Matthew part 20

The Parable of the Sower

Before we look at the parable itself, let’s skip to verse 10 and see why Jesus chooses to speak to the crowd in parables. Then, we can back up to verse 1 and look at the parable itself.

A Parable and a Mystery | Matthew 13:10-17

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered 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. 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,
    and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
    and turn, and I would heal them.’

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 to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Matthew 13:10-17

Within Christian circles there exists a tension between the Gospel being made available for everyone and the deeper truths of God being withheld from some people. This tension plays out in how church’s tend to operate. Some churches will focus on the outreach and offer easy-to-understand classes so that people can know the Gospel, while others want “the deeper truths” and tend to shy away from allowing just anyone into their midsts. Healthy churches can ease this tension by simply offering both.

But here we see this tension is not a modern invention. Jesus operated under the principle that some people simply weren’t ready to hear the deeper truths behind His messages. Speaking in parables was a common practice for Jewish teachers, but Jesus’ parables went a step further by teaching spiritual truths in a way that only those willing to hear would understand.

Jesus offers parables purposefully so that the willing would learn, but the unwilling would be confused.

This practice, once again, was prophesied in the Old Testament. Isaiah said the Messiah would speak the Truth of God to the people, but because the “people’s heart[s] [had] grown dull,” they would not understand the Messiah. In fact, their bitterness to the truth of God would cause greater confusion even after seeing the truth unfold.

Notice Isaiah says the people are the ones who have closed their eyes and ears. If they would simply open them up and turn, God would heal them. Instead, they choose to continue in ignorance. Peter calls this type of person “willingly ignorant” (2 Peter 3:5). God has certainly done His part in teaching, but they have not done their part in listening.

Jesus calls the disciples blessed because they are willing to hear the parable and receive its truth. We have discussed the principle of reaping and sowing in the past. Throughout Scripture we can see the truth that whatever we sow in life, we will reap. Good will bring more good. Evil brings more evil. Whatever we desire out of life, we really can have, we just have to be willing to work for it. Here, Jesus reminds the disciples those who truly desire to know the things of God can know them. They just have to be willing to listen to the Messiah who reveals them.

If we are to learn the truths of God, we have to be willing to put in the godly work.

Now, Jesus extends this principle a bit further. Those who have received knowledge will be given more. Those who refuse to receive, even what little they have will be taken from them. God never designed us to be static creatures. We are constantly in a state of change. We are either growing or dying.

The Pharisees have amassed a large amount of knowledge concerning the things of God, but they are missing out on the deeper secrets of the kingdom because they refuse to recognize how the kingdom grows. Jesus is ushering in a new age for heaven and earth, but they will miss out because of their hard hearts. And so, “what little they have will be taken from them.”

If we neglect to grow in faith, even what little faith we have will be taken.

It can be a difficult truth to swallow, but consider the number of people who make a profession of faith at some point, but then they neglect that faith. They fail to meet with other Christians, fail to read their Bible, or simply get dragged into other activities that distract them from their faith. Eventually, these people begin to look as though they have no faith—because essentially, they don’t.

Jesus explains this phenomenon through the Parable of the Sower. So, let’s back up to verse 1, reading 1-9, and then we will read the explanation in 18-23.

A Parable and the Meaning | Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in 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.”

…

“Hear then the parable of the sower: 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. 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. 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. 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.”

Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23

The parable explains how people respond to the Word of God. The sower is the evangelist who tells about the kingdom of heaven. In this case, he may be Jesus, but as each Christian shares the gospel, they sow seeds for the kingdom of heaven. But, not everyone receives the Good News the same way The parable explains four types of responses.

The first are those who hear the Word, but the devil comes and snatches the Word away. These are people who cannot accept the gospel for whatever reason. They have believed some lie, or they have had some evil in their life that prevents them from accepting the story of Christ. For whatever reason, whatever good has come to them, whatever story they have learned from Scripture, the devil has snatched it away to prevent the seed from taking root in their heart.

As we share Christ with those around us, we have to be mindful of the devil’s work to steal what we sow.

The second are those who hear the Word, they receive it joyfully, but then life happens. Some tribulation or persecution arises that cause them to fall away. I call this the ‘youth camp kid’. As a youth, and as a youth leader, I noticed this phenomenon almost annually. Some teenager who didn’t usually come to church would join us at youth camp. They would respond positively to the message—sometimes even praying for forgiveness and wanting to follow Christ. Then, at some point around September, they would quit coming to church. The fire they had became cool ashes. Their faith just never took root in their heart.

A crucial point in a Christian’s development is the very beginning, when the Word of God needs to take root in the heart.

The third response is when a person hears the Word of God, but the world chokes its ability to bear fruit. The cares of the world or the riches of this world get in the way. This person is the one probably grew up in the church, but later in adulthood, they became too focused on their job. They preferred climbing the success ladder rather than reaching heaven. But we can’t just pick on the ‘corporate stooge.’ Many people find themselves giving up their Bible reading, or church attendance, or gathering with that small group in favor of “getting things done.” They’re just too busy to be bothered with the things of God.

In order to bear fruit as a Christian, we must be willing to pull out the weeds and thorns of this world.

The last seed represents those who hear the Word, receive it, allow it to take root, and are able to bear a large amount of fruit. They have ignored the lies of the devil. They have withstood the tests of tribulation and persecution. They have plucked the distractions of this world from their hearts.

Now, periodically this parable brings up the discussion of ‘which group is actually saved’. We can certainly assume the first group is not. They have given no positive response to the gospel, at all. We can certainly assume the last group is. Not only do they positively respond, but they also bear fruit and multiply the kingdom.

But these middle groups bring up an interesting question. Can a person be saved from hell, but never actually bear any fruit? For those of us who adhere to the “perseverance of the saints” doctrine, we would be hard-pressed to say someone who has responded in faith, but failed to bear fruit is still lost. And yet, we also know that when a person is truly saved, their life will demonstrate that salvation. So what are we to do with this?

I believe the wisest course of action is to put away any doubt in our own lives. Do not go to the casket leaving your family wondering where you stand with Christ. The absolute worst situation as a pastor is when I am counseling a grieving family, but they cannot say for certain their loved one followed Christ. I am reminded of what Jesus said to the Church of Laodicea.

‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Revelation 3:15-19

Perhaps your faith has become lukewarm. Maybe this world has just been running you down. I absolutely understand the feeling. There are days when the cares and problems of this world seem too much. There are days when the allure of wealth or entertainment just seems too shiny.