"The Sower" Matthew 13a Aug 11 2024

Intro and Scripture

Glad you’re with us

We’ll be looking at the first part of Matt 13 today

At 58 verses, it is quite a long chapter

Today:

The Parable of the Sower

The Purpose of the Parables

The Parable of the Sower Explained

The Parable of the Sower is Jesus’ introduction to his own parables

He explains their purpose - and who can, and who cannot understand them

And then he explains, in plain English, what exactly this parable means

This is a rare gem: Jesus interprets his own words

The Parable of the Sower - sometimes called The Parable of the Soils - sets the scene for all of his parables

Look with me in Matt 13, starting in verse 1

Matthew 13:1–3 (ESV)

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. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.”

(Pray…)

I know I have left you hanging

I have not finished the parable - I wanted to stop and have us consider the brilliant opening line Jesus gives us in this parable: “A sower went out to sow.”

There are uncharted depths to this one statement - I want to look into some of that this morning

But let me finish the parable first

Matthew 13:3–9 (ESV)

And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 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, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

The parables of Jesus are deceptive in one sense

It’s been said, a few different ways - I’m not sure who originally made this point:

The parables come across as nice little stories

But when you’re not expecting it - they go off like theological hand grenades

In other words, they are a nice way of explaining something very serious

At the very least, they are entertaining

But at some point - if you are grounded in good soil - the theological point in a particular parable SHOULD make an impact on your life

At some point, the parables should relate to each of us, personally

I want us to look at this parable from two different viewpoints

First - we will look at from the standpoint of the seeds among various soil conditions

Secondly - we will examine the sower himself - who is it, and what is that all about

Matthew usually begins his parables with Jesus saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like...”

But this one starts off, “A sower went out to sow.”

There are four soil conditions in this parable

The Path

Rocky Ground

Thorns

Good Soil

This parable is told in Matthew, Mark, and Luke

All three gospels describe the same four soil types, with the same results

The Path

All three gospels begin by describing “the path” as a place where birds devour the seeds

This describes one who hears the message in one ear - but then it goes out the other

Luke adds that while on the path, the seeds are trampled underfoot - and then the birds eat them

The path is common, like the world - it’s also dirty and unclean - the lowliest position you can be, on the ground - on a path, where people walk

Jesus explains what this parable means in verses 18-23

He says that the path is like those who hear the word of God, but don’t understand it - then the evil one literally comes and snatches away what had been sown into their heart

This parable does not teach that one can lose their salvation

It says the word of God was sown in their heart -

And since we’re talking about seeds, a seed is basically nothing…unless it produces something

When the word of God is preached, it is sown in many hearts - it does not mean that there is automatically a harvest in every person

Rocky Ground

The rocky ground is described as “sun scorched” - there’s no depth of soil - no root

the seeds wither away in the sun

This describes the person who receives the message, but falls away when faced with hardships

Luke makes the point that this rocky ground has no moisture - there is no chance of survival

In verses 20-21, Jesus said that the rocky ground represents someone who receives the word of God with “joy” - “yet he has no root in himself”

Have you ever known someone like that? Someone who receives the gospel -

But then falls away when the going gets tough

There is no true faith, because there is no depth to their belief

Someone who has “no root in himself”

The Thorns

And then there’s the thorns: something does grow here - it is the thorns - they grow up and choke the growth of the seeds

This describes the backslider - who later becomes too enticed with what the world has to offer

It is the nature of thorns - they do not require soil which is rich with nutrients - thorns do not require someone with a green thumb to care for and water

Thorns just shoot up on their own

In fact, it takes work to keep them away

Thorns are like the world

No one has to go around and plant sin seeds - the sinful thorns of the world are in abundance around us

Look at what Jesus says in verse 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.

The proof in anyone’s salvation is in their fruitfulness

The wonders and the temptations of the world seem enticing - but Jesus describes these things as thorns

If you’re not careful - the temptations of the world will choke you, spiritually

Again:

The Path

Rocky Ground

Thorns

Good Soil

All of these first three examples represent people who lack faith

Jesus could have simplified this parable - he could have just said there was good soil and bad soil

But we would have missed the depth and dimensions of the interaction between the Church and the world

We would have missed the details of these people who lack faith:

To some, the devil snatches away what was sown in their hearts

In one ear, out the other

To others, it is about hearing the word of God with joy - but it has no depth of meaning in their hearts - and when hardships come, their faith does not stand

They let their faith fall away when the going gets tough

Still others, hear the word of God - but they fall for world. They are enticed by the riches of the world and all of its temptations

This parable is real life - it speaks truth - the first three soils in this story are so accurate - all of us know at least one person in this story

One person who heard the word of God - but something happened in their life which is closely described in this story

The Good Soil

And then there’s the Good Soil

Look at verse 23, Jesus says, “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it.”

I want you to hold that thought

This part of Matthew on the Parable of the Sower is divided into three parts:

The Parable of the Sower

The Purpose of the Parables

The Parable of the Sower Explained

Jesus tells us the parable -

Then the disciples come up to Jesus and ask, “Why are you talking to the crowd in parables?”

So Jesus gives the reason why he bothers with speaking in parables

And then finally, he gives his own commentary on what the Parable of the Sower means

When I was younger, I used to think that the parables were intended to be an easy way for anyone to understand deep theological concepts

I thought that anyone could understand the simple message of any parable of Jesus

But look at the answer Jesus gave to his disciples when they asked him why he spoke in parables

The Purpose of the Parables

No slides:

English Standard Version Chapter 13

The Purpose of the 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. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand,

and you will indeed see but never perceive.”

15  For this people’s heart has grown dull,

and with their ears they can barely hear,

and their eyes they have closed,

lest they should see with their eyes

and hear with their ears

and understand with their heart

and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

This is a hard saying from Jesus

We want Jesus to say, “I know there are mysteries of my kingdom - so let me use parables so that everyone will understand.”

But Jesus is essentially saying: God has either given you understanding, or he hasn’t

He makes the parables to be more like riddles

Some will understand and some will not

But let me first say - this doesn’t mean that every Christian has to have a completely full comprehension of every parable - and every theological nuance

In one sense, it’s plain to understand the clear message of a metaphor within a parable - how could anyone not understand it?

Again, jump ahead quickly:

In verse 23, Jesus says, “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it.”

Remember, Isaiah says, “understand with their heart”

The one as described with good soil, has a firm understanding of the word - and acts on it

To truly understand the word of God, you need to have a spiritual understanding of it

If you understand this parable - praise the Lord!

Faith is sufficient understanding

That’s different from a mere academic understanding

In other words, you can’t say you have a true, complete understanding of the gospel if you have no faith in Jesus

If you fully understood the gospel, you would respond in faith

Verses 11-17 is a self-fulfilling passage - in a sense, it makes the point of the Parable of the Sower

Look at verse 12:

Matthew 13:12 ESV

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.

Almost sounds like the Parable of the Talents

Let me put verse 12 in my own version:

“For to the one who has good soil in his heart, more will be given - but the one who’s heart is like a hard path, with rocks & thorns, even what he has will be taken away”

Some hear the word of God but it falls on bad soil - others have hearts that are of good soil

This entire passage supports itself

By the way, what is the result of the seed falling on good soil?

Look at verse 8 - it produces grain - it yields more than the seed itself

Matthew says, “a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty”

Mark reverses the order - 30, 60 100

Luke just says the good soil yielded a hundredfold

I don’t think the number is particularly important

The Holy Spirit can reap whatever harvest from my life

The Sower

I want to switch gears - to the sower himself

“A sower went out to sow”

Stop right there - a sower of what?

When Jesus explains this parable, he says it’s the “word of the kingdom”

Matthew was written primarily to a Jewish audience - and they had their eyes focused on God’s kingdom

This is the same thing as the word of God

Mark says, “The sower sows the word”

Luke comes right out and says, “The seed is the word of God”

Can we agree - it’s the gospel - the good news of Jesus

Look at the verse:

A sower went out to sow

Not, THE sower

Friends, you and I are the sower

We are the ones to share the word of God

More specifically, we are the ones to share the gospel with others

Some Bible translations: “A farmer went out to sow...”

I think it’s more accurate to say “sower”

All a sower does is sow - and considering all of the soil types in this parable, he sows his seed indiscriminately

Throwing everywhere

Almost carelessly

On the other hand - A farmer sows, and reaps - not only that, but he prepares the soil and carefully plants his seeds

That’s not our job - the Holy Spirit is the one who reaps the harvest- he is the one who prepares the hearts

It’s not our job to judge who is worthy to hear the gospel - we need to share the gospel...in one sense, indiscriminately

The job of the sower is to spread the seeds - to anyone and everyone

In this parable - the sower is almost careless, or reckless, in his sowing of the seeds

In this story, the sower does nothing to prepare the soil

It’s not up to us where the seeds land

That’s the job of the Holy Spirit - we just need to pray that the Holy Spirit prepares hardened hearts into good soil

I’m happy Jesus didn’t say:

“A man went out to sow”

He said a sower went out to sow

Why does that matter?

It matters because if you are a sower, your job is to sow - because that’s who you are

Jesus assigned purpose to the person sowing them - the person in this parable is a sower

If this story is about a man or woman who went out to sow - then you could make the argument that sowing was a hobby

But it says a sower went out to sow

Because that’s his job - to sow

That’s you and me - we are sowers of God’s good news

You’re not farmers - you’re sowers

Look at the verse again - “A sower went out to sow”

In order to sow, you must go out

You can’t sow, keeping all to yourself

You’ve got to be engaged with people - lovingly engaged with people in the world, in order to share the gospel

The sower went out to be about his business - the sower acted like a sower - because that’s who he is

Closing

As I close -

Notice: there is production from the good soil

Om verse 8, it says it produced grain

Production does not come because the sower is a really good sower

It’s the good soil that makes the difference

That’s the job of the Holy Spirit

Ultimately, what the good soil produces is more sowers - the parable is self replicating

The seed which falls on good soil produces more sowers - who sow more seed on good soil - which produces more sowers - and so on

Someone sowed into your life - and now you have faith that produces

Are you producing spiritual grain in your life?

If we are to understand the true meaning of this parable -

Then the good soil producing, “a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” is talking about more sowers being produced

My prayer is that there is good soil in your heart

And if you truly have a spiritual understanding about the word of God

Then you’ll understand what this means:

“A sower went out to sow.”

(Pray…)

Communion

Matthew 26:26–28 ESV

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 22:19–20 ESV

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.