TEXT: Matthew 13:1-8, 18-23– On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But 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 sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
We are going to begin to study Chapter 13 today. This chapter contains 8 parables that Jesus uses to teach us about Heaven. So, “What is a parable?”
It has been called an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. The definition of a parable is a simple story with a moral or a story told to teach a lesson. An example of a parable is the story about the boy who cried wolf, which is used to teach kids not to lie.
Jesus taught in Parables because of the Jewish mind – it thinks in pictures. When asked by the disciples why he used parables, Jesus said that he would fulfill the words of the prophet and reveal the mysteries from the foundation of the world.
Today, we will consider His well-known parable about the Sower and the Seed and the Wheat and the Tares.
Consider the information in this parable A farmer sows some grain, which then falls upon
four different kinds of soil – each producing a different result.
- ·
Roadside soil – (verses 1-4) – This
seed is soon devoured by the birds.
- ·
Shallow, rocky soil – (verses 5-6) –
This seed springs up quickly but soon withers, being scorched by the sun.
- ·
Thorn-infested soil – (verse 7) –
This seed is quickly chocked by the thorns.
- · Fertile soil – (verse 8) – This seed produces a 30, 60, and even a 100-fold crop!
That brings us to the interpretation of the parable.
Jesus explains this parable in verses 18-23.
- · The seed – (verses 18-19a) – the seed represents the Good News about the Kingdom – the Gospel.
- ·
The roadside soil (verse 19b) – This
hard soil represents those who hear the message but do not understand it, thus
allowing Satan to steal it from the,.
- ·
The rocky soil (verses 20-21) – the
shallow, rocky soil represents those who have no depth and thus drop out upon
encountering any trouble or persecution.
- ·
The thorn-infested soil – (verse 22)
– the thorny ground represents those who allow the lure of wealth to snuff out
the Good News.
- · Finally, the fertile soil – (verse 23) – the good soil represents those who truly accept God’s message, producing an abundant harvest!
As you ponder and consider this parable today – ask yourself –
which type of soil are you?
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