Parable of the Sower

Pastor Matt Davis – Parable of the Sower – Luke 8 Introduction Today we are going to start in the New Testament going through the parables of Jesus. As I had been studying and reviewing His parables, I had noticed how much application there had been from when Christ first spoke them, to today’s modern world and environment. I find some of the most profound and meaningful teachings within these parables and hope to teach you, and convey to you, the hidden mysteries Christ concealed for only those who follow Him. As we begin reading through the parables of Christ, I want to encourage each of you to search deep for the hidden meanings of scripture. In Luke 8:9-10 Christ taught of the purpose of parables. 9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? 10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Before we enter our text for today, I want to ponder that question, “What might this parable be?” Christ spoke in ways that concealed the meaning of His teachings. He says, “Unto you it is given… But to others, that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.” So why would Christ speak in such a way? Why would He conceal the meaning of His teachings? He does it, that you would dig to understand it. A concept, that is often misunderstood due to the construction of the sentence. The answer lies in the Greek sentence structure and the previous verse. That they should not understand is a result of the teaching, not the reason for the teaching. Parables are meant to conceal truths of God’s Kingdom from those whose hearts would not hearken, but to bring enlightenment to those who seek God and dig beyond the surface. Those who do not understand are responsible for their lack in knowledge, as they willingly reject the gospel message. As we read through these parables, we must either allow our hearts to hearken to the message, or we shall reject it. Whether we understand the parable is dependent upon our desire to grow closer to God and to examine the hidden concepts of the teaching. I can do my job, my part, and explain it, but it is up to you to trust God to enlighten you, to hearken. Which shall it be? Today, turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 8:4-8 . I selected a text today that is so relevant to church, so relevant to the culture around us, we need to examine the parable, and we need to understand. Last week we discussed describing the Christian, and I encouraged you to examine yourself. I encouraged you to be aware of certain behaviors, traits, fruits of the saved person, in yourself, and in others. This week, I will encourage you to examine yourself again. I will also encourage you to not be discouraged as we sow the seed in the hearts of those around us, and we sow, and we sow. Today we will examine the Parable of the Sower, and we will deepen our understanding of the soil types. The Parable Verses 4-8 4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: 5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. The parable of the sower tells of a farmer, the sower, who goes out into the field and sows his seeds. As he is sowing, what a waste of seed, by the way, it appears he is just tossing the seed to and fro - Sorry, back to the message - as he is sowing, he is tossing his seed as he walks the field. We shall notice the farmers seed ends up in one of four places. The Wayside The wayside, described in Luke as trodden down, has become a place uninhabitable for plant life. We could picture the wayside as the walking paths, the streets. Over time, as men have walked across the ground, they have hardened the soil, nothing sprouts or grows there. This should be easy to picture, I think we have all seen places like this. Out on my farm, and it’s been nearly three years since I’ve done anything out there, there are still paths I have created, and driven, or walked so much, there is nothing but surface soil. Where my dogs used to be, there is still mostly surface soil. Nothing has grown. Hiking trails, they get walked upon so much, nothing grows there. They could be abandoned for several years before the soil weathers enough to allow new growth. These places are not ideal for growing without extensive work and land prep. When the seeds land on these soils, the birds swoop in and eat the seed… (So I guess it’s not a complete waste of seed, at least someone gets it.) The Rocky Soil The farmer continues to walk and as he does so, he throws the seeds around him, and some of the seed finds it’s place in the rocky soil. The soil, described as rocky, describes a portion of land that has a very thin layer of top soil, maybe less than an inch deep, and underneath, rocks, hard soil, boulders. If you want a plant to grow strong, to develop well, it needs deep soil. Plants can, and surely have, thrived spreading wide, but they have no strength, and often times, especially in desert plains, no access to water. Luke tells us of the soil, the plants would spring up, and immediately become scored by the sun, “Because it lacked moisture.” Matthew tells us the plants sprouted pre-maturely, for there was no deepness of the earth. When the sun shone, it scorched the plants, having no roots, and they withered away. The Thorny Soil As the farmer continued, he tossed some seed into a thorn patch - And can I just pause a second and say, I do not want this farmer in charge of my fields. He seems lazy, not preparing his land! Ok, ok, sorry, I know I’m making some jokes today, and I’m not good at making jokes. The thorny soil is the soil which, has established already, or has mixed with it, weeds. We have all seen the byproduct of attempting to grow grass or crop in patches of weeds. It doesn’t work very well. If the plants sprout at all, despite the weeds attempts to steal the water, then they weeds choke them out. Weeds grow much faster, with less requirements than our crops, giving them a head start on establishing their roots, propagating, and getting access to the sun. Crops, coming in behind, are left to compete for what water, nutrients, and sunlight there is left. They result is generally the dying out of the crop. The Good Ground As this farmer continued, he managed to toss some of his seed unto good ground - soil ready to receive the seed and over time, produce an abundance of crop. This soil provided nutrients for the seed, water, and isolated it from rocks and the weeds which would otherwise produce an unhealthy crop. The scriptures describe this as the crop that produces thirty-fold, sixty-fold, and hundred-fold yields. The Meaning I love Christ and the way He teaches. Parables provide a great way to illustrate a point in a memorable and relatable way. Christ closed the public teaching with a proclamation, “He that has ears to hear, let him hear.” This is an invitation to dig deeper, beyond the illustration to some deeper, profound meaning. Parables, then, conceal information from all but whom would seek understanding. The disciples did just that, asking Him when they were done and alone from the crowds, saying, “What might this parable be?” I think, while we are here, I would encourage you to ask the same questions when we do not understand a text - be it a parable, prophecy, or any other passage of text. It becomes important to clarify why it is we do not understand the parable. There are many unbelievers who read what we read, and they walk away from the Bible in total disdain. They walk away asking “how can they read that and believe any of that nonsense.” It is revealed to us quite plainly in the scripture, the unbeliever is spiritually blind. They have an inability, or somethings just an unwillingness to perceive the truth of the gospel. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. We must also ask, if we are a believer, why we cannot understand… Do we rely too much upon man’s wisdom? Are we not trusting in God and asking Him for understanding? Do we really want to understand the meaning? Remember, the parables are meant to conceal meaning from those who are not digging and seeking it’s truths. So, other than how not to plant our gardens, what can we learn from the parable of the sower? How does the parable of the sower relate to the mission of the gospel? Christ, privately, discloses the meaning of the parable as symbolic of the various ways each person receives of the message. The Seed - Verse 11 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God Mark’s focus is on the sower, rather than the seed. The sower is the one who is sowing the seed, which is the Word of God, the focus of Luke’s parallel to the parable. Preaching is the method by which we sow the Word of God, and the Word is the means by which people are born again. Paul gives a lengthy discourse on the faith producing mechanism of the Word of God: 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our zreport? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The Word of God, if allowed into ones heart, can fundamentally change the person, they can believe upon the name of the Only Begotten, and they can be saved. The Word of God is the seed that is planted, whether it be by the wayside, the rocky soil, the weed patch, or the good soil. It may be true, especially today, that we sow, and we plant, and we find that the majority of our seed ends up, like the farmer, in the wayside, or the rocky land, or the weed patch… But there are those few who, receiving the Word, produce fruit, and they wait only for the seed to be planted. And if faith be fundamental to salvation, then the Word of God fundamental, for by hearing it is saving faith produced. The Word of God is responsible, not only for producing the faith that leads unto salvation, but for the cleansing of sin. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. So if the Word of God be the seed, and the sower the one who sows the Word, who is the sower? All disciples of Christ are called to sow forth the word. The great commission is applicable to all who follow the Lord. To first be made a disciple, and then, to go and make disciples. If you shall obey the great commission, then you become the sower. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you Understanding the who the sower is and what the seed represents, let us examine the four soil types, and what meaning they contain within the parable. The Wayside Verse 12 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. I think the wayside can describe the vast majority of people today who respond to God’s Word. I have to be honest, Facebook isn’t even a site/app I visit much anymore for this reason. I do make a couple posts a day, but in general, I have stopped scrolling in my newsfeed, I have stopped reading a lot of comments, and I have stopped getting deep into many conversations on facebook. Maybe I need to change my attitude and reasoning, get back on there and continue commenting, but it gets old. Anyone who spends enough time looking for it will see what I’m talking about. If you comment “I’ll pray for you,” you’ll get a thousand reactions, with the vast majority being anger faces or laughter. While discussing science, if you bring up creation, opposite sex relationships, the flood, evidence… anything really, you will get a lot of push back, will be called stupid, will be laughed at. If you stand up against abortion, you will be called the problem. This represents the vast majority of people we will interact with, who, upon hearing the Word of God, immediately disregard it. The devil snatches it away from them, not allowing them the chance to believe. These people are often looking for the excuse to reject it, and the devil will be quick to take the Word away from them and give them an excuse. We must be careful ourselves, that we do not allow the devil to devour the Word from us. Peter warns of the devil, telling us to be vigilant: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: The teaching of those on the wayside reveal to us two things. Of the devil, it is revealed his purpose of his work is that you would reject the word, that you would not believe. If we shall be honest, the devil need not to temp us, we naturally come by sin. The devil’s goal is to make you question the authority of God’s Word, lest you should believe and be save. We learn also of the mechanism by which salvation is obtained, which is, through hearing the Word of God and then believing. If you are hearing the Word of God, for the first time, or maybe you’ve heard it before, maybe you’ve been in my services with me multiple times. Maybe you’ve been listening on Facebook, maybe this is your first time here in my church, but you’ve been going other places - If you have not yet accepted the message, if you have not been professing Christ before the Lord, I caution you against being this type of soil. I pray, I want to believe that the fact you are here, that your heart wants to accept, because you are here on your own account. But don’t allow the devil to snatch the Word of God from you. Dwell on it, protect it, let it sink into your heart - Don’t allow it to be taken from you that you may not believe. I caution believers, especially around here, those who believe they believe, but may not examine yourself when you hear the Word of God. Are you rejecting it? Do you follow a false premise? Examine the doctrine, whether it be taught of me, or taught of another pastor, church, whatever. Examine it against the unchanging Word of God. If the majority of people fall into the wayside, where then, do the rest fall? The Rocky Soil - Verse 13 13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. This, and the next soil group, describe those who receive the Word, but they don’t establish themselves in the Word. Those on the rocky ground, they received the Word with joy. What a way to describe the receiving of God’s Word. We should all receive it with joy! God’s Word, true repentance does not bring about shame, but it brings about joy, salvation. While those in the rocky soil received God’s Word with joy, they did not receive His Word with any substance. These are the people who wanted to believe, but could not commit. Luke describes these people as falling away in time of temptation. Matthew and Mark explain with more detail the nature of the temptation: 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 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. Then we understand the rocky soil represents those who received the Word, but planted no roots to establish the Word in them. The church, Christ, was good enough for them while things were smooth, easy, but when times of persecution or affliction came, they bolted. They are those who received Christ on the surface, but never received Him into their hearts. They are not loyal to Christ, nor the Kingdom of God, but they become offended by Him when the world persecutes them for His sake. Perhaps the affliction that causes them to become offended is sin and temptation - As they begin to grow in Christianity, they become offended, not by their sin, but by the gospel which convicts them of their sin. They then cast the gospel aside, they wither, because they have no roots. It is easier to give up the gospel than it is to give up the sin. It is easier to become spoiled through man’s philosophy and tradition, than it is to reject them and stand with Christ. We see this happening on a wide scale today - There are many organizations dividing today over this issue (some Christian, some not). The Catholic church (which I view not as Christian) is diving over the issues of gay marriage and abortion. The Lutherans have divided over similar issues. The Southern Baptist Convection is currently dividing, right now, over the issues of gay marriage and women pastors. Because the philosophies and traditions of man are becoming more important to our “feelings” than established Word of God. We are warned of such things by Paul in Colossians: 6 As ye have therefore treceived Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Speaking now to believers, I caution you to avoid becoming spoiled by these wrong philosophies of man. Guard yourself, examine yourself right now. Where do you stand on these issues. If you are offended by these teachings of Christ, I plead then, put down those roots. Dig deep, establish God’s Word in your heart. As Paul said, so say I, ‘As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.’ The Thorny Soil - Verse 14 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. These are they who receive the Word, and like with the stony ground, have no real roots. Over time, their worries and cares, or desires of riches and pleasures of this life compete for and eventually steal their attention from Christ. Perhaps their fears of financial stability lead them to take a job that would be considered immoral. Perhaps, they start dealing business deceitfully. These are they whose pleasures of life overrule their love of Christ - Instead of going to church, they go fishing, play video games, bowling with friends, etc. These are they who get so caught up in their desires there is no time for church, or scripture reading, or prayer. This is a difficult soil to discuss, because it is easy to slide into this soil type from the good soil. If we are not careful, if we do not anchor into the roots we begin to establish when we first receive Christ, this is the place we can end up. The result of allowing the things of this world, the fleshly desires, to rule your heart and mind is becoming unfruitful. The text says of such, “are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” These actions are a result of not abiding in Christ - Christ teaches us: 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If we abide in Christ, we can protect ourselves from becoming choked in these things. Scripture provides us with helps for each as well. For your cares: 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. We can give them to God, we can let Christ worry about our worries so that we can focus on Him - for He cares for us. For money: 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and ffollow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 jFight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Christ taught us that we cannot serve God and mammon, for we will hate the one, and love the other. Let us flee from the love of money, and fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of eternal life and keep your eyes on Christ. Though the love of money attempts to creep in, though the worries of financial stability may tempt you, remember, my brothers and sisters in Christ, that He will take care of you. Just keep your eyes on Him. For pleasures: 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. The Good Soil Verse 15 15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. The good soil, they are those who have a honest and a good heart. These are those who receive the Word, and they establish the roots, they dwell upon it, they abide in Christ, and they do the word. These people will bear fruit, but notice, it is not always immediate. It says, “With Patience.” These are they who, by obeying the Word of God, by living it in their lives, by abiding in Christ, with time, as they change more like Christ, and as they do more as Christ would have them do, and as they live the way Christ would live and set that example - They will bear fruit. A true Christian will endure with longsuffering, working daily on themselves, living to glorify God. These are they who will bear fruit, as discussed in John 15 , because it is impossible to abide in Christ and not bear forth fruit. Christ teaches of this man in Matthew 7: 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Conclusion Each of us are a soil type - We are either the wayside, those who rejected the Word and had it snatched away from us. We may be the rocky soil, you may be in here tonight, listening to this, a member of the church, but when the tribulation, temptations, and persecutions come, your out of here. You may be the soil in a weed patch, to begin growing, and getting choked out with the cares of this world. Be that money, fleshly/lustful desires. And I pray if you are listening to this, that you are the good soil, whom, with patience, will produce a good crop. I encourage you as you go home to examine yourselves again, and determine which of these groups you are. If you fall into the rocky soil, or the weed patch, what can we do to establish your roots? Let’s get together, let’s get into the Word of God and get your roots running deep, that when those winds blow, you do not topple over. Beyond ourselves, realizing our job is to sow the seed, we must also realize that some of that seed will land on the wayside. We will be rejected, we will be laughed at, and scorned. We will see those who receive the Word with joy, but they wither and leave as soon as there is any tribulation, persecution, or preaching that is offensive to their lifestyle. We must realize that some seed will land in thorny patches, where the cares, money, and pleasures of this world will take precedence in those people’s lives. Of these soil types, pray for them, and pray continually. God can work miracles and move mountains. Perhaps the person who rejects the message today, a week from now will hear it again and receive it. Perhaps the person who is in the weed patch will, with prayer and direction, deepen his roots and grow above the weeds that choke him out. We must not become discouraged as to stop preaching the Word. This is our commission, that we will go forth, and make disciples among all peoples, nations, and tongues. Invitation There are some of you listening to this, some of you here tonight, who have not yet professed Christ. There may be some listening right now, who this is the first time they have been somewhere to hear the gospel message. So I tell you tonight, not as a hope, or some faint belief, but as a matter of fact, that Christ is God in the flesh, who entered the earth to save you Because He loves you. Because we were all born sinners who could not save ourselves. He died on that cross, and He went into that grave, so that He could rise, resurrecting into a glorious state, that you could be freed from the curse you are under. The word gospel means “good news,” and the gospel of Christ is good news indeed. That battle has been fought, your penalty already been paid, if you would believe upon the name of the only Begotten. I plead with you now to accept Christ into your heart. He taught us in Matt 10, that whosoever would profess Him before men, He would profess before the Father above. And whosoever would deny Him before men, He would deny before the Father above. So if you have been here, and you have not yet professed Christ, I ask you why? Please reach out to me, call me, text me, set up a Zoom meeting with me - If you are local, or sitting in my physical congregation, lets get coffee together and discuss why. You may be thinking that you have sin in your life, and cannot do this until that sin is gone - But you cannot rid yourself of the sins, you need Christ first for that. You may be thinking you have time, but you, nor I know how much time you have. Tomorrow is promised to no man. This is urgent, so I plead, if you’ve been hearing these messages, if you are still coming, then accept Christ today, and let us here at church know that you accept and profess Christ as your Lord. It all begins with admitting that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself. Then believing that Christ entered the world, dying on the cross for your sins, and did indeed resurrect from the grave. And the confessing Him as your Lord and Savior, asking Him into your heart. Then go forth, and proclaim Him before men as your Lord. You can begin today, right now, in our closing prayer, admitting, believing, and confessing. ***Prayer***