13–20 NIV84

Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

Footpath Planting

Finishing well is more important than starting well. Compare Saul of Old Testament with Saul(Paul) of New Testament

Planting on the rocks

Many who come to know Jesus at and event like crusade, camp meeting are in this category. They have a sense they need to go up to altar call but when they get back home it all falls apart.

A thorny witness

I believe a perfect example of this is drastic decrease in church attendance after COVID

Finding the good Soil

How do we know where the seed we plant falls?

Is there a way to get more consistent results and plant in better soil?

What can we do to plant seeds that grow?

Check the soil we are planting in

Work the bad grounds so that it may become good soil

Don’t plat and move on; tend and care for growing seedlings and plants.