Parables Series: Part 1 The Sower

Parables Series: Part 1 The Sower

Faith, Kingdom of God, Parables of Jesus, Series

June 16, 2022

Parable of the Sower.

he parable is found in Matthew 13:1-23. Jesus told this parable to show us how we respond to the Word of God which is key to entering the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, the parable is essentially about the Kingdom of Heaven/God. Look out for the upcoming follow up Parable of the Weeds in our blog section, both parables form a pair illustrating how super important the Word of God is, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Sower

The sower plants the seed (Word of God) which lands on four different types of soil (People and the condition of their hearts towards the Word of God to take root).

Where the Seed (Word) Fell

Along the Path

Birds came and ate it up. These seeds had no chance of growing at all because they were not given a chance.

On Rocky Places

The soil sprang up quickly, when the sun came up the plants were scorched and withered away.

Among Thorns

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.

On Good Soil

Came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.

Key Takeaways

Jesus instructs us to “seek FIRST the kingdom” (Matthew 6:33). He used parables and allegories to explain what it’s like to enter the Kingdom of God. The parable is an allegory (has hidden meaning) so Jesus breaks it down and explains it perfectly for us to understand it.

Jesus said, Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. The third example is quite interesting.These people hear the Word, but their heart or environment is not conducive to keep the Word of God. The scripture says the seed "grew up" which mean that people hear and retain the Word, only for it to be taken away.

But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. The last example describes people who hear the Word, keep it and do what all saints have been commissioned to do: to build up the body of the Messiah until all of us are united in the faith and in the full knowledge of God’s Son, and until we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in the Messiah. (Ephesians 4:12).