The Parable of:
“The Sower”
(Identifying the Saved and the Lost)
The Parable of:
“The Sower”
(Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23)
Matt. 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And 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 sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
We will begin our study of this parable by searching the Bible to see if there are any similar parables which might help us understand this parable. Using Strong’s Concordance and the word “sower” we find that in Mark 4:3-9, 14-20 and in Luke 8:5-8, 11-15 there are similar parables. In order to see the similarities and also the differences between the parables, we will use the method that is suggested by the Bible when trying to understand complex passages of Scripture.
Habakkuk 2:2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
By using a table we can easily see the similarities and the differences between the parables.
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THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER (EXPLAINED)
BIBLE VERSES
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JESUS’ EXPLANATION
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Luke 8: 5 5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
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Luke 8: 11, 12 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
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Matthew 13: 3, 4 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.
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Matthew 13: 18, 19 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
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Mark 4: 3, 4 3 Hearken, Behold, there went out a sower to sow. 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
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Mark 4: 14, 15 14 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
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Identifying the Spiritual Meanings of:
the Real Objects:
1. The seed is the Word of God.
(Luke 8:11)
2. The Sower “sows” or teaches the Word.
(Mark 4:14)
3. The wayside is a place where the Word is heard.
(Mark 4:15)
4. The wayside hearer is a person who does not understand the Word.
(Matthew 13:19)
5. The seed “trodden down” is the Word, being mistreated or changed by men.
(Luke 8:5; Jeremiah 12:10; Ezk. 34:18, 19)
6. The fowls that devoured the seed are people
(Prov. 6:5) used by Satan to remove the Word or truth that the person hears from their heart lest they should believe it and be saved.
Paraphrase:
A teacher (sower) went out to teach (sow) the Word (seed); and as he taught (sowed) the Word, (seed) it was heard (fell) by people who did not understand it (wayside hearers). The Word (seed) was mistreated and changed by men (trodden down). Then Satan used people (fowls) to remove the Word or truth from the hearts of those that heard the truth, lest they should believe it and be saved. (fowls devoured the seed)
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BIBLE VERSES
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JESUS’ EXPLANATION
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Luke 8: 6 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. |
Luke 8: 13 13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
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Matthew 13: 5, 6 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. |
Matthew 13: 20, 21 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. |
Mark 4: 5, 6 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not 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. |
Mark 4: 16, 17 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
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Identifying the Spiritual Meanings of the Real Objects:
1. The type of place where the seed falls represents the condition of the heart of a person.
good ground--soft, converted heart (Luke 8:15)
stony ground--hard, unconverted heart
(Ezekiel 11:19)
(no depth of ground-no softness of earth) (Mark 4:5)
2. The root of the seed represents the person’s relationship with Jesus. (Col. 2:6, 7) To have no root
in himself means to have no relationship with Jesus.
3. The moisture that the seed lacked represents the
Holy Spirit. (Isa. 44:3) The seed without moisture represents a person who does not have the Holy Spirit in his heart.
4. The seed that was scorched when the sun was up
(Matt. 13:6), represents a person who believes for a while (Luke 8:13), but when persecution or tribulation arises because of the Word (Matt. 13:21), they fall away
(Luke 8:13).
Paraphrase:
The Word (seed) was also heard (fell on) by people with hard unconverted hearts (stony ground). These people believed for awhile, but when persecution and tribulation came because of the Word (sun was up), they could not endure and fell away (scorched), because they did not have the Holy Spirit (lacked moisture) and they had no relationship with Jesus (no root).
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BIBLE VERSES
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JESUS’ EXPLANATION
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Luke 8: 7 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. |
Luke 8: 14 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
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Matthew 13: 7 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: |
Matthew 13: 22 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
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Mark 4: 7 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
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Mark 4: 18,19 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
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Identifying the Spiritual Meanings of
the Real Objects:
1. The thorns represent the cares, and riches, and pleasures and lusts of other things of the world.
(Luke 8:14; Mark 4:19)
2. These things (thorns) choke the Word (Mark 4:19) or “crowd it out” so that there is no time for Bible Study (the Word).
3. As a result the seed cannot grow properly and so
no “fruit” or Christian Virtues (Gal. 5:22) or
Converts (Prov. 11:30) are produced.
Paraphrase:
The Word (seed) was also heard (fell among) by people who allowed themselves to become so involved with the cares and riches and pleasures and the lusts of other things of the world (thorns), that they had no time for Bible Study (choked the Word). As a result, these people did not mature in the Christian Virtues and they had no converts (fruit) to give to the Lord.
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BIBLE VERSES
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JESUS’ EXPLANATION
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Luke 8: 8 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
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Luke 8: 15 15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
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Matthew 13: 8,9 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
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Matthew 13: 23 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
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Mark 4: 8,9 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred; 9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
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Mark 4: 20 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
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Identifying the Spiritual Meanings of:
the Real Objects:
1. The good ground represents the soft heart of a Converted Christian. (Luke 8:15; Ezk. 11:19)
2. The seed received into the good ground represents a Converted person who studies (hears) (Rom. 10:17) and understands the Word. (Matt. 13:23)
3. The fruit produced represents the Christian Virtues and Converts won for the Lord. (Gal. 5:22; Prov. 11:30)
4. There will be some Converted Christians who produce more fruit than others, but all Converted Christians will be saved.
5. Those who have been converted will be honest and have good hearts. (Luke 8:15) When they hear the Word, they will keep it and with patience will mature in Christian Virtues and win many Converts for the Lord. (Luke 8:15)
Paraphrase:
The Word (seed) was also heard (fell on) by people with soft, converted hearts (good ground) who understood the Word and kept the Word with patience. As a result, these people matured in the Christian Virtues and with patience won many converts for the Lord. Some won more converts than others.
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Doctrinal Truths (Taught by Jesus in the Parable of
“The Sower”)
1. The Word of truth will be heard by everyone.
2. Jesus grouped everyone in the world into 4 groups of people.
3. Group 1: Consists of people who hear the Word but do not understand it. They have been deceived by men who have “changed the Word” and by people who “remove the Word” from their hearts when they have found the truth! These people will be lost!
4. Group 2: Consists of people who have heard the Word and believed it, but who have never allowed the Lord or the Holy Spirit to “soften” and convert their hard hearts!
When persecution and tribulation come because of
the Word, these people cannot endure because they
do not have the Holy Spirit and they do not have a Relationship with Jesus. These people will be lost!
5. Group 3: Consists of people who have allowed themselves to become so involved with the cares,
riches, pleasures and lusts of the world, that they
have no time for the study of God’s Word. As a
result, these people will not mature in the Christian Virtues and they will have no converts to give to the Lord. These people will be lost!
(Cont. next page)
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6. Group 4: Consists of people who have “heard” or studied the Word and understand it. They have allowed the Holy Spirit to come into their hearts and they have a Relationship with Jesus. As a result, their hearts are soft and they have been converted. They are honest and when the Word tells them to do something “they do it”! They have developed patience and have acquired the Virtues of a Mature Christian. By their life and by the Word they have won many converts for the Lord. These people will be saved!
7. The main teachings of this parable are as follows:
1. Everyone will hear the Word of truth.
2. We must not allow Pastors or teachers who have “changed the Word” to deceive us.
3. We must not allow friends or others to “remove” the truth of the Word from us after we have heard it!
4. We must do our very best to understand the Word for ourselves.
5. We must allow the Holy Spirit to come into our heart and convert us and give us a soft heart.
6. We must develop a relationship with Jesus.
7. We must expect persecution and tribulation as Christians “because of the Word” but with the help of Jesus and the Holy Spirit we can endure!
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8. We must make time for the study of God’s Word. We must not allow the cares, riches, pleasures and lusts of other things to “crowd out” our time with the Word.
9. We will not be able to mature in the Christian virtues, nor will we be able to bring any converts to the Lord unless we spend time in Bible Study (the Word).
10. Everyone will be given an opportunity to “hear” or learn the TRUTH (Word), but
not everyone will listen or be saved!
11. When we read the Word and it tells us to
“do something” we need to do it!
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