THE PARABLES OF JESUSThe Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-23

March 10, 2013First Baptist Church

Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Reference:THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE PARABLES

By

Dr. R. T. Kendall

What is a parable?1. “A simple story that illustrates a profound

truth.”

2. Greek is “parabole” means a placing beside or a comparison.

3. One third of Jesus’ teachings were in parables

Why did Jesus use parables?1. “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter

things hidden since the creation of the world.” Psalm 78:2

2. Allowed Jesus to move from the natural level of life to the spiritual level.

3. Allowed for those for whom it was intended to understand.

Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower

1. Included in all 3 synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke.

2. Probably the 1st parable Jesus taught.

* Begins with the sowing of God’s Word.

* Others state “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…..”.

3. Jesus told the meaning to the disciples.

Matthew 13:1-23 NKJV1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house

and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.

5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Purpose of Parables

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,And seeing you will see and not perceive;15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.Their ears are hard of hearing,And their eyes they have closed,Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,So that I should heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Matthew 13:1-23 NKJV

Elements of the Parable of the Sower1. Seed

2. Sower of seed

3. Soil

SEED – Word of GodJesus’ message about the Kingdom of God

The power of the seed – God’s Word

Isaiah 55:10-11

10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Hebrews 4:1212 For the word of God is living and powerful,and sharper than any two-edged sword,piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner ofthe thoughts and intents of the heart.

SOWER – Preacher, Teacher or Reader1. Holy Spirit is revealer of God’s word

John 16:13

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

1 Corinthians 2:9-109 But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,Nor have entered into the heart of manThe things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

2. Sower does not make judgments.* Broadcasts in all directions

3. Parable does not assign responsibility of response to the sower.

SOIL- Condition and Depth of Heart1. Growth of seed is related to:

* Depth of soil

* Presence of contaminates (thorns)

* Types of Soil: All look the same from the surface

1. Path (Wayside in KJV)

2. Rocky

3. Thorny

4. Good soil

PATH SOIL1. Hard and non-penetrable (compressed)

2. Resistant to God’s word

3. Satan (world) has control of the hard heart

4. God’s word is snatched away

5. Applies to believers and non-believers

Birds Eat Seeds

ROCKY SOIL1. Looks normal, but hard underneath

2. Quick initial response; fizzles out

3. Immature in the faith; easily deceived

4. See no victory in Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28 NKJV28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

5. Applies to believers and non-believers

THORNY SOIL1. Bad seeds mixed in soil

* Sin nature present in everyone

2. God’s word grows but little fruit produced

* Thorns outgrow crop

3. Limited spiritual growth; lose focus

4. Applies to believers and non-believers

Thorn Chokes The Plant

GOOD SOIL1. Soil that is fertile and fruitful

2. Accepts God’s word and Jesus as Savior

3. Fruit of spirit is multiplied

4. Applies only to believers

THORNY SOIL APPLICATIONSFOR BELIEVERS

1. How can you know if bad seeds are in a Christians life?

2. Who is in charge? Holy Spirit or sin nature?

3. Galatians 5:22-23 – The fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no

law.

What thorns make us unfruitful?Jesus tells us

Matthew 13:22

22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

The worries of this life

Matthew 6:25-34

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

The deceitfulness of wealthEcclesiastes 5:10 NKJV10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver;Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.

Matthew 6:24 NKJV24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

What is the cure for the thorns of life?Galatians 5:16-26 NKJV16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:16-26 NKJV

1. Crucify your sinful nature – Daily

2. Keep in step – Daily

* Confess sins

* Read God’s word

* Obey His word

* Pray

Importance of Sower Parable1. We should never be surprised when people don’t

persevere.

2. Not everyone who makes a profession of faith is saved.

Matthew 7:21-23

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

3. We should never try to judge who is saved and who is not saved.4. The truths contained in this parable will always be relevant.5. A person’s initial response to the Gospel need not be permanent.6. The parable does not refer only to preaching to the lost.