The sower and the soils (Mark 4:1–20)

This was not the first time that Jesus had used parables. This is, however, the first parable told at length and explained in detail. This parable of a farmer sowing seed is a vivid picture of the preaching of the gospel. It explains that the difference in the results all depends on the nature of the human heart that receives the gospel. We must always remember that a parable is not the same as an allegory. In an allegory, every detail has some spiritual significance, while in a parable much of the detail may not be important; it is the story as a whole which conveys the message.There may or may not have been a Galilean farmer actually sowing on the hillside above at the time: if there was, then it would have made the illustration even more vivid. But the real point is that, as he was speaking, Jesus was actually sowing the word, and the hearers were responding in the different ways that he described; they were all part of the parable themselves.

I. Jesus’ statement of the Soils Parable (4:1–9)

1 And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. 2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”9 And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

A. Both before and after Jesus told this parable, He urged the crowd to listen carefully.

The parable begins and ends (v. 9) with an admonition to listen thoughtfully, which shows that the meaning of parables is not always self-evident. This parable would be completely unremarkable except for the instructions to listen that frame it: Jesus said, Listen (4:3) and He who has ears to hear, let him hear (4:9). Both the verbs listen and hear are in the imperative mood.

They are not invitations or declarations. They are commands, and no other parable in this Gospel is framed at both ends with an order to listen. These two commands indicate that this parable is of special importance.

B. The human heart is like soil.

The seed represents God’s Word, and the sower is the servant of God who shares that Word with others. The soil/heart must be prepared to receive the seed before that seed can take root and produce a harvest. Like seed, the Word is alive and able to produce spiritual fruit, but the seed must be planted and cultivated before that harvest will come.

The parable is true to what is known about ancient Palestinian agriculture. Unlike the modern method, the seed was sown first and then plowed under. The sower held it in an apron with one hand and broadcast it with the other. It was inevitable that some would fall upon the hardened path through the field, some where the soil was too shallow, and some among thorns as well as on good ground.

II. Jesus’ explanation for teaching in parables (4:10–12)

10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’ ”

A. To those who believed, God had given the secret of the kingdom of God.

To those on the outside (the unbelieving crowd) everything, His whole message and mission, was stated in parables. The crowd did not really understand Jesus.

Both groups were confronted by Jesus and His message (cf. 1:14–15). God enabled the disciples to see in Him the “secret” about the kingdom. This refers to the disclosure of God’s present kingdom plan which is to be an Age of “seed-sowing”. It was previously hidden to the prophets, but now was revealed to people of His choice.

(Romans 16: 25 & 26)

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith

B. The basic “secret,” common to all the kingdom parables, is that in Jesus.

God’s rule (kingdom) has come into human experience in a new spiritual form. The disciples had believed in Jesus. God had already given them this “secret,” though so far they understood little of its full impact. On the other hand those blinded by unbelief saw in Jesus nothing but a threat to their existence. They rejected Him and did not come to know the “secret” of God’s kingdom. Jesus’ parables served to conceal its truths from them.

Jesus’ audiences were not denied the opportunity to believe in Him. But after they persistently closed their minds to His message, they were excluded from further understanding of it by His use of parables. Yet even the parables, which veiled the truth, were meant to provoke thought, enlighten, and ultimately reveal it. They uniquely preserved people’s freedom to believe, while demonstrating that such a decision is effected by God’s enabling

III. Jesus’ interpretation of the Soils Parable (4:13–20)

13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

A. The shallow heart.

This heart is like thin soil on a rock. Since there is no depth, whatever is planted cannot last because it has no roots. This represents the “emotional hearer” who joyfully accepts God’s Word but does not really understand the price that must be paid to become a genuine Christian.

There may be great enthusiasm for several days or weeks; but when persecution and difficulties begin, the enthusiasm wanes and the joy disappears. It is easy for fallen human nature to counterfeit “religious feelings” and give a professed Christian a feeling of false confidence.

B. The crowded heart.

This heart pictures the person who receives the Word but does not truly repent and remove the “weeds” out of his or her heart.

This hearer has too many different kinds of “seeds” growing in the soil—worldly cares, a desire for riches, a lust for things—and the good seed of the Word has no room in which to grow. To change the image, this person wants to walk the “broad way” and the “narrow way” at the same time and it cannot be done.

C. The fruitful heart.

This heart pictures the true believer, because fruit—a changed life—is the evidence of true salvation (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:19–23). The other three hearts produced no fruit, so we conclude that they belong to persons who have never been born again.

Not all true believers are equally as productive; but from every genuine Christian’s life, there will be some evidence of spiritual fruit.

Each of the three fruitless hearts is influenced by a different enemy: the hard heart—the devil himself snatches the seed; the shallow heart—the flesh counterfeits religious feelings; the crowded heart—the things of the world smother the growth and prevent a harvest. These are the three great enemies of the Christian: the world, the flesh, and the devil