Parable of the Sower Matt 13: 18-23 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

Parable of the Sower

Jesus interpreted the parable of the sower in Matt 13:18-23.  Today, we will examine the response of some of the people to whom Jesus preached the word of God to see illustrations of this parable.

In the Parable of the Sower, the Sower Sows:

Seed By The Wayside

Matt 13:19. When the sower’s seed lands by the wayside, it never springs up. This illustrates the hearers who do not understood the word.  The devil catches away that which they heard.  The pharisees are an excellent example of hearers by the wayside.  In Matt 12:22-24, the Pharisees didn’t understand Jesus’s preaching and healing. They thought he was casting out devils by Beelzebub. In Jn 8:43-44 the pharisees could not understand Jesus’ speech because they were of their father the devil. When the Pharisees did perceive Jesus’s words, they sought to kill him, Matt 21:45-46. And when they didn’t perceive his words, they refused to answer him, Matt 22:41-46.

Seed Into Stony Places

Matt 13:20-21. When the sower sows seed in stony places, it springs up but can’t survive the heat because it has no root.  The heat of tribulation or persecution causes it to wither and die.  When Jesus’s words offended his hearers, they either left him, Jn 6:60-66, or envied him and delivered him to die. See Matt 21:8-11 with Matt 27:20-24.

Seed Among Thorns

Matt 13:22. When the sower sows seed among thorns, the thorns choke it out. The thorns of the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.  Such was the case with the rich, young, ruler, Matt 19:16-24, and Judas Iscariot, Jn 12:3-8.

Seed Into Good Ground

Seed into the good ground – Matt 13:23. When the sower sows seed into good ground, it bears abundant fruit. The word of God in an honest and good heart [Lk 8:15] will bear fruit.  The hearer hears it and understands it.  Such was the case with the disciples, Matt 13:10-13, and the Jews who heard Peter preach in Acts 2:37-41. This was also the case with the woman at the well in Jn 4:25-30, 39-42. See how the blind man healed in John 9 handled it, Jn 9:30-38.

Conclusion to the Parable of the Sower

So which kind of hearer are you?  Has the word not taken root in your hard heart yet?  Are you a shallow Christian who has been easily offended and now you are out?  Did the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word in you?  Or are you a fruitful Christian in whom the word of God bears fruit in your honest and good heart?