“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.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heartsand turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
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” Matthew 13:1-23.
On that day Jesus presents eight parables on the same day that He confronted the Pharisees (12:22–50). He went out of the house — most likely a reference to Peter’s house in Capernaum where Jesus sometimes lived. He sat down along the Sea of Galilee, assuming the posture of a rabbi about to teach (see 5:1). Since the crowds on the shore were so large, Jesus got into a boat and taught them from offshore, where He could be seen and heard by all.
Jesus’ first parable, known as the parable of the sower (13:18), draws on images that for some ancient Jews would have been quite familiar not only from the agricultural world in which they lived but also from their Scriptures. In the Old Testament God was depicted as a sower (Isa. 55:10–11; Jer. 31:27–28; Hosea 2:25) and seed represented His word that would accomplish His purpose, producing an abundant crop (Isa. 55:10–13). In the parable the sower is now Jesus and the seed is His word — His proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. The different soils represent the different kinds of responses to His ministry.
First, some are completely unreceptive to Christ. They hear the word without understanding it. This description applies to the Pharisees, who have so misunderstood Jesus that they have accused Him of being in league with the devil (9:34; 12:24). The reference to those who hear “without understanding” also points to the towns that witnessed Christ’s mighty deeds yet did not repent (11:20–24). These townspeople, and anyone else who fails to grasp the importance of Jesus’ message, are like seed sown on a path “devoured by birds” — a symbol for the evil one, Satan (see 2 Cor 4:4).
Second, some in Israel respond to Jesus’ teaching with immediate enthusiasm: they receive it at once with joy. However, when faced with tribulation or persecution they fall away. This might point to the crowds who initially respond positively to Jesus (7:28; 9:33; 12:23) but whose enthusiasm will vanish during his last days in Jerusalem. People who do not persevere through trial and persecution are like seed that falls on rocky ground and springs up at once, but when the sun scorches it, withers for lack of root.
Third, some hear the word, but worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. This description recalls the warning Jesus gave his disciples about the worries of this world (6:25–34). It also points to the problem of the rich young man who walks away from Jesus because of His attachment to His many possessions (19:16–22). All would-be disciples are like the seed that fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
Finally, the true follower of Christ hears the word and understands it. This points to the disciples who have been given “knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom” (13:11); they truly see and hear (13:16–17). The disciples will be explicitly identified as those who “understand” Christ’s teachings in parables (13:51). Jesus says they are like seed falling on rich soil. They will bear fruit — an image for the practical living out of one’s faithfulness to God (3:8, 10; 7:17–20; 12:33). Though many do not respond to Jesus, those who do will produce an abundant harvest, yielding a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
Take time today and consider honestly where you fit in this parable. Pray that God will help you become a “true follower” who listens to — or hears — Him and follows Him. This is truly the meaning and purpose of life. Pray that you will respond to Jesus.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6.
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”
Acts 2:38.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12.
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