The Parables of the Lord

THE PARABLES OF THE SOWER
In Matthew 1-9 the king was revealed. In Matthew 10-16 the king was resisted. In Matthew 17-27 the king was rejected. At this time when Jesus gives the parables, he has been resisted and would soon be rejected.
Before we look at this parable and others, understand that a crisis in Israel’s history had arrived.
First, understand it is “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). When Israel fell to the Assyrians and Judah fell to Nebuchadnezzar, they loss their political superiority over the nations. “The time of the Gentiles” began.
Today the entire world is in Gentile hands. This period will end with the final destruction of the antichrist, when Jesus Christ returns at the battle of Armageddon. It is then He will set up the millennial kingdom which will be centered in Jerusalem.

Second, it is the “fullness of the Gentiles.” (Romans 11:25). This reveals Israel’s loss of religious superiority over the nations. The “fullness of the Gentiles” began at Pentecost and will end at the rapture.
For 2,000 years before Pentecost, when God had anything to say, He said it for the most part to a Jew and in the Hebrew language.
Now custodianship of God’s truth is entrusted to the spiritual Church, which is predominantly Gentile in character.
After Pentecost when God spoke, He spoke in the most part in Greek and through the Church.
After the Rapture God will restore the religious authority again to the Jews and after the Lord’s return at the end of the apocalypse He will restore the political authority to the Jews.
Because the Jews had resisted and rejected their King, all plans for the immediate visible manifestation of the kingdom were postponed.

So, who are these parables for? They are for us today.
-They show how things are developing now in the King’s absence.
-They reveal God’s secret plans and purposes for our age.
-They reveal His will, ways and works in the dispensation of Grace.

The parable of the sower reveals a lapse in time as in sowing seed.
There is seedtime, a waiting, and a harvest.
The field you notice is different. It is no longer Israel. It is the world.
The Lord would explain the parables to the disciples but blindness would be Israel’s lot.
13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Sandwiched in-between the giving and the explanation of the Parable of the Sower is the reason Jesus spoke in parables.

Matthew 13: 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
“You” represents the disciples or believers. “Them” speaks of Israel.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Because the disciples had faith, their faith was increased. Because they walk in the light, more light was given them. Because they believed truth, more truth as added to their hearts.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Jesus spoke in parables to reveal truths to the righteous that their hearts might rejoice in time and eternity.

At the same time the Nation of Israel as a whole heard Jesus’ parables but their hearts were hard and their minds were dark. Their only reason for trying to learn what Jesus taught was to critique and criticize and mock Jesus’ words. After all they had already blasphemed the Holy Spirit.

You have heard that trials will make you bitter or better. With Israel’s lost of superiority political you would think they would be humble and cry out to God, but no, their hearts were hard and their minds were darken.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Jesus says to the disciples count yourselves blessed to have the teaching that I am giving you for you are very special.

To understand the parable you must understand about the:
1 – SOWER; 2 – SOIL; 3 – SEED.

1 – Sower – The sower was Jesus Christ. Today the sower is all born again believers who walk in truth and continue to preach this Book.
Example: John the Baptist prepared the soil. Jesus sowed the seed and the disciples reaped the harvest. That happens in churches, communities and nations.

Notice that nothing is really said about the sower. Why? – It isn’t the sower that is important but the Seed.

2 – Seed – The seed is evidently the Word of God. There is nothing better and the only thing that can bring forth life in a lost soul and hope in a wicked world is the word of God.

When God’s Word is shared with others it has the capability of bring forth eternal life and a thousand blessings here and now.

No philosophy of man will give eternal life. Only God’s Word.
Illustration: James Chalmers set sale for cannibal isles. He was greatly loved as a man of God in Britain. When news came back to Britain that he had been eaten by cannibals the people were shocked. Many did not want to believe such a thing happened to a man of God who gave his life for the Lord and whom they loved so.
Yet for those who would visit New Guinea over the next many years would discover 130 mission stations. They would find thousands of converted souls. They would discover that those men who were once men-eaters and who had tattooed on their breast men they had killed, now had been converted to Jesus Christ and would sit quietly at the Lord’s table partaking of communion because their hearts had been regenerated by the seed of God’s word.


3 – Soil – But remember the soil has everything to do with how that seed is grown.
The Soil:
The Lord concentrates, in this parable of the sower, on the soil. So you may understand the different kinds of soil and the different kinds of hearts people have. That is the purpose of this parable.

Thus, we see those who receive the truth of the Word of God… and
Those who receive it only partially or reject it altogether.

You might say there are productive soils and there are problem soils.

1 – The Waywardness of some 13: 18-19
13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
13:19 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.
A – This is the heart of a person who superficially receives your witness. I mean that they are gracious and maybe even kind to you as you share with them their need of Jesus Christ.
But, their response “no thank you.”
Some sit in church week after week, lost, going to hell and seemingly, they don’t care. They would rather be working, making money, playing a game, wishing they were with a friend, than to think on and worship Jesus Christ and have their sins forgiven.

B – The Word is Satanically removed. The “wicked one” represents demons that control that man’s mind; demons that makes him despise Christ, salvation and eternal life; demons that fills his mind with rebellion and lust and sin.
Demons of pride that make that man say, “I don’t believe that.” “I will get to heaven my way.” I don’t have to repent.” “I don’t’ have to profess Christ before men.” No, I am Ok just like I am.”
As soon as the word of God falls on that man’s heart, those demons that he has received into his life inwardly or outwardly remove the very seed thought and before he gets on the highway he is talking about football, baseball, money, and things in this world.
Thus, some hearts are so wayward, that they may never come to Christ. The word wayward means disobedient, unruly, rebellious, defiant, and contrary. “No Results” (An intellectual belief)

2 – The Weakness of Some (13:20-21)
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

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

The “Stony places” is a shallow layer of soil atop a lawyer of rocks.
Seeds dropped here will spring up immediately. But it has no roots and it has no moisture and soon the sun scorches the sprouts and it dies.

It pictures one who has little knowledge of true repentance and belief but are enthusiastic, overjoyed and moved emotionally by a powerful message. They are stirred or convinced to make a decision but there is no root or foundation because there is very little understanding of Salvation.
As soon as some one mocks them or criticizes them they give up on their religion. (A fleshly belief)

The Bible says for a believer, “Great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them.” Psalms 119:165
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:11

High pressure evangelism often produces this kind of shallow conversion. Professions of faith are sought for in many churches so preachers can boast of their professions that year but are they still in the church worshipping God two and three years later.
People who respond to the gospel on this level have awakened souls but not regenerated spirits.
For they lack the “Fruit of the Spirit.”
They are not sheep that follow but goats that must be forced to do anything for God. “No Roots”

3 – The Worldliness of Some 13:22
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them
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.

The Thorny soil represents the worldliness of some people.
They show initial promise, but no lasting results.
The Thorny soil is part of the curse of mankind ( Genesis 3:18).

Spiritual life is chocked out because of three thorns:
1 – The cares of this world
2 – The deceitfulness of riches
3 – The lust of other things ( Mark 4:19)

1- The Cares of this world refers to problems in life. Every Christian must realize that it rains on the just and the unjust.
Tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes it the homes of believers and unbelievers.
Sickness and cancer and death fall on pagan and Christian.
Christians are not exempt from problems. But we do have advantages because God is our refuge and strength, our very present help in time of trouble (Ps 46:10).
Jesus is our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:11-16).
“All things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28)

2 – The Deceitfulness of riches refers to the prosperities of life.
It is one of the most lust after sins of the world. People want to be rich. But, wealth can be as much as a snare as poverty and even more deadly.
The devil will often say, “Compromise now so you can serve God in the future.” “Compromise Bible convictions, compromise your family, compromise your worship and you can have more time later to serve God.” Only that future period never comes.
Don’t live for earthy riches, it will bury your spiritual riches.

3 – The lusts of other things. A lazyboy recliner, a favorite TV program and a bag of popcorn on Sunday evening instead of Church is one example of the lust for things.
It refer to the a thousand pleasures in life that takes a person away from God. Pleasure seekers will never be satisfied. The Bible reminds us that the flesh is never satisfied.

Having described the problem soils the Lord turns His attention to the productive soil.
Now, I know you ask, Who is saved in these four soils and who is lost.
Are three saved and one lost or is one saved and three lost. Or do we divide them up 2 and 2? Many great Theologians have opinions. But rather than focus on who might be what, why not focus on the type of heart , yea soil, God wants you to have. (A soulish belief)

4 – The Willingness of Some 13:8,23
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold
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.
Good soil is not hard and dry. It is lose and yielded. It is moist with the water of God’s word. The rocks of sin have been removed.
It receives the seed readily, willingly, eagerly and gladly.
And soon, within weeks you see foliage coming forth.

A genuine conversion is evident by fruit.
1 --The greatest aspect is that spiritual fruit is love.
The person becomes patience, kind and humble
They find themselves content with the life God has given them.
Forgiveness and compassion flows from their lives.
Worship and joy and many other good attributes develop.

A Christian loves God’s word. It is sweet to the taste.
A Christian enjoys praise to the Lord. It is a lovely fragrance.
A Christian loves to fellowship with other Christians. It is pleasant.

2 --Another great and attractive fruit is joy.
God’s people should be the happiest people in the world.
The promise of heaven should flood our sol with pleasure.
The thought of what Christ has done for us should thrill us.
The daily provision of God should make us glad.

But, fruit doesn’t stop there.
Our love and joy for the Lord will make us faithful to God. It will so move us that we will want our children saved and our friends saved.

The fruit of love and joy will make us pray for and witness to our lost family and friends.

-The very fact that we are saved changes us. We no longer produce the thorns of this world.
-Our hearts are no longer hard as rock to the teachings of God’s Words.
-Our eyes have been enlightened and we seek to be more like Jesus Christ
So in this world, don’t expect everybody to react to you by receiving Christ, for hearts are hard, eyes are blind and minds are full of thorns.

But, your heart and mind should be full of God’s fruit. Is it?

Christians will produce fruit. Some will produce 100 fold and some will produce 30 fold but they will produce.
Their will be Christ-like attributes in their lives.
If there is no fruit – there is no conversion according to the parable.