The Parables of Jesus Pt. 2 The Seed & the Sower Explained

Good morning to each one of you.

I want to thank those of you who are reading this Bible study blog. I have tried to be careful and accurate in sharing the word of God with you and I will continue to give succinct, yet well grounded truth in my posts.

Today, I would like to think further with you about the parable of the seed and the sower. In the last post we introduced the parable to you and now, I want to focus upon the explanation of the parable from the lips of Christ.

Let's read the text where Jesus explains His parable to the disciples.

Matthew 13: 18-23 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 
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. 
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 
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. 
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. 
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.

Each type of soil represents man's heart responding to the word of God.....

The First Soil of the Human Heart.....by the wayside.

The first soil was where seed was sown by the side of a road. This seed did not germinate. It was quickly eaten by hungry birds. This soil represents a person who heard the word of God and failed to understand its truth. 

The text says the seed was sown into his heart, but the wicked one snatched it away before it could take root. The idea here is that the wicked one plucks up this seed and carries it away by force.

Luke's gospel shed a bit more light for us regarding this verse. 

Luke 8:12 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.

The arch enemy of God is brought into sharp focus. We do not have to speculate about what the devil is doing. Wherever and whenever the word of God is preached or shared, the devil is going to try to snatch it out of people's hearts. He does not want people to hear the gospel and be saved. 

The Second Soil of the Human Heart.....the stony places.

The soil in stony places is explained by Christ as being a heart that that receives the word with gladness of heart right away. However, this seems to be an emotional response to the word of God that does not last. 

This heart initially is glad and takes in the word of truth, but is not grounded or rooted in the truth. When problems arise from taking in the word of God, then that person is offended and dismisses the truth. It is like someone who enjoys Bible truth until that truth confronts sin in their life, and then they want nothing to do with what God says.

The Third Soil of the Human Heart....torn by the thorns.

The soil sown among thorns is a person who hears the word of God but prefers the things of the world, instead of the things of God. The bramble bushes represent a desire for the things of the world and the pursuit of riches. 

The apostle John helps us understand this aspect of the parable.

1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The Fourth Soil of the Human Heart....a right response to the word of God.

Luke's gospel helps us understand the fertile soil of this heart responding to the word of God. 

Luke 8:15 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. 

The good ground is a person with an honest and good heart. A person with a heart that is open to the word of God and willing to hear, understand and live by its truth. 

This person "keeps" the word of God. This is a word that means this person has received and believed the truth of God. Faith produces a change and this person brings forth fruit patiently. 

This is the idea of living to please the Lord and sharing the gospel with the lost, patiently, realizing that no progress may be seen for a while. We must trust God with the results.

Points to Ponder.......

All Christians are to sow the seed of the word of God. All Christians must be patient when sowing the seed of scripture because the enemy may snatch away the seed, some may follow for a while and then drop out, or some may  fall prey to worldly things.

• We must judiciously pray for the proper time and place to sow the seed.
• We must be diligent and work for our Master as those who will give account to Him.
• Our job is to sow. We cannot make the seed grow.

I hope these this parable and words of Christ's teaching will encourage you in living out your Christian faith. 

Bob