THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER—

THE PARABLE—vv. 1–9

A. The Master Teacher—v. . Jesus was a different teacher than all others. Many come to hear Him for this reason.

The manner of teaching—vv. . He often used parables. What is a parable? A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

1. Story—v. . The story of a farmer sowing his seed.

2. Soil—vv. . Four types of soil: wayside—v. ; stony—; thorns—v. ; good ground—v. .

3. Success—v. . The good ground produced thirty, sixty, one hundred times more than was sown.

4. Sense—v. . Obey these teachings. They are explained in vv. .

II. THE PURPOSE—vv.

A. Uncertain—v. . The disciples and others were not quite sure what the parable meant.

B. Understanding—v. . The followers of Christ have special insight into the Bible and future events.

C. Unknown—v. . The things of God are unknown and not understood by non-Christians. They see but don’t understand. They would be cleansed from their sin if they understood.

D. Unknown—v. . If you don’t understand simple parables, how could you understand his other teachings?

III. THE PARTICULARS—vv.

A. Sower and the seed—v. . The sower is Christ, spreading His Word, the seed.

B. Soil—vv.

1. Wayside—v. . Seed was sown, but the fowls came and took the seed. The birds are a picture of Satan.

2. Stony ground—vv. . The seed had no root. When persecution and problems arise, the seed dies.

3. Thorns—vv. . Choked to death by: (a) cares of this world, (b) deceitfulness of riches, (c) lust for other things.

4. Good ground—v. . Those who hear and do. They are successful in producing results.

Croft M. Pentz, Outlines from Mark and Acts, Dollar Sermon Library Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1975), 13.