The Parable of the Seed

1 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. 3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 “Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 “But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 “Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 “And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 “He who has ears, let him hear.”

This parable is primarily about the proliferation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelistic methods. We read the word “hear” nineteen times in chapter 13.

But Jesus seems to be speaking in code here.

A parable is an extended metaphor or simile. A parable is not necessarily an allegory. And it is not a fable. In allegories, ideas are symbolized by people in the story. Fables teach lessons but employ animals or inanimate objects as characters of the story. The parable is a short story designed to teach a moral or religious lesson.

Parables can sometimes seem confusing. As we continue reading Jesus explains why he was speaking in parables.

II. The Question - Why Parables? -

Matthew 13:10–17 NASB95

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; 15 For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’ 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 “For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The question asked of Jesus is “Why do you speak in parables?” The disciples knew that Jesus often taught them plainly without resorting to the use of parables. But with those who followed Jesus in public, He often told simple stories.

His Purpose With Parables

To educate those who get it and discourage those who just don’t get it.

The Natural Man

1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB95

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

He who has ears let him hear...

III. The Parable Explained -

Matthew 13:18–23 NASB95

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 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 the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

The Seed Brings Fruit

Warren Wiersbe explains how the seed of the Gospel bears the fruit of Christianity within us for all to see...

Fruit is the test of true salvation ().

Matthew 7:16 NASB95

16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

We Christians are given the ability to be “fruit inspectors.” We can tell people by the marks of Christian character...

This would include holiness (),

Romans 6:22 NASB95

22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

Holiness (or being set apart for God) bears the fruit of sanctification and gives us eternal life with God.

Christian character (), good works (), winning others to Christ (), sharing what we have (), and praising God (). If a plant is to bear fruit, it must be rooted in soil and exposed to sunshine. - Warren Wiersbe

Christian character (),

We can examine the Christian character of those around us...

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

good works (),

Colossians 1:10 NASB95

10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

winning others to Christ (),

Romans 1:13 NASB95

13 I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.

sharing what we have (),

Romans 15:25–28 NASB95

25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain.

If you have no generosity for those who are in Christ but suffering...

and praising God ().

Hebrews 13:15 NASB95

15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

If a plant is to bear fruit, it must be rooted in soil and exposed to sunshine. - Warren Wiersbe

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 45). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Wait! Did He Say Affliction and Persecution? - v 20-21

Worry and Wealth Can Choke Out Salvation - v 22

Good Soil Bears Good Fruit - v 23

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