Matthew 13:18-23 - The Parable of the Sower: Responses to the Kingdom of God

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Matthew 13:18-23

(18) Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: (19) When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. (20) The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. (21) But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. (22) The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. (23) But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

This is God’s word.

Quick review, what is a parable? It is the comparison of two subjects for the purpose of teaching. It proceeds from a known truth to add meaning to something unknown. It is an everyday story that “comes alongside” something not known or difficult to understand. It is, similar to what the Hebrews called a mashal, ‘a riddle’. Jesus used parables as a means to teach truths that were not evident to hearers. The parable of the sower describes even though the Kingdom of God is available to everyone, not everyone chooses to enter in. It is an example of why the gospel falls on deaf ears, is turned down, and not worth the struggle or hardship of the journey to abundant life, a fruit-bearing purposeful life.