Sermon Tone Analysis

Why parable of the Sower?

Christ's mission was not understood by the people of His time.

The manner of His coming was not in accordance with their expectations....

This expectation Christ answered in the parable of the sower.

Not by force of arms, not by violent interpositions, was the kingdom of God to prevail, but by the implanting of a new principle in the hearts of men.

CSA 19.5

The use of parables was widespread during the time of Jesus, especially by the rabbis.

A parable is often defined as “earthly story with a heavenly meaning.”

Jesus parables differed from those of the rabbis in a number of significant ways.

Unlike the rabbis, whose parables were often obscure and were used to proved theological points from the Mosaic Law, Jesus used everyday incidents and common objects as a foundation.

His parables were also vivid and had elements of shock and surprise, such as punch line at the end.

Christ:

Mission... not understood.

Manner of Coming... not as expected.

“Christ's mission was not understood by the people of His time.

The manner of His coming was not in accordance with their expectations....

This expectation Christ answered in the parable of the sower.

Not by force of arms, not by violent interpositions, was the kingdom of God to prevail, but by the implanting of a new principle in the hearts of men.” (CSA 19.5)

Christ's mission was not understood by the people of His time.

The manner of His coming was not in accordance with their expectations....

This expectation Christ answered in the parable of the sower.

Not by force of arms, not by violent interpositions, was the kingdom of God to prevail, but by the implanting of a new principle in the hearts of men.

CSA 19.5

The Sower is Christ

Christ had come, not as a king, but as a sower.

Matthew 13:37

Christ had come, not a a king, but a sower.

Not for the overthrow of Kingdoms, but for the scattering of seed.

Not to point His followers to earthly triumphs and national greatness, but to a harvest to be gathered after patient toil and through losses and disappointments.

(EGW: CSA 19.6)

The Pharisees And The Lessons

The Pharisees perceived the meaning of Christ’s parable, but to them its lessons was unwelcome.

“They affected not to understand it.

To the multitude it involved in still greater mystery the purpose of the new teacher, whose words had so strangely moved their hearts and so bitterly disappointed their ambitions.

The disciples themselves had not understood the parable, but their interest was awakened.

They came to Jesus privately and asked for an explanation.”

Christ's Object Lessons, 33-35.

“The parable of the sower and the seed conveys a deep spiritual lesson.

The seed represents the principles sown in the heart, and its growth the development of character.

Make the teaching on this point practical.

The children can prepare the soil and sow the seed; and as they work, the parent or teacher can explain to them the garden of the heart, with the good or bad seed sown there; and that as the garden must be prepared for the natural seed, so the heart must be prepared for the seed of truth.

As the plant grows, the correspondence between the natural and the spiritual sowing can be continued.”

(Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 142. )