Parable of the Sower

PARABLE OF THE SOWER

Background

The 13th chapter of Matthew is the chapter of the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven. The use of the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" instead of "Kingdom of God" shows the Jewishness of this gospel book. This is called the chapter of the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven because it consists of eight parables. These parables are arranged in pairs. The first pair of parables has something to do with the identity of the people (The Sower and the Weeds). This pair has the only parable with explanation. The second pair of parables describes the progressive growth of the Kingdom of Heaven (The Mustard seed and Yeast). The third pair of parables is all about the surpassing value of the Kingdom of Heaven (Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Value). This parable of Kingdom discourse ends up with a pair of parable which ends with salvation and judgment (Net and New and Old Treasures). This set of parables defines what the Kingdom of Heaven is all about according to Jesus.

The Kingdom of Heaven, based on eight parables, is all about God's salvation and judgment. The set of parables will be able to answer the question of who are the saved and condemned. While reading the parables, it is important to observe who are the saved and who are not based on the available information that describes the two different groups of people. In addition, it is important to observe as well God's activity in doing the saving and judging. Finally, the readers are encouraged to observe the how the Kingdom of Heaven should be taken at face value.    

The first two verses in chapter 13 shows the extension of his previous preaching and teaching ministry, which more likely began in 12:15. In verse 1, Matthew records, "Jesus Christ went out of the house that same day." The statement that Jesus went out of the house explains that his previous teaching ministry happened inside the house. Apparently, the word "outside" in 12:46 explains the continuity of his teaching ministry from inside to outside the house. Besides the location, the phrase "That same day" expresses that the teaching ministry in previous passages in chapter 12 and the telling of the parables in chapter 13 happened in that same day. Finally, the conclusion of Jesus shows continuity of his ministry that day. Jesus concludes, "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven are my brother and sister and mother," (12:50). In his conclusion, Jesus tells the people that only those who do the will of the Father have a true relationship with him and the rest are of those will be judged in the end. This sets up the stage for the understanding of the theme of chapter 13, which is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Parable of the Sower

Farming is common in time of Jesus. Jews are aware of time to prepare the fields, to sow the seeds, and to harvest the produce. They are also aware of rainy seasons. The crowds understand what Jesus is telling as far as agriculture is concerned. Everybody is listening to him from the shore.

Plot   

Scene 1 - The Time of Sowing

The opening scene of the parable resembles the real situation at that very moment. Both Jesus and the sower went out of the house (vv1, 3). Another, both of them went out with a specific intention; the sower sows the seed while Jesus sows the word. Moreover, the crowds are the kinds of soil who received what was sown. The parable tells that all people there are part of the parable of Jesus.

Scene 2 - The Receiving of Seeds

There are four kinds of soils where the seeds fell onto. This corresponds to four kinds of audience of Jesus as he scatters the word of the kingdom. First, the seeds which fell onto the pathway. There are areas in the field used for walking. The more people used that way, the harder the soil will become, and the more difficult the seed can penetrate into it. Second, the seeds which fell onto the rocky soil. That area of the field has not much soil, and underneath it is bedrock. Roots cannot penetrate deeper because the rocks underneath block the roots. Third, the seeds which fell onto areas with many thorns. There are areas in the field that has thorns. Finally, the seeds which fell onto the good soil. This is the kind of soil that the sower plowed first in order for the seed easily penetrate and germinate.

Scene 3 - The Outcome

What happened to the seeds which fell on each kind of soil? The seeds that fell on the pathway were devoured by the birds. Since the seeds could not penetrate into the soil, they were very visible to birds flying around the field. The seeds that fell on the rocky area had sprung up, but withered easily. The heat of the sun easily scorched the seedlings because the small amount of soil could not give enough nutrients for those seeds to survive. In like manner, the seeds that fell among the thorns took the needs for the seeds to grow. The seeds that fell on good soil produced grain.

Comparisons 

 There are two ways to compare them; comparison between kinds of soil and between the first three kinds of soil and the fourth kind. The comparison between the four kinds of soil is based on the characteristics of each soil and what had happened to the seeds that fell on them. The seeds that fell along the path were devoured by birds (v4). In the case of the seeds that fell on rocky area, they sprang up for a while and withered (v6). In the same manner, the seeds that fell among the thorns did not survive because thorns choked them. On the contrary, the seeds that fell on good soil grew up and multiplied. The second way of comparison is between the first three soils and the last. The description of the last kind of soil is what makes it different from the other kinds of soil. Jesus describes it as good soil. Its characteristic of being good is capable of bearing fruits. (v).

Argument

The overall purpose of Jesus is to explain the Kingdom of God using the series of parables throughout chapter 13. Jesus' purpose in the Parable of the Sower is to reveal the identity of the hearers of the Word of God. For this reason, the audience may examine their own identity as they heard the Word of Jesus. This leads to his argument that the genuine followers of him are those to whom the Word of God remains that leads to bearing of fruit.

Explanation of Argument

The explanation of this parable is found in verse 18 to 23. When Jesus had explained the parables, the argument becomes more vivid. This is the argument; the true Disciples of Christ are those whom the word of God remains with them and it will produce fruit. Unlike with the first three kinds of people, the word of God remains only to the fourth kind of soil.

The evidences that the word of God remains only to the true followers (fourth soil) are absent among the first three. First, the enemy failed to take the word of God at face value. Second, persecutions have no power to get rid of the word of God. Finally, the worries and deceptions of this world are unable to drive away the word of God. Therefore, the real disciples of Jesus Christ are those who have the word of God in their lives.

Through the preaching of the Gospel, different kinds of people will hear the word of God. There are different responses to it. There are people who heard it, but, they do not care about it. They just ignore it because for them it has no value at all. The way the devil will take the word of God from them is to blind their minds in order not to understand it. Understanding the word of God, which the first group of hearers is lacking, is the key in order that the word of God will remain in them.

On the other hand, there are people who misunderstand the Word of God. These are the second and third group of hearers. They think that to follow Christ is an easy thing to do. The second group thinks that to follow Christ is a wonderful life without persecution. The persecution will take away the word of God to them, and they will live a life free from persecutions. In like manner, the third group of hearers think that they can still love the world while following Christ. To be exposed with the desires of the world is to depart from the word of God. The word of God will become unfruitful, which is emphasized in Mark 4:7. Persecutions and desires of the world will take the word of God from them. They will turn away from Jesus because of these. Jesus adamantly stated that no one can bear fruit apart from him (John 15:4-5). To follow Christ is to be persecuted for the truth and to depart from the desires of the world.

The last group of hearers understand well the word of God.  They know that when they follow Christ, they should deny themselves and carry the cross daily. For this reason, it (the word of God) remains in them, and leads to fruition. Bearing of fruit is the mark of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Therefore, those have the word of God are the true disciples of Jesus Christ because they are those who have the seed that will lead to bearing of fruit.

Application

This parable helps us to be aware of the importance of the word of God that we hear through preaching. Once we heard it, we should not ignore the message. We must see to it that it is always in our heart. In addition, it should be received with a right understanding that to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is a life of self-denial and persecutions. The person, whose word of God remains in him, will bear fruit in proper time. His fruit is the evidence that the word of God remains in him, and proves that he is a true believer of Jesus Christ.