Dr. Bradford Reaves
CrossWay Christian Fellowship
Hagerstown, MD
www.mycrossway.org
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. (Matthew 13:1-3)
This morning we are embarking on a new series in the life of our church. For the next several months, we are going to spend our Sundays covering the many parables used by Jesus to teach us the truths of the Kingdom of God. Jesus was a master teacher. One of the ways he communicated the mysteries of the Kingdom of God was to use word imagery through parables. Through parables, we find fantastic images describing God’s kingdom for us.
In fact, Mark 4:34 says, “He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.”
Parable literally means “cast alongside.” Meaning that the parable is meant to be put beside a truth in order to illustrate that truth in a way we can understand. A parable is a fictitious example of something that is real. There is usually one truth to be drawn from the parable. In other words, we can look at a parable and find the one truth. So a parable is not an allegory, like C.S. Lewis’ ‘Chronicles of Narnia.’ Nor are parables a fable in that they are meant to convey a moral, like Aesop’s fables.
So we must learn to properly interpret parables. Not every detail in a parable is meant to have a specific meaning, but instead they will point to the truth being conveyed. Parables are stories that are easily relatable to real life in order to help us visualize the truth of the Kingdom. For instance, we can all relate to the prodigal son’s situation or visualize the seed being cast by a farmer or a widow sweeping a house and finding a pearl.
What we must understand in our study of the parables is that they are revealing something about us in relationship to the Kingdom of Heaven. Without the help of the Holy Spirit and the openness of the heart to hear the truth from Jesus, we will miss the point of what Jesus was teaching. I think one of the critical parts of studying the parables of Jesus is that they are related to us directly. We are here to learn, to grow, and to transform our hearts from the kingdom of this world to the Kingdom of God. Therefore, we should take these stories to heart personally and not dismiss them as pertaining to someone else. At the end of each message, we should be asking ourselves, “How should I respond to this in order to live as a Kingdom Citizen?”
So with that, I have decided to open our series with that exact question with the Parable of the Soils, also known as the Parable of the Sower. Next to the Prodigal Son, this may be one of the most familiar of all the parables.
And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 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, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 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. 12 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. 13 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. 14 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.” 15 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.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 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. 18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 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. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 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. 22 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. 23 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 13:3–23)
Now, there is much we can draw from this passage. Here, Jesus not only teaches using the parable, but he also goes a step further in interpreting it. It would be a familiar scene for his hearers of a farmer sowing seed in anticipation of a harvest. Yet some images would be a little shocking to the hearers.
First, notice that the farmer is sowing the scene with almost indifference to where the seed lands. It is almost reckless how the seed is cast around. And we learn from Jesus that the Sower is none other than God the Father, and the seed is the Word of God. The four different soils apply to the lives of those who hear God’s Word.
The path is the hardened hearts of those who refuse to allow God to take root in their lives.
The rocky soil is a worldly person who has no roots, so he easily falls away.
The thorny soil belongs to those who allow the world to choke out the fruitfulness.
The rich soil is where the seed takes root and produces fruit in the life of the hearer.
Now, we often apply this parable to our evangelistic efforts. We share the gospel, and there will be some who ignore it and some who do respond, but the gospel never seems to take hold, and those who respond to the gospel and their lives are changed. That’s one way we can interpret this parable, and it is the correct way to apply the parable.
However, I do not believe that is fully the way the parable should be interpreted. Instead, I think Jesus was asking those hearing him to look introspectively and consider how we allow the Word of God to apply in our own lives. You see, it’s easy to cast the responsibility off to someone else, but it is a whole different situation when we must use the Word of God as our own mirror. The reality is that we all have hardness in our hearts, shallow soil full of rocks, thorn bushes, and fertile ground in our lives. My challenge to you today is to be honest with yourself and God and get the soil of your life right in all areas of your life.
You see, the Parable of the Four Soils is about hearing. Many times, Jesus would say to the crowds, ‘He who has ears, let them hear’ (ie the same parable in Luke 8:8). You can hear the Word of God and allow it to build you up spiritually by responding to God or you can hear the Word of God and ignore the voice of God to satisfy your own selfish desires. The response is yours, but notice out of the four images given by Jesus in the parable, only one resulted in righteousness. The others were robbed of God’s blessings.
The work of the enemy is his opposition to the Word of God. He will steal it from you and he will do whatever he can to keep it from being fruitful in your life. He will make you too busy to read it and too distracted to hear it. He tempt you with sin and the cares of the world. He will convince you to water it down, walk away from it, or change it’s meaning.
1. The Path of the Hardened Heart
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. (Matthew 13:19)
What is in your heart today that keeps you from receiving fully from God everything He has for you? What I am talking about is what sin you are harboring in your life. Whenever we allow sin to take residence in certain places in our lives, we prevent the Word of God from making that part of our life fruitful for God.
And these are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. (Mark 4:15)
Satan immediately snatches the word from the hardened heart. The hardened heart refuses to allow God’s word to have any effect at all in their life. There is even an aversion to the Word and against the truths of the gospel. People may hear and understand exactly what is being said but despise it. Why? It is usually pride that hardens the heart.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:3–4)
2. The Shallow Life of Rocky Soil
As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 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. (Matthew 13:20–21)
There are large plates of limestone rock that lie beneath the surface and the plow. And so, a farmer doing his best to plow the field, never getting down to that hard soil, wasn’t even aware it was there. So when the farmer goes along and plants seed in this soil, it has the illusion of fertile ground, but there is nothing for the roots. In other words, there is no depth to the faith.
There are those who come to church, hear the message, and get very excited. They seem to be excited about what is being preached, but their enthusiasm has not affected their life. The reason is their lives are not grounded in Christ. Faith in Christ is great when things are going well, but when things don’t go well, they blame God instead of digging in deeper.
This, too, is the work of Satan. Persecution or even discord among believers is a tool of the enemy to burn up shallow faith.
For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. (1 Thessalonians 3:5)
Believers, faith in Christ takes work. You have to be willing to let the Master tend to the garden of your life and tear out the rocky areas. A life in Christ is about perseverance. Perseverance isn’t just about sticking it out when times are tough, it is about allowing God to use the most difficult times in your life to deepen your faith.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)
When all the world is looming dark
And things seem not so clear,
When shadows seem to hover ’round
Lord, may I persevere.
When it seems everything’s been tried
And there’s no way to go,
Just let me keep remembering
Sometimes the journey’s slow.
I may just need to stop and rest
Along the path I trod,
A time to try to understand
And have my talk with God.
As I gain new strength to carry on
Without a doubt or fear,
Somehow I know things will be right,
And so, I persevere.
(By Anne Stortz)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
This is a very precious truth: that God himself is committed to keeping his own sheep and not letting them forsake him utterly. They may stray for a season. But he will bring them back. Clouds may gather and faith may falter, but those who are justified will not stumble so as to fall utterly. They will persevere in faith. Our hope for glorification is not in our own willpower to believe. It is in God's faithfulness that he who began a good work in us will complete it unto the day of Christ. (John Piper)
Let God clear out the rocks of your life that compete with and choke out the goodness of His Word in order that you may grow your roots more firmly into the Rivers of Living Water found in the faith of Jesus.
The Thorns of Wealth
If persecution doesn't look like it will work, Satan will try prosperity or the pursuit of prosperity to choke out the Word.
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. (Matthew 13:22)
in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:2–3)
Wealth can mean any riches of the world that we put ahead of God. Satan takes away the Word by making us feel that if we hold fast to the Word, we will have to give up something better, and nowhere do we find this more to be true than here in the United States. Here, Satan doesn’t snatch the blessings of the Word away but rather just chokes it out.
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break n and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:20–21)
You see, the soil we’re talking about here is fertile. It is good for growing and yielding fruit, but instead of yielding the fruit of the Kingdom of God, it is yielding the fruit of the kingdom of darkness. They’re weeds that take the water, sun, and nutrients of the soil; instead of those things going to feed God in your life, they rob you. Even if the seed does begin to grow, the weeds shade it so it can’t get the sun, they restrict the roots, drink its moisture, veil its sunlight and the good seed dies.
So here is the believer’s response to the seeds of God sown into their life. The message of the gospel is about the fact that Jesus is King over the heart and soul of every believer. It is up to us to tend to the soil of our lives in order to make sure that nothing restricts His Lordship.
Now, I want you to notice something as we close. There is no issue with the work of the sower, and there is no discussion on the type of seed. The only issue Jesus talks about is the type of soil on which the seed is sown. So, can I first ask you what kind of soil you cultivate in your life for the Word of God? Let me encourage you that the same one who sows the seed will also tend to the soil of your heart if you let Him in and tend to the garden of your heart.
Commentator Philip Graham Ryken says, “A good heart is not so hardened by sin that Satan can snatch away the good seed of God’s word. It is not so shallow that it withers in the heat of persecution. It is not so distracted that it gets choked off by life’s troubles and pleasures. Instead, it stays rooted in the word of God, and as a result, it bears a bountiful harvest.”
Paul shares with us the results of that harvest that will rule in your heart:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)
Will you come to him today?
