Often, Jesus spoke in parables. According to "Vine's Expository Dictionary," the word "parable" in Greek means "to place one thing next to another for the purpose of comparing." A "parable" is an illustrative story in which a familiar idea is placed next to an unfamiliar idea in such a way that the comparison helps people better understand the unfamiliar idea. A parable is "an earthly story that has a heavenly meaning." Let's learn the meaning of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13.
1. Seeds that fell by the side of the road and birds came and ate them up (v. 4) => People whose hearts are hard. According to v. 19, the enemy took the word because they did not understand, NOT because the other way around. And they don't understand it, not because of the Sower or preacher, but because of the condition of their hearts. I'll give you this illustration and then ask for your response: Three boys talked about their fathers. One of them said, "My father is a great professor. When he is talking about a subject, only ten percent can understand him!" The second boy said, "My father is a great brain surgeon, and when talking about his surgery, only five percent of the world can understand what he is saying." The third boy said, "My father is a preacher, and nobody can understand what he is saying when he is preaching." So, the listeners need help understanding the professor, the brain surgeon, and the preacher. Whose fault is that the listeners don't understand their sayings, the speakers, or the listeners? It can be both. The listeners probably needed to become more familiar with the subject the speakers talked about. Or the speakers needed to explain the subject more clearly. Therefore, the listeners needed help understanding them. According to Jesus, in this parable, it is the fault of the people who do not understand the word, not because of the preacher. It is not because the speaker does not explain the word well but because the listeners' hearts are not right. So, here, what determines the response to the word is not the preacher but the recipient.
Characteristics of the first type of people in this parable:
a. Arrogant. They thought they already knew the Bible well and did not need to hear other people's teachings. Illustration: John Moody was corrected by a gentleman who is an expert in the English language.
b. Have a certain mindset that wants to stay the same. Sadly, some people are willing to hear sermons but don't want to do the teachings in the sermon or change their minds and attitudes.
c. Often fall asleep when hearing the word (have no interest of God's word, not because of having a medical problem)
2. The seed that fell on the rocky ground then the seed immediately grew, but after the sun rose, it withered and became dry because it had no roots (v. 5 & 6) => Emotional people (v. 20 & 21). Characteristics of the second type of people:
a. Enthusiastic in hearing sermons. They respond to the Word with: "Amen!" or "Hallelujah," they may weep with joy or say, "I feel the Lord's presence." But a few moments later, they become lukewarm again. Application: After attending a Revival Service, Bible Camp, or Retreat, we usually are excited. But after a month or two, we become lukewarm again.
b. Not paying attention to what God's word says. Illus.: There is a story about President Franklin Roosevelt. He often felt tired and bored when he had to greet the crowds in the White House, and they didn't listen to what he had to say. One day, at a reception, he decided to set up an experiment. He said to everyone who shook his hand this way: "I killed my grandmother this morning." Guests respond with phrases like, "Excellent! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir." Only at the end of the line did anyone notice his words. He is the ambassador from Bolivia. The ambassador must have been surprised to hear what Roosevelt said. But then he quickly realized that Roosevelt was kidding.
Application: Do you pay attention to what a preacher teaches? Nowadays, preachers find it hard to know whether their congregation is reading the Bible when they look at their cellphones, or they are reading something else, or even playing a game. I hope no one does that here. Because if you do, even though you go to church every Sunday, you won't grow spiritually.
3. Seeds that fall amid thorns, then the bush grows bigger and crushes it to death (v. 7) => People whose foundation of faith is weak (v. 22). Characteristics of the third type of people:
a. They only want to listen to sermons but do not want to study the word seriously.
b. They lack understanding of the fundamental truths of God's word. Therefore, their faith is easily shaken and confused. Illustration: "I've made my choice," wrote the basketball star. "I love Jesus Christ and try to serve Him to the best of my ability. How about you?" That testimony is from a tract written by former United States Senator Bill Bradley thirty years ago. In an earlier Breakpoint Commentary, Chuck Colson talked about how Bradley professed faith in Christ while he was a student at Princeton University. There, he became very active in The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and by the time he played for the New York Knicks, he was a very outspoken Christian. But things have changed. In his 1996 memoirs, Bradley says now he embraces all religions, from Buddhism to Islam, "so long as they seek inner peace."
c. They love the world more than the word of God. Many people, including some Christians, want to get rich. The Apostle Paul warns in I Tim 6:10 – "For the love of money is the root of all evil because it is through the pursuit of money that some people have strayed from the faith and tormented themselves with many sorrows." What the apostle Paul said is proven. Illustration: In the book The Day America Told the Truth by James Patterson and Peter Kim, they asked, "What are you willing to do for $10,000,000?" Twenty-five percent would abandon their entire family. Twenty-five percent would abandon their church. Twenty-three percent would become prostitutes for a week or more. Sixteen percent would give up their American citizenship. Sixteen percent would leave their spouses. Ten percent would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free. Seven percent would kill a stranger. Three percent would put their children up for adoption. It's so sad how people are willing to sacrifice valuable things for money. John MacArthur has said: A professing believer unconcerned about sin in his life and does not hate evil and love righteousness gives strong evidence that the soil in his heart is weedy. He will eventually discover that his love for the world and identification with Christ's word cannot coexist. If his faith is genuine, he will forsake the world; if it is not, his sin will choke out what knowledge of the word he has.
4. The seeds that fell on good soil bore fruit: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (v. 8) => People who love God's word (v. 23). They are like what Psalm 1:2-3 says, "but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." Characteristics of the fourth type of people:
a. Preparing their hearts well. They go to church not just as a habit or to socialize but to receive the teaching of God's Word.
b. Receiving the Word with humility. They do not focus on who the preacher is or how to convey it but on the truth of the word. My wife often says that the word of God we hear always has something for us to learn! Illustration: A daughter brought her father to church to know Christ. When the preacher said he would preach from Genesis 5, she was disappointed because it talks about Adam's family line. For example, v. 3 - 5 says, "When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died." But the Holy Spirit worked at his father's heart as he listened to the sermon, reminding him that he also one day would die and must prepare himself. Not long after that, her father believed in Jesus Christ.
c. Having daily devotion and spending time studying God's word.
d. Keep God's word in their hearts and put it into practice. The fourth type of person not only hears the word of God but keeps it in their hearts and puts into practice what they learn. Therefore, they grow spiritually, experience life transformation, and bear much fruit. James 1:22-24 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." Do you remember what you just learned from the sermon when you got home from church? Do you keep it in your heart and put it into practice? I hope all of us can be like this man.
Testimony: A trader heard a sermon at church teaching that, as Christians, we must be honest in trading. He realized that all this time, he was using a scale that had been modified/inaccurate. He begged God for forgiveness. When he got home, he replaced the scale with a new and accurate one. And to make amends, he gives more to his customers.
Closing: As we close this message, let's ask ourselves: Which kind of person am I in responding to God's word? People whose hearts are hard and emotional, whose faith foundation is weak, or who love God's word?
