The Works Of A Sower

PARABLES OF THE SOWER

(Effects of Preaching Gospels truths)

MATTHEW 13:3-8 & 18-23

(Study reference Mark 4:3-8; Luke 8:5-8)

Mark8:13-20 ; Luke8:11-15

Intro.

WE have work to do but it seem that no one is willing to put there hands to the plow.

BUT WE ARE LIKE FARMERS

V. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

1. Jesus tells of a farmer going out to sow his seed - he scatters it. The seed is the message about the kingdom - the news that God wants to rule in our hearts and that He sent His Son to enable us to do so.

HEAR; BUT DON’T UNDERSTAND

V.4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

V.19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

1. This is the path that every one travels while going across or working in the field. It is heard packed dirt where the seed cannot penetrate and not able to take root. Then comes the birds (wicked one) to take the seed (word of God) away.

2. Plowing up the ground, I know that we have some that seems to be heard to get, no matter how heard we try it seem like we are not getting through, but taking the time to prepare the ground could make all the difference.

(PREPARING THE GROUND)

Jeremiah 4:3 . For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

ROCKY AND STONEY

V.5-6 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

V.20-21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

1 This is when the seed can-not go very deep in the soil and so the sun come out, and it gets burnt and dies. When someone is not rooted in the word of God it don’t take much for them to get offended by the word of God. We must be a Church that is rooted in Gods Word so we can help those who are not.

2 Picking up rock and braking up clods was not my favorite thing to do but it has to be done. Preparing the ground sometimes the best thing we could do. After plowing then comes the work. It takes time and work, but with Gods help we can do it, And then we are able to plant the seed deep in there hearts.

THORNEY

V.7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

V.22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

1 One of the headrest thing is to get people to take there eyes off the world and look toward Jesus. They come to the church and come to the altar but just pray off conviction but the world (cares of this world) springs up and choke them out. What are we to do? Keep on keeping on. Not everyone who come to our Church will stay but some will. Lets look what happen next.

GOOD GROUND

V. 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

V. 23 . But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

1 The good ground represents well-plowed and prepared soil capable of producing a large crop. After we have done the work like Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

2 Let us continue the work of the Lord in our Church and I have to believe that God will give souls for our labor.