Matthew 13:1-23 The Parable of the Sower - by Jeff Byerley
Study on Matt 13:1-23 The Parable of the Sower
Outline:
13:1-9 The Parable..
13:10-17 The Purpose of the Parables
13:18-23 Jesus explains the Parable
Our Reflections
1. Why did Jesus teach the crowds using parables?
2. What was the point of this teaching if the crowd did not understand it?
3. Are people responsible for the state of their soils (hearts)?
4. Why are some able to produce a better yield than others?
1. Why did Jesus teach the crowds using parables?
We noted that Jesus drew illustrations from their everyday life experiences so that even a child could understand the story at a primary level at least. But Jesus warned them each time saying “He who has ears let him hear!” (v.9). This was to alert them that there was a spiritual meaning for them to use their heart, soul and mind to search out. Rather like the minister in “Yes Minister” who amusingly put it “Yes I know what it means, but what does it mean?” (Always an appropriate question in Bible studies!) In Mark's Gospel (4:1-20) Jesus expresses surprise that even the disciples were not sure of the meaning. However, they realized that there was one and asked Jesus about it, something the crowd did not do.
2. What was the point of this teaching if the crowd did not understand it?
We felt from a view of God's justice, the crowd must be given the opportunity to hear. However, Jesus quotes from Isaiah 6:9-10 showing that their hearts were hardened against understanding the parables and their minds were closed to perceiving the meaning. So God hardened them even further to even remove the little understanding they knew beforehand. In a similar way God hardened the heart of Pharaoh, once he rejected God's message through Moses; “that I may show these signs of Mine before him” (Ex 10:1). Indeed, the quote from Isaiah was used by Paul to explain that the Jews would ultimately be restored. But God's grace would first be seen in His mighty signs among the Gentiles to make the Jews jealous. “For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all” (Rom.11:12). So, the meaning of Jesus' teaching was withheld from the Jews so that by God's grace, the Gentiles would be saved and in the fullness of God's time, salvation will be revealed also to the Jews.
3. Are people responsible for the state of their soils (hearts)?
We felt the passage shows this. Indeed, the crowd above is a good example of the hardened path surface upon which seed fell but was plucked away by the birds (Satan). Moreover the other bad soils had evil expectations; that one does not need to receive the message with good deep roots to weather life's trials (rocky soil); or that one can embrace the world and Christ both (choked by weeds). In Luke's gospel (8:4-15), it explains that the good soil is those who have a good and noble (obedient) heart and persevere to produce good fruit. Of this soil Thomas Kempis once wrote that they were: “sent not out to temporal joys, but to great conflicts, not to honours but to contempt; not to idleness but to labours; not to rest but to bring forth much fruit with patience.” History has many examples, but the best model is, of course, Jesus.
4. Why are some able to produce a better yield than others?
There is no condemnation of the seed that produces 30 fold as compared to the seed that reproduced 100 fold. God expects people to apply the gifts he has given them according to their ability. All will receive the same commendation if they have been faithful. In the parable of the Talents, the person with two talents reaped another two. However, he received the same commendation as the person with three who reaped three more. “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matt 25:23).