A Sower Went Forth

A Sower Went Forth Matthew 13:1-23

Intro - Parables - the word comes from the Greek and means, "to throw or set alongside." Jesus would as it were throw or set alongside spiritual truth and things from daily life. There were two main types of parables 1.) Narrative - Uses stories to convey a divine truth, such as in this parable or the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus, "There was a certain rich man..." 2.) Similitude - a comparison made without the story but words, "the Kingdom of heaven is like..."

It is very possible that Jesus as he was using the ship as a pulpit looked out upon the landscape and seen a sower out in a field and used him as a way to convey this truth.

The sowing. Sowing was a common way seeds were planted in this time frame. There were two main ways they sowed in ancient Palestine, 1.) Broadcasting, walking along and just throwing it out in front of him via bag slung around his shoulder, or 2.) To put a sack of seed with a tear or cut corner on the back of the donkey and lead it up and down the rows of the field.

I. Intercepted - A hardened soil. The Way side - The fields were something like long strips of land, bordered by a path or a walkway. This walkway was sometimes placed there by the owner to provide passerby's to get through to main roads or at times it was a border between two farms. Either way it was a place that was hardened to the seed

A. Hardened soil by

1. Frequent walking over it

2. Left untilled

3. Let go

B. The Birds got it.

1. Birds of doubt and unbelief.

A. One of the main reasons Christ could not do miracles in some places

2. Birds of criticism

3. Birds of gossip

II. Interference - A shallow soil. The stony ground was a shallow layer of dirt on top of a shelf of rock. The seed would sprout and begin to grow, the roots would begin to go down and soon hit the rock. Without any nutrients or water, the hot sun would soon burn it up.

1. Things left covered up

“Addressing a national seminar of Southern Baptist leaders, George Gallup said, "We find there is very little difference in ethical behavior between churchgoers and those who are not active religiously...The levels of lying, cheating, and stealing are remarkable similar in both groups. Eight out of ten Americans consider themselves Christians, Gallup said, yet only about half of them could identify the person who gave the Sermon on the Mount, and fewer still could recall five of the Ten Commandments. Only two in ten said they would be willing to suffer for their faith.” Erwin Lutzer, Pastor to Pastor, p. 76.

2. Stony things not dealt with (Jer. 4:3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Hos. 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.)

3. Didn't go deep enough.

A. Mar 4:5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

III. Impeded - A Thorny soil. The thorny soil was one that looked nice and clean. They had turned the earth, removed all the stones and debris they could see. It looked like prime soil. However hidden below the surface was thorns and thistles that grew much faster than the seed choking it out and blocking it's sunlight.

A. What is hiding in the ground.

1. A want to do things our way.

2. Lack of determination and commitment

3. Cares of life. Materialism

There are two ways to get enough: One is to accumulate more and more, the other is to desire less. G.K. Chesterton.

IV. Endured - A Good Soil- Was not good on its own, had prepared the soil. Read earlier about breaking up the fallow ground, we are told in Psa. 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psa. 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Some tilling, removing the rocks and debris in the garden, maybe adding some fertilizer of some sort, getting all the weeds out etc.

1. Was well received

A. Fertilized (faith)

B. Watered (Prayer)

C. Proper sun (Spirit)

2. Not only grew but produced (two fold interpretation)

1. Salvation

2. Blessing to others

Promise God gave me blessed me, touched Justin later was saved. etc....

3. Didn't sprout over night

1. Holiness seed never rots

2. Harvest will always come

3. He that endures till the end shall be saved.

"God keeps good books" Rev. Troy Bolen

This morning my question, perhaps God has showed you what the "garden" of your heart look like. Are you in the place you can receive the word, understand it, and bear fruit? I would encourage you to do whatever it takes to get your heart to that place this morning.