Parable of the sower
This month, we are taking a deep dive into famous parables as told by Jesus during his ministry on earth. A parable in the Greek translation means to lay alongside. This means using something familiar to explain something unfamiliar (much like an extended metaphor for modern day readers).
However, Jesus’ parables were something else entirely; they weren’t about earthly matters and life lessons but often about the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 13:10-11, Jesus says himself that parables are used to show who belongs to the King and who doesn’t.
This Sunday, we looked into the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23) to see what it could teach us about the Kingdom, and here we find three key aspects.
The seed
He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.” (verse 3)
Jesus begins the story about a sower or a farmer going out to plant seeds. The seed here is the Word of God, as we understand from Luke 8:11. The Word of God is compared to a seed because it has life in it much like a seed (1 Peter 1:23 & Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God has life in it (and as we learned a few weeks ago, it’s God-breathed). The life that lives in the Word is the very ingredient for eternal life that takes our hearts from (spiritual) death to life. And as we will learn from this parable, if the seed can be planted firmly in good soil, it will grow and transform much like the Word of God does in our lives.
The sower
Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed.” (verse 37)
In this parable, Jesus is the sower as he later explains in verse 37, but as believers and witnesses for Christ, we are now also tasked to be sowers in our own fields. We are encouraged to sow generously and with compassion so that we can also reap generously with joy (2 Corinthians 9:6, Psalm 126:6 & Galatians 6:9). And this is not a role to be taken lightly - it is a serious job as there can be believers who seek to sow discord instead of the Word of God. I encourage you to take every opportunity to sow the Word of God as we never know when the seed we plant will land in good soil.
The soil
The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed… the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long… the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth… [the] good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word.
The soil represents the state of our heart when we receive the Word of God. From Jesus’ explanation, we see that there are four different categories.
The footpath = the unresponsive heart that has been hardened to the Word of God
The rocky soil = the impulsive heart that merely wants to be entertained
The thorns = the congestive heart with too much going on that the Word of God gets pushed out
The good soil = the receptive heart that hears the Word of God, repents and bears fruit abundantly
How do we understand these different types of hearts? Are we only one type of heart our whole lives? Should we give up if a friend or family member isn’t receptive to the Word of God the first time we share? The answer is no - these four categories can also be like stages. So, we don’t give up but continue doing the work of a sower as Jesus did.
Dear God,
Thank You that You have sown the Word into my heart. If my heart has changed to rocky or thorny soil, Father I pray that you would allow me to have good soil in my heart, understanding the Gospel, repenting and bearing fruit for your Kingdom. I pray for my friends and family, that they would have hearts like the good soil, ready to hear the Word. Lord, whether I feel equipped or not, use me and make me into a sower for Your glory.
In Jesus’ mighty name I pray,
Amen