THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Mar
7
Written by:
3/7/2010 12:00 AM
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
March 7, 2010
(Mark 4:1 NIV) Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. (Mark 4:2 NIV) He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: (Mark 4:3 NIV) "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. (Mark 4:4 NIV) As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. (Mark 4:5 NIV) Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. (Mark 4:6 NIV) But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. (Mark 4:7 NIV) Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. (Mark 4:8 NIV) Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
The parable of the sower is one of my favorite parables. I understand about sowing seeds very well. I planted my first vegetable seeds before I was 5 years old. During most of my life I have planted seeds with the hope of enjoying a bountiful harvest. We have owned farm land in Canada and helped with the planting of crops. We also had farm land which we rented out to others. Many kinds of seeds were sown and at times there was an abundant harvest. Other times the harvest was not so good. When we were planting we were always hoping for an abundant harvest.
Jesus used parables to teach his disciples and others many things. Often the parables talked about things that those hearing the parable were very familiar with such as sheep, vines, etc. In the case of this parable Jesus talked about sowing seeds. Almost everyone at that time was familiar with sowing seeds. However, the seed did not represent actual seed just as things in other parables such as vines represented something else. When the disciples asked about the meaning of this parable Jesus gave the interpretation. (Mark 4:13 NIV) Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? (Mark 4:14 NIV) The farmer sows the word. (Mark 4:15 NIV) Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. (Mark 4:16 NIV) Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. (Mark 4:17 NIV) 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. (Mark 4:18 NIV) Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; (Mark 4:19 NIV) but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mark 4:20 NIV) Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
Jesus said the seed represents the word. The farmer is the person that gives or sows the word. The soils represent the people that hear the word. The crop represents fruit for the kingdom of God. It could be souls or other fruit such as the fruit of the spirit. In the parable there are four types of people that hear the word that is given.
The first person is like the soil that is sown along a path. When the seed falls on the path Satan takes away the word that was sown. Satan represents the birds in the parable that eat the seed that was sown. The seed falls on death ears. The person`s heart is very hard against the word that is sown. Naturally, you would not expect seed sown along a path to produce a crop.
The second person is like the soil that is sown in rocky places. There was a favorable response to the word that was sown, but no fruit was produced. The person receives the word with joy, but when persecution of troubles come the seed dies. No fruit is produced. Many times I have seen people respond very favorable when I share the gospel with them. However, soon after they fall away. The seed sown bears no fruit. Maybe they told a friend or family member about what they heard and immediately were laughed at or persecuted.
The third person represents another type of soil that does not bear fruit from the seed sown. The person may receive the word with joy, but does not bear fruit because worries, deceitfulness of wealth or other desires in this life choke the word so no fruit is produced. This is especially true in wealthy countries.
The fourth person represents soil that produces an abundant harvest. Naturally, every sower wants this type of soil. Only God knows the heart of a person. Only God knows whether a person will produce good fruit when he hears the word of God. God does not expect us to only look for places where we think the soil is good to sow the word of God. Our responsibility is to share the word of God with as many as possible. Some may produce fruit soon and some may not produce fruit for many years. Three people talked to me in a coin laundry about Jesus twelve years before I became a Christian. I pray that I am like the soil that produces 100 times what is sown!
In Japan we may think almost all the seeds sown here are on soil that will bear no fruit. However, we have continued to sown seed for more than 20 years. Some of the seed has produced an abundant crop, but most of the seed has not borne fruit. However, we still believe for an abundant harvest in Japan.