I. THE PARABLE
A. COMMON STORY
Matthew 13:3 “A sower went out to sow.”
B. THE SEED IS THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM
Matthew 13:4a “And as he sowed, some seeds . . . “Seed has the Potential of Life within
Seed has the Potential of Fruit within
C. TYPES OF SOIL
Matthew 13:4-9 “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. They quickly sprang up, but since they had no depth of soil, 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 to hear, let him.”
Path – Hardened, untilled – birds ate
Shallow – Germinate, grow but cannot penetrate rock layer – sun scorched
Thorns – As seeds sprouted, so did weeds and thistles. Choked out of water, sunlight, space, nourishment
Good – Loose, soft and deep, weeded; favorable condition led to remarkable harvest
II. THE PRINCIPLE
Each soil represents one of Four Responses to the Message (Word of the kingdom)
A. THE UNRESPONSIVE HEARER
Matthew 13:19 “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.
The wayside soil represents those who never really hear the word with understanding. The word of God must be understood before it can truly bear fruit. One of Satan’s chief works is to keep men in darkness regarding their understanding of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Failure to Respond
Stiff-necked (OT) or Hardened heart (NT)
Does not give Gospel the least consideration
Heart pounded down and insensitive to Spirit
No conviction of sin, heart-broken
Satan uses lies to contradict truth
B. THE SUPERFICIAL HEARER
Matthew 13:20-21 “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, so endures temporarily. When tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.”Emotional Response
Ploy of Evangelist – tear-jerking story
Religious experience, no real salvation
Not penetrated heart, only mind and emotions
This soil represents those who receive the word enthusiastically, but their life is short-lived, because they are not willing to endure tribulation or persecution . . . because of the word
The problem was not their sudden growth, but their lack of depth
Friends, family, fellow workers or students criticize he “falls away” (Greek: scandalized)
C. THE WORLDLY HEARER
Matthew 13:22 “As for what 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.”
World system – cares, worries; deceitful riches – money
As seed falling among thorns would grow the stalks of grain among the thorns yet soon be choked out (Matthew 13:7), so some respond to the word and grow for a while, but are choked and stopped in their spiritual growth by competition from unspiritual things
D. THE RECEPTIVE HEARER
Matthew 13:23 “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.”
Good Soil – NO DIFFERENCE from basic composition of soil from the others
Difference is in right preparation with work of Holy Spirit in heart
III. THE PERCEPTION
Matthew 13:18 “Therefore, understand then the parable of the sower”
A. SEEING MYSELF AS THE SOWER/HARVESTER
See God/Word
Power is in the Seed, not Me
Encouragement to the Worker
Even though it might seem that few respond, God is in control and the harvest will certainly come.
B. SEEING MYSELF AS ALL FOUR SOILS
Like the wayside – Sometimes we allow the Word no room at all in our lives
Like the stony places – Sometimes we have flashes of enthusiasm in receiving the word that quickly burn out
Like the soil among thorns – Sometimes the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches are constantly threatening to choke out God’s word and our fruitfulness
Like the good ground – Sometimes the Word bears fruit in our lives
Gal 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Psalm 126:5-6 “May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.”
James 5:7 “Endure patiently until the coming of the Lord. Remember, the farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it”
John 4:36 “The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.”
Illustration: Woman at the well
John 4:9 HARD heart, not understanding what Jesus was even talking about
John 4:15 SHALLOW heart, emotional “give me the water” but had no depth. This is where most stop (she wasn’t saved)
John 4:25 CROWDED heart, arguing about religion with Jesus
God touched her heart and made it FERTILE. Field “ripe for harvest” He told His disciples