Parable of the Sower

Introduction

Good morning. Will you open your Bibles with me to Matthew chapter 13? Matthew chapter 13 is where we will begin the reading this morning. And in Matthew chapter 13, beginning in verse 1, Matthew writes, That same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea, and great crowds gathered about him. So they got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things and parables, saying, A sower went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away.

Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear. And thus we have the parable of the sower, as Jesus calls it in Matthew chapter 13 and verse 18, when he says, Hear then the parable of the sower. But what we often focus on is if you can see, I believe all four. I think where I have of the might be the wayside soil there. But we focus on the soils of this passage. And that certainly is the gist of the message. A lot of it is about the soils and how they received and responded to the seed, and how that seed was able to grow or not grow in it.

But this morning, while we discussed this parable of Jesus that is pretty well known, I want to think about the application that Jesus gave first. And I want to look at it from our angle as Christians, and what that means to me, what this story means for my life, and how I should live it in comparison to others. Now, the the good news about this parable is that Jesus explains it. I love verse 10 of Matthew chapter 13. At the conclusion of the parable aspect of the story, then the disciples came and said to him, Why do you speak to them in parables? And answer them, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Now, what’s interesting is this feels like, in a sense, this text here from verse 10 down through verse 17 is almost in the way. Because in verses three through nine you have the telling of the parable of the sower, and then in verses eighteen through verse twenty-three, you have the explanation of the parable of the sower. But note the point made as he quotes Isaiah in verse 14 on forward. Indeed, in their case, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says, You will indeed hear, but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive, for this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear in their eyes, they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with the ears, and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.

1. Why Does He Tell Parables?

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears for they hear. For truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see and did not see it, and hear what you hear, and did not hear it. So when we take this explanation of Jesus as to why does he tell parables in the first place? Well, first of all, we know simply they help aid our understanding. They certainly aided the first century audience of Jesus’ understanding. Consider the very illustration of the parable of the sower. What did he use? Well, a sower went out and threw some seed along the soil. We get that. I’m about as city as you can get. And I understand that idea. You put seed on different types of ground in different land, some’s going to work and some’s not.

Now, if I’m sowing the seed, it’s not going to grow. We’re just going to tell you that right now. But we understand that. So there’s a principle of aiding understanding, but also, perhaps there was some meaning into why he’s explaining it this way. Do you notice how he quotes Isaiah in verse 14? You will indeed hear, but never understand? And you will indeed see, but never perceive. Why? Why such a grim audience? Why such a grim outlook? Well, verse 15, for this people’s heart has grown dull. How? And with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand. Note this part, with their heart. And turn and I would heal them.

We kind of skip over verse 9. Who has he who has ears, let him hear. But you see, that is the application of this very parable. The parable of the sower is talking, yes, about the soils. But what is the root of the difference in the soils? Those who do not have a dull heart. Those who are open to hearing, those who do not have a hardened heart. We’re going to speak a little bit about a hardened heart in just a few moments. But you consider what type of soil am I? What type of soil is the world around me? Well, first of all, we have to know what’s the deal with the soil. Look with me in Luke chapter 8. Notice Luke’s telling of this parable.

He identifies a key facet for us in verse 11. But in Luke chapter 8, and in the explanation of the parable of the sower here, beginning in verse 9 of Luke chapter 8, note what’s defined. And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. But for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this.

Now we know from John chapter 12 and verse 48, it’s the words of Christ that will judge us in the last day. So we know that hearing the word of God is a critical component of being a Christian, of being good soil. So what’s the deal with all these other soils? Do they not hear? Do they not have ears? Jesus says in verse 9 of Matthew chapter 13, he who has an ears, let him hear. Well, why did he say why did he talk about the parables? Did you see it in verse 10? What was Christ’s point about the parables? Yes, the disciples would understand, but there were some that would not see, some that would not understand. And those were defined in Matthew chapter 13 as those whose hearts had grown dull.

They were unwilling to listen and to do. They were unwilling to understand what was the seed? The word of God. Now that’s pretty tragic. In fact, it’s quite a challenge to consider that there are those who can hear and not understand the will of God, and it’s not because of its complexity. In fact, that’s why I pointed out earlier I like the question, because Luke’s translation version of the events in verse 9, what did he say the disciples ask? What does this parable mean? You see, the disciples a lot of times are like us, they’re like, okay, this is a great story, but what exactly do you mean, great teacher, by that? And so the good news is we have that understanding given to us. We look back at Matthew chapter 13 as Jesus undresses the parable with its explanation.

2. The Wayside Soil Is the Hardened Hearer

In Matthew chapter 13, we’re understanding then that it’s about hearing. You see that underlined in verse 19, when Jesus says, When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. Now there may be those here in the assembly this morning who consider themselves good people. A lot of us consider ourselves good people. In fact, it’d be quite strange if we didn’t. In fact, that’d be a major hurdle we’ve gotten over. That is the hurdle of self, if we considered ourselves bad people. But this first side, this wayside soil, I’m going to click over to it so you can stay with me, is the hardened hearer.

Now, again, this is Jesus’ explanation of that. Now, how is it that someone will not hear? Well, what about the people in Isaiah’s day? When in Matthew chapter 13 and verse 14 and 15 and 16 even, Jesus quotes this prophecy in Isaiah. What was the people’s deal back then? Were they just people who did not understand who God was? Certainly Isaiah was prophesying to Israel, the very physical people of God, the promised people that Abraham was promised in Genesis chapter 12. Well, that can’t be it. What was their problem? Their hearts had grown dull. They would not understand by their choice. The problem was not in the message. In fact, that message, as defined by Matthew, is the word of the kingdom. This is good news.

3. The Rocky Ground and the Thorny Ground

But consider those other soils as well. As for verse 20, as for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. Now, I when I was first making up this keynote, I put the unrooted one. But that’s actually not accurate, because if you notice in verse 21, what does it say? Yet he has no root in himself. And this one’s kind of hard for me because as someone who works in one-on-one type studies with people, I love it when someone’s excited. They’re happy to be there. They receive the message with joy.

And you can see that. In fact, if you look around this morning, you’re going to see hopefully a lot of people who receive the message with joy. But that’s not all there is. You see, there is a root that needs to take place. It’s not just about joy. Yes, the kingdom of God is good news. Yes, the word of God being revealed. It’s fantastic news to the sinner. But what does that mean? That they had no root in themselves. How is it that someone would hear with great joy? Well, at the end of verse 21, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word. Immediately he falls away. This one’s tough, and this one’s sad. In fact, this very morning we went through a decent number of illnesses and concerns that people are facing physically.

And a lot of times what the world today does is they turn that around on the Lord and they say, Where is God? All these Christians in their churches on Sunday morning, where is their God? I am sick. My father is sick, my mother is sick, my cousin, my uncle. Where is God now? Well, you see, sometimes it might be even more direct than that. It might be that on account of being a Christian, you are ridiculed. It might be on account of being a Christian, insults are hurled towards you because you are to know it all. You’re someone who’s telling people like it is. What’s interesting is that this is someone who has joy when they receive it. Yet when the tribulation comes, they fall away.

What’s the difference in those who stay from those who fall away? Consider that as we move forward into the next soil in verse 22. As for what it was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word. But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. This might be the most tragic example of soil. And unfortunately, this might be the most active risk for everyone in this room this morning. Even those who are Christians, even those of us who consider that I myself or you sitting in the assembly this morning might be considered I’m pretty good soil. But verse 22 tells us, what does it say? Well, was there a root there? Absolutely. As for what was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word.

4. The Good Soil Hears, Understands and Bears Fruit

But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word. How does it come out? It proves unfruitful. So now we have a difference in the thorny ground, that is, it has no root, and it fell away. This plant, the thorny ground, the rocky ground had no root, excuse me, the thorny ground is choked out, it bears no fruit, and now you see all of a sudden what the good soil must be. Do you see it in verse 23? As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty. You see, that is the culmination of the soils.

That is the one who hears the word, understands it because their heart has not hardened, but it doesn’t end there. The good soil applies it to their life. And in so doing, do you see how that would cause a root to be there? In fact, in Luke chapter 8, well, you go back there in Luke chapter 8. Notice how it defines the good soil. And this is the striving goal as the Christian. This is where we want to be. In Luke chapter 8 and verse 15, Luke writes, as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast. That’s good. But in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. Do you see that? With an honest and good heart.

And bear fruit. That is the key to the kingdom. If the word of God is to be spread, it was across all the soils. The challenge was, will I have ears to hear? Will I understand? And to understand, I have to be willing to listen. To understand, I have to be willing to learn and grow. What’s interesting is I think we would do a disservice to the parable to limit this, the word of God, to the message of salvation alone. In fact, learning the word of God might take, likely will take, lifelong adjustment to learning what is the word of God. And in fact, when I see that the word of God reflects this idea, and I instead am diametrically opposed over here, I have that decision to make.

And how I decide determines what soil I truly am. Because if I realize I need to change, but I do not, I can you say that I’ve been choked out by whatever concern of the world that it is that got me over here to begin with? But on the other hand, if I see the word of God and realize I need to change, I must change, because that is what the word of God demands. That is what Jesus, my King, requires of me. Then in that sense, I am certainly the good soil. And you see, then, of course, in Matthew chapter 13, all the way in verse 9, how Jesus ended the story. He who has ears, let him hear, is a critical component to understanding this parable.

5. Which Soil Am I?

Now, I want to make several applications this morning of this. And the first example is, well, which soil am I? Now, the first soil is pretty easy because if you know what happens to that first soil in Matthew chapter 13, well, you see in verse 19, the seed is sown. But it’s just sitting there on top of the ground. It certainly has not taken root in anything. And the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. Now it’s easy to say, now the devil made me do it. Right? Certainly there’s the aspect of the devil being present here, snatching away the word of God from the souls of those who desperately need it. But brothers and sisters, if I allow the evil one to come and snatch away what has been sown, that’s on me.

You see, the interesting thing about hearing and understanding is the onus falls on me. That’s something that’s interesting about the good soil. Because when you realize it doesn’t matter how I feel as a person, it matters have I heard and understand? Do I bear fruit? You see, both aspects are needed. And when we go through this list, remember this key factor. God has no grandchildren. And what I mean to say by that is the good soil, we say, well, this is the person who hears and understands and bears fruit. And a lot of times, if you grow up in a Christian household, you’re on a great foot. That’s an amazing, powerful thing. In fact, going back to Deuteronomy chapter 6, it’s why it was so important for the Jews to teach their children about God so that they would not stray from the path.

In fact, the tragic phrase in the book of Judges there arose a generation that did not know God. That is, should be impossible to the Christian family to raise a child that does not know Christ. But when you grow up and consider yourself good soil. Do you press yourself on? Are you willing to hear and understand if it’s different than what you heard? You see, that’s what’s interesting. Sometimes we like to think we’re right. In fact, most of the time we like to think we’re right because if we thought we were wrong, hopefully we would make a change. But am I willing to do that, really? Because I’ve built up a great amount of time worshiping here, worshiping there. I’ve spent a lot of time, my family has been in this church for generations.

That’s hard to leave, isn’t it, if someone tells you that? What does that mean for them? Am I willing to do what God says? Otherwise, I might as well just reject it from the start. Because if I consider the rocky ground, what’s interesting about this in verse 20 is that this is someone who has heard the message again with joy. Now, let me ask a question. The person on the rocky ground, relative to the person on the wayside soil, what’s the main difference between them? Well, the second one has joy, of course, but they received the word. They did hear. But they fell away. I have to wonder sometimes if I just go through the motions of church and keeping church and keeping Christianity and trying to live my life just to check off some boxes.

Am I not the one on rocky ground? Am I not the soil that says, you know what? Jesus said to do this, and I’m excited, and then five, ten years later. I know Jesus says to do this, so I’m here. I’m clocking in. It’s Sunday, it’s 9 05. I’m here. Wish that was 8 55, but maybe another time. Consider what type of person that is. Well, that’s an excited person. That’s a good thing. That’s zeal. That’s passion. That’s joy. We want to have that, don’t we? Amen. We want to have passion and service for Christ, but that cannot be it. We will never make it through this life. If we rely on joy and emotion rather than the word of God. It is the seed that is sown that is the word of God.

It is the seed that is the word of the kingdom. That’s what we need. And I must never shut off my ears from hearing that. And by the way, not closing off my ears to hearing the word of God does not conclude at the time that this service ends. Or even when our Wednesday night Bible study begins and ends. This is a lifelong pursuit. And if we don’t take on that pursuit, we might find ourselves like those who are the rocky ground. And when tribulation comes, we’re going to fall away because we have no root. Consider, thirdly, if I’m the thorny ground, this one is pretty dangerous. If you look at me in Matthew chapter 6, Jesus has a strong wake-up call. I can tell you for me personally.

In Matthew chapter 6 and verse 25, he really appeals to people. And this is what we do. This is just natural. But that does not make it right. In Matthew chapter 6 and verse 25, Jesus says, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life. Now, is that a suggestion or a command? I treat it like a suggestion sometimes because I get anxious about life. I want things to be sorted out. I want things to just happen the way I want them to happen. But that’s not what Jesus is about. That’s not what serving him is about. Don’t be anxious about 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? In verse 30, but if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? For the Gentiles. Seek after all those things. And your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. We don’t want to be borrowing tomorrow’s worries. But sometimes it’s easy to do that because they are worries.

But we are to be anxious. Not about our life. We are to seek first the kingdom of God. Do you see how maybe that call qualifies as part of this parable of the sower? When the seed is Matthew calls it, in Matthew chapter 13 is the kingdom of God. If we’re going to be members of the kingdom, if we’re going to be good soil, we have to hear and understand, and that means blocking out the distractions. Why is that so important? We look at me in 1 Timothy chapter 6. Not only should we not worry, which can be a stumbling block in and of itself, but one of the things we worry about is warned of in 1 Timothy chapter 6. Well, you know with me in verse 9.

In verse 9 and 10, you see the warning. And then in verse 17 and 18, you see really the comparison and contrast of the child of God. In verse 9, but those who desire to be rich, fall into temptation into a snare, and to many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. Whoa. That’s pretty bad, isn’t it? That’s pretty scary. Verse 10 for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. Can we zero in on this? I know this is talking about the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. But do you see that phrase at the end of verse 10?

And pierced who? Themselves with many pangs. Who did that? Those with the love of money. Right? Why did they do that? Because they were distracted. They didn’t put God first. It was removing God from his mantle as the driving force in our life. The one that we are to hear and to understand. That’s where God’s position belongs. But when we misplace that, we don’t hurt God, although he does desire that all men be saved. We’re not critically wounding or damaging him or ceasing him from creation or existence. We’re piercing ourselves. Do you see in verse 17? As for the rich in this present age. Charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. Do you see that what the Christian is to do with all these things that can become worries? Or to use them for God’s glory. That’s what we do. That’s what we’re here for. That’s what separates the thorny ground from the good soil. The thorny ground gets distracted by it. They get beaten down with it, and they die and fall away. But the good soil takes all that could be a distraction and channels them towards God. Now I have to ask the question again. Am I the good soil?

Because I certainly, in this nation alone, being born into this nation and richly blessed.

Being born into a Christian household has allowed me to be richly blessed. Brothers and sisters, everyone here this morning is richly blessed to be in a congregation, to look around and see men and women who are striving to serve God. We are richly blessed for that. Amen. We need to take advantage of those blessings. We don’t just need to wave at them and recognize them when it’s time for Thanksgiving or when we’re talking about gift giving. We need to realize God is to be glorified with what He has given me today. Being good soil is not just about hearing and understanding, it is about bearing fruit as well. And that’s how I can check. Am I a good soil? It’s the same way the farmer would go out and check his crops.

6. How Do I Remain the Good Soil?

Has the watermelon seed given way to a watermelon? If the answer is yes, it’s been a success. If the answer is no, something went wrong, and so I have to look in my life. Do I bear the fruits of righteousness? Am I doing anything to God’s glory, to his credit? And if not, I better get started now because that means I’m on some dangerous ground. Second point. If I am the good soil, how do I remain the good soil? Well, in Luke chapter 8 in verse 15, we see that this is to hold fast with a good and honest heart. It means a willingness to realize that I might not have it all figured out. We note, though, in John chapter 15, not just the intellectual exercise, not just understanding what the will of the Lord is, but to do it, to submit to it, because we are responsible for bearing fruit.

What did the good soil do? It produced a hundredfold and sixtyfold and thirtyfold. You see in John chapter 15, look at what Jesus’ attitude is towards those vines that do not bear fruit. In John chapter 15 and verse 1, I am the true vine, and my father is the vine dresser. Every branch and meat that does not bear fruit, he takes away. And every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine. Neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches.

Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing. And verse 6. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. Do you see what happens with these branches that bear fruit? What are they connected to? The vine. Who is the vine? Christ is the vine. We must take root this morning. Wherever our root is, we should strengthen it. If we don’t have one, we should plant it. How do we do that? We seek the will of God. We open our hearts and we be Christians, totally united, excited to not only be a Christian, to be like Christ, but to bring glory to God by sowing the seed to others.

We are responsible for bearing fruit, which goes beyond just numbers or conversions, but certainly as a Christian, being alighted to the world is a necessary and mandatory component of being a part of Christ’s kingdom. If I’m going to be the good soil, I need to do what Christ says. And the thing about the good soil, if you see in Matthew chapter 13, as we conclude, is that last part of verse 23. Yes, we hear the word and understand it. But he indeed bears fruit and yields. In one case, a hundredfold, and in another sixty, and in another thirty. Over the next two weeks, Lord willing, we will discuss an idea of looking back on the past year and looking forward to the next. Considering, where am I now in the service of God?

Conclusion

But the question begs not then, but now. Where am I now? Am I one who has heard and understand? Am I one who has just rejected it? Because what is going to happen with that? The evil one comes and snatches it away. If you reject the gospel message, the word of God, you are with the devil and his angels. That is the side that you have chosen. If I’m a Christian and I don’t stick with Christ, I’m not a Christian, but I’ve also chosen my side, and that is against the Lord. Let’s take root this morning. Let’s engage our minds to hear and understand. And take that understanding, to take that good news, apply it, and bear fruit. Will you go to God in prayer with me?

Our dear God, our most powerful and gracious and merciful Heavenly Father. We pray to you humbly now, coming before your throne, recognizing that we are nothing. But the great news is that you sent Jesus the Christ to die on the cross for our sins. We’re so thankful for that sacrifice. We’ll remember at the eleven o’clock hour his body and blood that was shed for me, shed for many, so that we could be with you in all of eternity. Lord, you are mighty God, and we know that you recognize us and that you desire that all of us be saved, and we’re so thankful that you have chosen to look upon us with such favor. Forgive us of when we do wrong, O Lord. Forgive us when we get choked away by the worries and the cares and the riches of this world.

Help us to be dedicated to not accumulating things, but bearing fruit in your service. Lord, forgive us of when we get distracted and help us to get on point. Help us to in all ways bring glory and honor to you. As we go into our Bible classes this morning, we pray that we will search your scriptures, search your word, to consider how we are to be rooted in you, and to not only hear, but to understand your will, being willing to listen and apply all that your will commands of us. Thank you, O God, for all your grace and mercy, and may we likewise be gracious and merciful to others. And it’s in your Son’s name we do pray. Amen.