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Gracious Jesus 56: The Parable of the Sower

The document discusses the Parable of the Sower from a biblical perspective, detailing how different types of soil represent various responses to the message of the kingdom. It analyzes the characteristics of the sower, the seed, and the types of soil that symbolize receptivity to God's word. The document emphasizes the importance of understanding and applying the message for fruitful Christian living.

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THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
GRACIOUS JESUS (MATTHEW’S PERSPECTIVE WITH GOSPEL PARALLELS) 1. Presenting the King (Matt 1-4) 2. True Blessedness (Matt 5:1-12) 3. Kingdom Lifestyle – Part 1 (Matt 5:13- 48) 4. Kingdom Lifestyle – Part 2 (Matt 6) 5. Kingdom Lifestyle – Part 3 (Matt 7) 6. Master Strokes (Matt 8) 7. The King Calls (Matt 9) 8. The King Commissions (Matt 10) 9. Signs, Sinners and the Saviour (Matt 11) 10. Power Games and Names (Matt 12) 11. Hidden Wisdom (Matt 13:1-43) 12. Hidden Treasures (Matt 13:44-14) 13. The Gall and the Glory (Matt 15-17:9) 14. Winning Others Over (Matt 17:10- 18:35) 15. Kingdom Values, Kingdom Wealth (Matt 20) 16. The King Enters Jerusalem (Matt 21) 17. The Chosen Few (Matt 22) 18. The King’s Glorious Coming (Matt 24:1-44) 19. The Final Countdown (Matt 24:45 – 25:46) 20. The King’s last days (Matt 26) 21. Desertion (Matt 26:36-75) 22. God’s Lamb Sacrificed (Matt 27: 1-50) 23. The King Conquers (Matt 27:51-28)
GRACIOUS JESUS HIDDEN WISDOM (MATT 13:1-43) 56. The parable of the sower 57. The Visionaries 58. Good and evil co-exist 59. The mustard seed 60. The parable of the leaven
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER BIBLE PASSAGE/S Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23; Mark 4:1-9; 13-23; Luke 8:4-8; 11-15 Matthew 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
BIBLE PASSAGE – CONT’D Matthew 13:18 “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.”
CONTEXT This parable comes straight off the heals of Jesus condemning the pharisees and religious leaders and makes the comment - “Who is my mother brother? – those who hear and understand the word”. Jesus then talks of different types of people who receive the word differently.
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW Context The sower The seed The soil • Pathway – No receptivity • Stony soil – Biased receptivity • Thorny soil – Dispersed receptivity • Good soil – Focussed receptivity How about us?
THE SOWER The sower, or farmer, scatters seeds everywhere. He does not avoid certain places. He knows that where it does take root it will be very productive and is very liberal with scattering the seed. Jesus was the first sower of the kingdom message. We are to follow suit in His service. As we sow Christ’s word, no prejudice should stop us. Jesus sowed everywhere – even to the hard hearted religious leaders.
THE SEED The seed is the word of God. The word proclaiming the message of the kingdom – the gospel. This is that little tidbit that creates huge transformation. • It stimulates faith • It grows love • It catapults a weak struggling life to a powerful impactful one.
THE SEED Jesus highlights that the seed is the message of the kingdom. The seed is not merely good works or social initiatives. This parable highlights the power of the little seed which is nothing more, nothing less than the message of God’s kingdom.
THE SOIL Pathway – unreceptive – unbelievers or those who have rejected Christ. Non Christians or religious Christians without relationship. Stony ground – partially receptive – shallow faith Thorny soil – receptive but unable to sustain and grow the faith and love. Good soil – receptive and productive.
SEED ON PATH – NO RECEPTIVITY Matthew 13:19 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.
SEED ON PATH - NO RECEPTIVITY The Word reaches them, but they are tuned off. They could be religious Christians – focussed on externals, good deeds and tradition Or they could be believers in another faith Result – No fruit
SEED ON ROCKY SOIL – BIASED RECEPTIVITY Matthew 13:20 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.
SEED ON ROCKY SOIL BIASED RECEPTIVITY They may be people with multiple faiths including Christians They may be Christians who are only partially following God’s word and path and resistant to changing some aspects of their lives. They may be following wrong doctrines in line with their false beliefs Result – No fruit
SEED ON THORNY SOIL – DISPERSED RECEPTIVITY Matthew 13:22 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.
SEED ON THORNY GROUND DISPERSED RECEPTIVITY They want Christ and the world. They may be often too busy to give Christ the time they need to. They have lost their first love. They are unable to prioritize what is important. Result – no fruit
Matthew 13:23 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.” SEED ON GOOD SOIL – FOCUSED RECEPTIVITY
SEED ON GOOD SOIL FOCUSSED RECEPTIVITY The sower’s effort is never wasted. The few hearts who receive God’s word are growing believers. They reproduce several times what they receive. They are highly productive – 30-100 times multiplied investment.
HOW ABOUT US? Jesus gives a strong message here. Those with shallow faith or mixed priorities have NO fruit. There is no place for compromise in the Christian life. There could be Christians in all four categories But the true growing believers – the ones God in God’s family, are only in the fourth category. The others may not even realize that they are unproductive in God’s sight.
HOW ABOUT US? or ?
GOD’S WORD IS ALWAYS PRODUCTIVE Isaiah 55:10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.
DISCUSSION 1. Discuss examples of works people may do which appear to give fruit but actually are fruitless? 2. How can we ensure that we are fruitful? 3. How can we sow the right seed?