The Sower and the Seed - Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23

Introduction: Do we have any GARDENERS in the house? As gardeners, what do you do to prepare the soil for the seeds you plant? (Wait for an answer).

· Is it important to prepare the soil?

· Would you get a better crop if you prepared the soil for the seed? Of course you would.

As I thought about gardening my mind came up with six common tools used to prepare the soil for the seed. They are:

· A tiller

· A hoe

· A rake

· A fork

· A shovel

· A spade

Those are just few of the basic gardening tools used to prepare the soil, so that it is ready to receive the seed.

On a side note: I heard on the news some time ago that the best time to plant your garden in our region is May 15th. However, we had frost even in the month of June this year. One old timer told me that when the snow is gone off the top of Mount Spokane that it was safe to plant a garden.

Well, in our study we are going to look at the first parable that Jesus shared with the multitude. This is the foundational parable for the rest of the thirteenth chapter of Matthew.

Whenever I have a chance to teach this parable, I tell people that there are three key words you will want to write down:

· Sower – 13:3

· Seed – 13:4

· Soil – 13:4,5,7,8

This parable is about those three words. A SOWER sows SEED on four different types of SOIL.

I. The Parable of the Sower Shared – Matthews 13:1-9

1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Now, that I read that parable to you again, do you understand it? Well, I got some good news for you. Jesus is going to explain the meaning of that parable to His disciples.

II. The Parable of the Sower Explained – Matthew 13:18-23

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Note: Of the seven parables found in Matthew 13, only two of them are explained by Jesus – the parable of the Sower, and the parable of the Wheat and the Tares. The others five parables are all open-ended and Jesus leaves hearers to interpret. However, a key to interpreting Scripture is to rely on Scripture. Scripture interprets Scripture (See Isaiah 28:10-13). Now, what is the meaning of the parable of the Sower?

A. The Parable of the Sower – Matthew 13:18

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower:

Who is the Sower in the Parable?Jesus doesn’t tell us. It is believed that the Sower is Christ Himself. He was the ultimate Sower. Christ is the one speaking this parable to the multitude. He is the one sowing seed. He is the one telling the story. He is the one casting alongside an earthy story that reveals a spiritual truth.

Farming was one of the largest occupations during the time of Christ. Seeing Sowers in their field was a common sight. Thus, this story was something that most people could relate to. Not many of us are farmers today and so sowing seed is not something we completely understand. Although we still have many references points today – pictures, movies, gardening, etc.

B. When anyone hears – Matthew 13:19

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

There is a huge emphasis upon hearing throughout the parables. Not just listening. Not just nodding one’s head, but actually hearing. The word “hears” means, harken, to hear, or to comprehend.

When you come to church do you come to “hear” in order for your life to be changed? By the way, these parables are a life and death matter. It is imperative that you “hear” the teaching of Jesus Christ. Drop your eyes down to verse 9,

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Question: Do you have ears? What does God want you to do with your ears? Hear!

C. The word of the Kingdom – Matthew 13:19

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

What is the “word of the kingdom?” It is the “seed” that was hand thrown by the Sower. Jesus Himself spoke to the multitudes about the “Kingdom of heaven.” Please remember that the “Kingdom of heaven” is that spiritual community in which Christ is the head. It is composed of everyone who has come to faith in Jesus Christ. It is the spiritual community of faith where Jesus Christ is the sovereign.

D. And does not understand it – Matthew 13:19

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

Many of those hearing this parable didn’t comprehend what Jesus was teaching. They were not able to take the earthly story and draw from it a spiritual truth. To them it was an enigma. It was nothing but strange words. For many of them it was as if Jesus spoke a foreign language.

E. The wicked one comes – Matthew 13:19

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

If we were to go back and read verse 4, we would see that when Jesus told this parable that He spoke about “birds” coming and devouring the seed that feel on the first of the four types of soil. The “birds” here according to Jesus is the “wicked one” who comes and snatches the “word of the kingdom” out of the hearts of those who heard it spoken.

In Mark 4:15 we read,

When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

In Luke 8:12 we read,

Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Wow! Did you get the last part of that verse? The enemy doesn’t want anyone to hear the “word of the Kingdom” “lest they should believe and be saved.” This is why when the word of God is given the “birds”, the “wicked one” is right there. Even as I preach today the enemy is trying to snatch it away.

Four Types of Soil (Human Hearts)

Now, please get this down. Within this parable there are four types of soil represented. As a Bible teacher I believe that they represent for us four types of human hearts, and how people respond. What are they?

1. The Wayside Heart – Matthew 13:4,19

4And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

What is the wayside? It was the path (walkway) connected one piece of property with another. Not many farmers during this period put up fences, but they had paths they used that separated one piece of property from another. These paths became hard, well-trodden, and when the seed that the Sower sowed was being cast, some of it fell among the hard trodden paths. This seed just laid on top of the ground. It became bird food, and as we have read, the “wicked one” comes along and devours it immediately.

Think of this ground as a type of a person’s heart. There are many people with hard hearts. They are not open to the message of the Kingdom of heaven. When they hear preachers, or Christian sharing with them how they can become a part of God’s forever family they don’t try to understand. No energy is asserted on their part. They don’t care to comprehend. They have hard hearts.

However, you and I need to be aware that the “wicked one” knows the power of the seed to bring about conversion, and so he devours the seed right away.

2. The Stony Heart – Matthew 13:20-21

20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

You can probably picture in your mind ground that is rocky, whether large or small rocks it doesn’t matter. Stony soil is a determent to those who sow seed. In Israel much of the topsoil is very shallow, and under it is a limestone base.

According to Jesus the seed that falls on this rocky soil are those who “hear the word, and immediately receives it with joy.” Many times, they are some of the first responders at evangelistic crusades. They are the ones walking the aisle of the church service when an alter call is given. However, the seed doesn’t geminate. Notice that Jesus makes the statement, “No root in himself, but endures only for a while.”

Marks Gospel reads,

And they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time (Mark 4:17)

Tribulations and Persecution

The individuals that hear the seed of the Kingdom respond to it with gladness and with joy, but for only a short duration of time. What stops the seed dead in its soil? Well, according to Jesus it is “tribulation” and “persecutions.”

I often tell people “Christianity is not for the faint of heart.”

Tribulation kills the seed (Life is hard – we all know it or will find out). At times when someone hears the word of the kingdom, and they respond to the message they are taken aback when life remains a challenge. They thought that placing trust in Jesus meant that all life troubles would go away. When that doesn’t occur, they walk away from the decision they made. There was no heart change!

I remember reading years ago about the number of people who made decisions at evangelistic crusades who only weeks later dismiss their decisions. Why? Life continues to remain difficult. They thought they heard the preacher say that coming to Jesus would mean health, wealth, and prosperity. When that doesn’t take place, it was goodbye Jesus Christ.

Persecution is another killer for the seed on the rocky soil. Persecution follows when you share your decision to follow Jesus and you are ridiculed.

My Own Story

On the night I was saved I was told that I needed to leave here and tell someone about my decision to follow Jesus Christ. I began to tell everyone, my siblings, my friends, schoolteachers, and my parents that I had received Jesus Christ as my Savior. When I told my stepfather “Bill” he said, “I don’t want you talk to me about Jesus Christ, or the church. I’m just glad you’re not a Mormon.” Now, that experience could have stopped me dead in my tracks. It was rejection at the get-go, but it didn’t stop me. However, it is this type of situation that destroys the seed that falls on the stony ground. This type of heart will not receive any form of persecution.

3. The Thorny Heart – 13:22

“Now he who receives seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”

Several years ago, I was cleaning around my property, and I got a thorn stuck in my finger. That thorn pricked me, and it’s smarted all afternoon. A small amount of pain shot through my finger, and it was irritating. I should have been wearing gloves like a good gardner. Will I ever learn?

To grow crops, one must deal with the thorny ground first. The thorns must be removed; and the ground must be cleared. The soil must be adequately prepared.

Jesus provides us a picture of a third type of heart. It is a heart full of thorns. Now, remember that the devil devoured the seed from the wayside hearer, and the flesh was the culprit for the rocky hearer, and as we come to this third hearer, we discover that it is the WORLD that takes the seed from the heart of this hearer. We read,

the cares of this world...

The cares of this world would be what we might call, the daily grind. These hearers allow everyday chores to rob them from allowing the seed of the Kingdom of heaven to take root.

A Shot List of the Cares of this World

· Caring for small child.

· Caring for a sick spouse.

· Dealing with addictions.

· An out of Commission vehicle.

· Death of a loved one.

· The loss of a job.

· Appliance failures.

· Bad grade on a report card.

· Sickness of the body.

· Fighting with a neighbor.

· Dealing with exhaustion.

All of us know that the world can be very oppressive (after all, it too is fallen – See Romans 8). What is the biblical answer to the cares of the world? Do you have a verse to turn to? How about 1 Peter 5:7,

casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you.

It's not only the cares of this world that robbed these hearers of the seed of the Kingdom of heaven, but we also read,

and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word.

How many people do you know who get caught up chasing the almighty dollar? Notice how clearly Jesus stated this issue with the words He chose to use,

“deceitfulness is of riches.”

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy the following words,

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10).

The Bible also teaches,

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul. (Mark 8:36).

So far, we've looked at three types of hearers. We need to remember that these individuals were only hearers. They were not believers. They may have only professed to receive Christ. There was no real possession on their part

There is a fourth type of hearer that Jesus talked about here in our text.

4. The Good Heart – 10:23

But he received seed on the good ground as he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Good ground is well prepared soil. This is why it is so important that we as Christians seek to cultivate the soil around us (family, friends, neighbors, employees, and others). None of us would walk out of our homes and throw seed on the ground and expect to have a beautiful bountiful garden. No, we would prepare the ground to receive the seed. I believe that now is the time for Christians to prepare the soil. Hear me, you and I can't make seed grow, but we can prepare the soil to receive the seed.

Seed that falls on the good ground grows! Look at the text again. We read,

but he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Isn't that wonderful? If you are a believer, it is because the soil of your heart was prepared to not only to hear the word, but to understand it. You comprehend your need for salvation through Jesus Christ, and you surrendered to Him. You were gloriously saved!

Perhaps there is someone here today and you hear this message, and you want to respond by receiving Jesus Christ into your life. Do it right now. Call upon him in the silence of your heart. Ask him to forgive you of your sins. Tell him that you want him to come into your life, to be your savior and your Lord. If you will pray that prayer, then Jesus Christ will save you (See Romans 10:9-13).

Bearing Fruit

I want us to see that saved people produce fruit (See John 15). Focusing on the last part of verse 23,

who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Not everyone bears the same amount of fruit, but everyone who is saved bears fruit, and we can even anticipate the varying percentage of fruit bearing. Some Christians have a “knock it out of the ballpark” fruit bearing experience. They are like the promised land flowing with milk and honey. Others bear sixtyfold and still others thirtyfold. The point Jesus was making was that saved people bear fruit.

Good question that we must ask ourselves is this, “Am I bearing fruit?” Allow me to provide some possible suggestions of fruit bearing.

· You pray for others regularly.

· You spend time with widows, orphans, or prisoners.

· You prepare meals for meal train.

· You stop and help someone stranded on the side of the road

· You help someone financially who is over extended.

· You share the plan of salvation with a friend.

· You keep yourself morally clean. Healthy boundaries.

· You teach a Sunday school class of third graders.

· You support a third world family, or missionary family.

· You tithe from your income.

· You read your Bible.

· You take a vested interest in your community.

I could probably go on and on, but I believe you get the point. When the seed of the Kingdom of heaven hits the good soil something life transforming happens. Life springs forth, and a positive change occurs.

I hope that you can see from studying through this parable together the need for well-prepared soil. This is our duty and responsibility – prepare soil. Right now, as Christians we have a job to do. We need to go out into the world and live in such a way that our lives are influencing others around us in a positive way. The way we live, and act will help prepare people's heart to respond positively to the seed of the kingdom of heaven (the message of salvation).

I believe that we must also be aware that not everyone will respond to the seed of the Kingdom of heaven. Only one-fourth (1/4) of the seed sowed in this parable grew. All the other seed died. This is true also today. People have allowed the devil, the flesh, and the world to crowd out the seed - it has no effect on them. As a Church we are in a spiritual battle for souls!

With that in mind it becomes important that we sow wisely. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 126:5-6,

Those who sow in tears shall reap and joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for stowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

May God break our hearts (saved hearts) for the hearts of the lost.

Finally, I think it's important for us to remember that even among good soil the results will vary. Some Christians will produce a hundredfold. I read about a church in Arizona where one man in the congregation led over 1000 people who attend that church to faith in Christ. Other Christians will bear sixtyfold and still others thirtyfold. The point is that saved people bear fruit.

Conclusion:What are the take-home truths from this first parable?

1. You and I must prepare the soil. How? By living out the Christian life before our family and friends.

2. You and I must Sow the Seed. How? By sharing God’s word with our sphere of influence.

3. You and I must recognize how the enemy seeks to snatch the seed out of the human heart. How? Through the birds, through tribulation and persecution, and through the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches.

4. You and I must recognize that good ground (Good hearts) bear fruit – some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold. But all bear fruit.

5. You and I must recognize that only one out of four (¼) of all hearers will become a part of God’s forever family.

6. You and I must recognize that God alone gives the increase (see 1 Corinthians 3:7).