The parable of the sower found in Matthew 13

The same parable is found in Luke 8

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.”

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 hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]

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.”

CLAIM:

The spiritual truth communicated in this parable is incredibly important as it relates to your parenting. I suggest that your understanding of this parable may be dictating your approach to spiritual training.

If you hold the belief, “My child made a decision to accept the person of Jesus at a Christian Camp three years ago. Yeah, I know that they don’t read their Bible, don’t pray, have friends that don’t go to church, etc.; but, they are saved. That is what the Bible teaches. I wish they were more spiritually connected; but, ……...”

PLEASE CONSIDER THE MESSAGE OF THIS PARABLE.

As you reflect on the spiritual truth that Jesus presented in the parable, think about the “components.”

• The sower

• The seed

• The ground

• The plant

The SOWER represents someone communicating the Gospel. Should the sower be the parent?

The SEED represents the Gospel.

The GROUND represents the heart of man / woman.

The PLANT represents the response to the Gospel message.

WHAT IF JESUS WAS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE?

The response to the Gospel can be categorized in one of four different ways:

1. Road / Path - no plant ever forms

2. Rocky Soil - the plant forms and grows for a short while then dies. (What is a short while? days, months or years)

3. Among the Thorns - the plant grows but doesn’t produce fruit

4. Good soil - the plant grows, produces fruit and flourishes. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE WHAT HAPPENS …….

Consider the purpose of a seed.

Moreover, generationally, what happens to plants that never produce fruit?

As you may know, there are MANY different opinions concerning the “salvation status” of each response.

Pastor and Bible Teacher John MacArthur believes that the “seed that fell on good soil” represents the ONLY saved individual. Many different views exist on this passage and it is important to understand the “thief on the cross.” The thief was saved; but, didn’t have time to “work out his salvation” (Phil. 2: 12-13).

How would you categorize your child or children?

If you concurred with John MacArthur’s understanding of this parable, would it change your approach to spiritual parenting?

A resource entitled, “Revolutionary Parenting” is in the PARENT RESOURCES section. The author stated, “Revolutionary Parent’s dominant goal was not to get their child saved. Every one of these parents considered the salvation of their kids to be of paramount importance, but most opted for a lifelong emphasis upon discipleship.”

Please consider the Parable of the Sower’s meaning in the context of other parables AND the whole of scripture.