Parable of the Sower, Explained

Bible Study series: Matthew 13:18-23. Now we come to the interpretation. We need to see ourselves in the parable.

A warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn, so let’s learn together. I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:

biblegateway.com

In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!

Matthew 13

In this post, links are provided for further study.

Let’s begin.

Scripture: Matthew 13:18-23

¹⁸ Then hear the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When everyone hears the message of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches the seed sown in his heart; this is the one sown along the path. ²⁰ Then the seed sown on the rock—this is the one who hears the message and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹ but does not have roots in himself, but is temporary when a trial or persecution comes because of the message he falls away. ²² The one sown in the thorn-plants—this one hears the message, and anxiety of the age and deceitfulness of riches choke the word and is fruitless. ²³ But the one sown on good soil—this one hears the message and understands, who indeed is fruitful and produces a hundred, sixty and thirty times. (Matt. 13:18-23)

Comments:

A.. First soil / heart: Packed down as hard as a footpath.

B.. Second soil / heart: rocky ground so roots don’t go down deep.

C.. Third soil / heart: thorn bushes can grow there, which choke out good growth.

D.. Fourth soil / heart: Good heart so the word can grow and produce mature fruit.

19:

“This is not inadvertent ignorance, but studied rejection, a ‘sin with a high hand’ (Num 15:30-32, ‘sins defiantly’ in TNIV) that must be punished” (Osborne, comment on 13:19).

“parable”: see v. 3 for more comment.

First soil / heart: the packed-down path or road. The seeds never even got a chance to put down roots before people trampled on them and birds ate them.

“the evil one”: the devil is the (collective) birds. He can read people’s heart well enough that he can steal the word from it. No, his reading hearts does not make him omniscient; it just means he can read hearts! He can certainly read it well enough to snatch the word from your heart.

Don’t let the devil rob you of the good word planted in you. “Is this really real? Is the word true?” You can ask those questions but go to someone who is more mature than you to get answers.

The hearers did not understand it, so the word did not hold; therefore, the devil could steal it.

20-21:

Second soil / heart: rocky ground. People can receive the word with joy when they hear it. But the rocky soil prevents the roots from going deep enough for them to soak up the moisture.

Scorching sunlight (= trials and temptations) is implied in this verse.

“temporary” is proskairos (pronounced pross-ky-ross), and it can be transitory.

So the hearers believe (present tense), but in the time of testing or temptation they fall away. “Fall away” could be translated more literally as a stumbling block. It is easy to imagine that the hearers, receivers and believers walk away or stand away from the word after they go through temptation or testing.

Be prepared for trials and temptations.

22:

Third soil / heart: the thorn plants grow there. The thorn bushes (another translation) grow with the seed and choke it. Here the thorn bushes are explained as the anxieties and deceitfulness of riches—and these things choke the word. The people heard it, and they produce fruit, but it does not mature. No, money and certain pleasure are not bad in themselves, but too often they do choke out our relationship with God.

“is fruitless”: The verb is in the present tense, implying that if the word had not been choked out, the fruit would have grown to maturity; one has to keep going to maturity. So the picture is that the hearer produces some fruit, but then the entire plant gets choked out by the anxieties and deceitfulness of riches.

23:

Fourth soil / heart: This person produces a lot of grain. “This continues the definition of true Christianity in Matthew: it is more than mere profession but is shown in righteous conduct and obedience to Jesus’ teaching. As stated in v. 8, the remarkable yield shows the power of God in the lives of his followers and proceeds from the greatest to the least to stress the diversity of responses disciples make. Yet even thirtyfold is a great result, and the kingdom reality makes a great difference in the lives of Jesus’ followers” (Osborne, comment on 13:23).

“produce fruit”: This hearer produced fruit. It seems he was a true disciple, if only a young or recent one.

For the quarrel between professional theologians over “once save, always saved” and the possibility of walking away from salvation, please see:

Parable of the Sower: Eternal Security or Possible Apostasy?

Possible Apostasy or Eternal Security?

Remaining a Christian or Falling Away?

GrowApp for Matt. 13:18-23

1. Are you prepared to go all the way to the end, through trials and tribulation and even persecution for your faith?

2. What is good soil? How can it apply to your spiritual walk with Christ?

9. Authoritative Testimony in Matthew’s Gospel

1. Church Fathers and Matthew’s Gospel

2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels

1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series