A Parable about the Word
Mark 2026 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word.
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Introduction
Introduction
In our passage in Mark, we see one of the familiar parables of Jesus. A simple story about farming is used by Jesus to illustrate a vital truth. This morning, we need to grasp this truth and act on the application.
Mark was likely the first Gospel written. Under the inspiration of God, he writes with an intent to point his readers toward the Cross and the Empty Tomb. Those who read are faced with a question: who is this Jesus?
As we grow in our walk with God this year, we want to be Following in the Life of Faith. That means that we must begin with the correct Person to put our faith in. Mark gives us the message of Jesus to all people.
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Will you commit each day to believe God and His promises? Will you confess your sins and choose to grow in relationship to Him? If you have not yet, will you believe in Him for salvation? Let’s Follow in the Life of Faith this year and see God do what He says He will!
The Parables of Jesus are one of the most familiar aspects of His teaching ministry. No doubt, you could list several that are familiar to you. Maybe, you have a favorite or two. The Parable of the Sower is shown by Jesus to be the key parable as far as interpretation by each of the Synoptic Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark and Luke. Why is this the case? We will see this morning.
As we look at our first major parable, we should keep in mind several important rules of understanding.
The first is that a parable does not seem to normally be an allegory. Several writers throughout the centuries of church history have tried to make every portion of a parable into representing something else. This does not seem to be what Jesus is using them for.
The second is that a parable is connected with clear teaching by Jesus. He uses them to show forth a truth. There is always a reason for the parable being used other than just entertainment or relaxation of His hearers.
The third is that a parable needs to bring us to a choice just as preaching does. Sometimes the application is stated by Jesus at the end of a parable. Other times, it is implied. Scripture is always given to us so that we can live it out in the world.
Let’s keep these rules in mind as we look at the Parable of the Sower this morning. The parable given in these verses handles a truth that is eternal life and death. There can be no greater importance.
Declaration
Declaration
We have been given our application in verse 9: We must hear the Word of God. Jesus is making clear that there are two groups who respond to the gospel of the kingdom. Today, we must accept the gospel and bear fruit. We have in these verses three aspects of the work of the farmer.
1. How a Sower Sowed
1. How a Sower Sowed
And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Verses 1-9 give us the Parable of the Sower or the Parable of the Soils. We will see shortly the reason and the explanation of the parable. However, we see first how a sower sowed. What actually occured?
Mark takes us once again to the edge of the Sea of Galilee in verse 1. Jesus has been here multiple times recently. This time, there is a need to use a boat to go off a little from the shore. This could have allowed Him to be heard by more people or possibly see more of them by being farther back. Verse 1 is clear that the many people around Jesus are the largest that they have been so far, “a great multitude”.
To this great multitude, Mark says that Jesus “taught them many things by parables.” This passage in Mark 4 is the first major parable in the book. It seems there must have been other parables as Mark alludes in verse 2 that are not recorded here with the Parable of the Sower. A parable is a story that uses comparison to show the truth Jesus is teaching. Mark connects these parables with “his doctrine” or Jesus’ teaching. The parable and the truth were always together so that there could be understanding by some.
In verses 3-8, Jesus tells the story. A man, who is a farmer, is spreading seed in a field. There are four different types of soil that the seed falls on. The first is the road beside the field or in the middle of the field that the farmer walks on. Birds eat this seed. The second is ground that has a little dirt on top of rocks. The seed here does grow but the lack of root is fatal. The third is ground that is already filled with thorns. The seed grows some but is unable to bear any fruit due to the thorns. The fourth is ground that is able to produce fruit. Jesus ends in verse 9 with a call to attention.
In fact, Jesus begins with and ends with a clear call to attention! This is an important parable! In fact, the parable is so important because the interpretation is life and death!
In verses 1-9, we see how a sower sowed the seed. The sower was diligent to sow but the soil content and its interaction with the seed determined the presence of fruit. The same is true today as we will see in the next two aspects.
2. Why a Sower Sowed
2. Why a Sower Sowed
And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
Why did Jesus tells this story in the midst of His teaching by the Sea of Galilee? We see in verses 10-12 why a sower sowed. The Sower sowed to bring about judgment. In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses the occasion of the healing of a blind man to show the problem with the religious people. The Sower has now done the same.
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Jesus leaves where He is teaching and goes into a house as Matthew 13 records. Here, in this more private setting, the close disciples of Jesus, including the Twelve, ask Jesus what the parable meant. Jesus gives here a clear reason that He has made a change in the way that He is preaching. In verse 11, Jesus is using a parable because a mystery is being revealed not to those outside but inside the kingdom. The parable is a result of the determined judgment of God on those who have rejected Him.
Turn to the book of Exodus. We find here an important corresponding action of God in the Exodus of Israel from Egypt.
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.
And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
Pharaoh chose to reject the clear command of God to let Israel go. In the first encounter between Moses and Pharaoh, Pharaoh said no. He did not know Jehovah. In chapter 7, before the second encounter with Pharaoh, God promises to harden the heart of Pharaoh in order to make Himself known to the Egyptians and to bring out the Israelites.
Turn back to Mark 4. Jesus is explaining here that God is doing the same with each person today. The parable here specifically makes clear the causes of the rejection of the leadership of Israel and their eventual actions to bring about His death. Jesus is revealing the mystery of the kingdom of God. We saw in Mark 1:14-15 that the kingdom is coming and there must be repentance and belief. The word “mystery” here shows us that this is something new that Jesus is explaining. Paul will later describe several different truths under this title.
Read verse 12. The parables are carrying on the hardening of those who have already chosen blindness. The Pharisees were give the option for life or death in chapter 3, they chose death for Jesus. The scribes were given the choice of good or evil in chapter 3. They chose to believe Jesus was evil. Those who choose to reject the truth are given by God exactly what they want for all eternity. The danger of those who do not understand is eternal damnation. By rejecting, their sin stays on them as in verse 12.
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; And see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, And make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
It is high time we get serious about this struggle for the souls of men! This is of eternal importance! I need to be on fire to see people trust Christ. You need to be on fire for the people around you still hopeless in their sin. Rejecting the good news is eternal separation from God.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus is teaching in parables to hide the truth from those who, in that age especially, had already chosen to reject His clear call to repentance and faith. Today, Jesus is calling all to Himself. “Salvation costs us nothing but Jesus everything”, as one person has said. Will you accept the offer of salvation? Will you believe in Him alone to take away your sin? Will you repent and believe? Salvation is promised to those who will respond in faith.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The application of verse 9 is so important because those who had already chosen to reject the good news are not able to hear or see as Isaiah shows. (lex talionis as in NTUSEOT) Verse 9 commands us to hear. Open your ears and hear the call to salvation today! This is why a sower sowed, to give the good news that salvation has come!
3. Where a Sower Sowed
3. Where a Sower Sowed
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
In verses 14-20, Jesus gives the interpretation of the Parable of the Sower. We see in these verses where a sower sowed. The interpretation can be summed up in the phrase in verse 14, “soweth the word.” The parable is about the preaching of the good news of the kingdom of God. The soils are the places where the Word falls in the hearts of men. The kingdom of God is passed on and expanded through the clear preaching of the Gospel message.
The four types of ground are explained clearly by Jesus.
The Hard Ground: these are people who do not allow the Word to sink in and Satan removes it immediately. Paul explains,
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The Stony Ground: these are people who receive the Word but have no endurance in persecution. When there is a time of hardship or a trial in their life, they do not stick to faith in Jesus. By this rejection, we know that they were not truly believers to begin with. The Apostle John spoke of these,
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
The Thorny Ground: these are people who received the Word but then turned aside from the truth for worldly pleasures and sin. The thorns were already there and they pulled them down. These people were worried and they had their own wants in this present time.
The Good Ground: these are people who hear the Word, receive the Word, and bring forth fruit. This type of ground is the only one that truly receives the Gospel and believes for salvation. The fruit endures through the hard times and the good times until the believer goes to heaven to live with Him.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Which soil is the condition of your heart today? Which soil is the condition of your heart today?
No greater question can be asked at this moment! Are you hard to the truth and already determined to reject it? Is your heart concerned by the hardship of the trials of the Christian life? Do you desire the many things of the world-Fame, Fortune or Power?
Or do you bear fruit? You can only bear fruit if you have repented and believed in Jesus alone for salvation. You can only bear fruit if you are a saved person. Conversely, if you are a saved person, you can and will bear fruit. Something will be clearly changed in your life. People will see fruit in your life because you are not the same that you were. Instead, you are dead to sin and alive in Jesus!
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
The parable is simple: what do you do with the preached Word of God. Parker says it this way,
Preaching through the Bible: Mark-John Mark 4:20
The startling practical reflection suggested by this circumstance is, that men are not saved by having opportunities, but by improving them.
The location where the sower sowed is the hearts of men. The four different hearts are described. Which is yours? When the good news is preached, what is your response? Only the good heart receives the Word and bears fruit. Is that your heart today?
Conclusion
Conclusion
We have been given our application in verse 9: We must hear the Word of God. Jesus is making clear that there are two groups who respond to the gospel of the kingdom. Today, we must accept the gospel and bear fruit.
As we saw last week, Jesus is dividing up those with whom He is living. Either they accept or they reject His Word. Which one are you?
Believer, where is the fruit in your life? The word fruit is used in many different ways in the Bible. Each gives us a different way that we can show that we are saved and that Jesus is living in us. Whatever way someone looks at our life, they should be able to say with certainty that our heart is the good ground. Jesus is clear.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Where is your fruit today? Make it clear and abundant today because you are growing in the truth of the Word of God and your personal, daily relationship with Jesus. Grow in the life of faith as you face the trials of our lives with the confidence that God is in control and He will accomplish His good will.
If you are not a believer today, don’t reject the voice of the Holy Spirit in your heart today! Don’t reject the clear command of Jesus to every man, woman and child. Turn from your sin. Put your complete trust in what He did by dying in your place on the Cross. Don’t harden your heart today!
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
