Sower And The Seed
Parables In The New Testament • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
This afternoon we finish up our series this year “for these 3rd Sunday afternoon lessons” by looking at the very well known parable on the “Sower & The Seed.”
This parable is found in three of the four gospel accounts.
Matthew 13:1-23
Mark 4:1-20
Luke 8:4-15
This parable is very interesting in particular because…
It is prophetic in that Jesus prophecies concerning how people will react to his word.
All these years later people still react to the gospel the same way Jesus describes here.
It is profound in that although it has great simplicity, it is very deep theologically.
Jesus reveals in great simplicity the real reason people theologically reject or accept his word.
It is person in that Jesus is talking directly to each of us in this parable.
Even though he does not name everyone individually, he identifies each of us in here.
Now the main focus of this parable is on the hearers.
The different soils represent the hearers capacity to grow seed or their capacity to respond to the word of God.
Let’s dive into this powerful parable.
Wayside Soil
Wayside Soil
Hears BUT Heeds Nothing
Hears BUT Heeds Nothing
In Matthew 13:4 Jesus tells his disciples…
4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
In Matthew 13:19 Jesus tells his disciples the meaning of this soil.
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.
This is the person that has had their heart so hardened by continually treading it under the foot of sin that they simply cannot understand the word.
In other words, they have so seared their conscience through various sinful things that they simply cannot wrap their minds around the simplicity of truth.
People’s hearts can be hardened by any number of things such as…
Prejudice
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.’
Continuous evil thinking
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Deceitfulness of sin
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Trained in covetousness
14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!
Summary
Summary
Satan knows the power of God’s word on the heart and mind of humanity.
This is why he uses every trick in the book to deceive God’s creation.
After making note of the wayside soil Jesus then describes the…
Rocky Soil
Rocky Soil
Hears & Heeds BUT Has No Root
Hears & Heeds BUT Has No Root
In Matthew 13:5 Jesus states…
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
In Matthew 13.20-21 Jesus explains when he says…
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.
This is the one that hears the word and heeds what it says happily, but does not have a strong root system of faith in God is and so when difficulties come their direction they fall away.
This person reminds me of the one that is raised in the church, who obeyed the gospel at a young age, but later left the church when fighting the good fight of faith became truly required.
Too many have been indoctrinated with the “health and wealth” false doctrine spread by many but the reality is…
Jesus and his word never shies away from telling his would be disciples they will suffer persecution if they faithfully follow him.
11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted
Summary
Summary
The reason someone can receive the word with joy and then fall is away is based on the lack of roots.
True conviction is the only way for someone to be faithful “unto death” because without that conviction one simply will not withstand the onslaught of Satan.
With the third soil, we find the…
Thorny Soil
Thorny Soil
Hears & Heeds BUT Is Choked Out
Hears & Heeds BUT Is Choked Out
In Matthew 13:7 Jesus says…
7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
In Matthew 13:22 Jesus explains this soil.
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.
This is the one that hears the word of God, heeds what it says, but is choked out by their love for this world.
The cares of the world can choke out people’s faithfulness.
Martha got caught up in this.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
The deceitfulness of riches can choke out this peoples faithfulness.
The young rich man found out he was caught up in this.
21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Summary
Summary
Those that hear and heed receive the word with joy, but if they are not careful to guard themselves against the cares for this world and the deceitfulness of riches they will find themselves choked out of faithfulness.
This world entices but in the end it only makes us enemies of God (James 4:4).
Lastly, we find the…
Good Soil
Good Soil
Hears & Heeds & Bears Fruit
Hears & Heeds & Bears Fruit
In Matthew 13:8 we read…
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
In Matthew 13:23 Jesus explains…
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.”
This is the one every child of God should strive to be.
This is the one that hears God’s precious message, heeds that message, and then goes forth living faithfully according to that message.
This is the good and honest heart toward the living word that stores up for the great day of harvest.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Summary
Summary
Those good soil hearts allow the seed to grow within them and produce some hundred, sixty, and thirty times over.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In this brief but powerful parable we have so much to learn from concerning how we are to respond to God’s word and guard our hearts.
We are not born with hearts seared with sin, and have been given free choice in how we respond to God’s wonderful saving word.
It is up to us, to the be good soil, so as to allow God to work in our lives and help us help others to do the same.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
