The Parable of the Sower and the Seed

Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23

It is God’s design that all believers be “fruitful” in their spiritual lives. However, “fruitfulness” as presented in scripture is not measured by the normal standards of our world.

One author states that success, sensationalism, sectarianism (i.e., following group protocol…”the program”) and imitation (i.e., the product of self-improvement) can all be mistaken as “fruitfulness” in the life of the believer.

The fruitfulness of life that God desires is that which is produced supernaturally by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. It is the result of hearing the Word of God and allowing the Holy Spirit to work it out in our daily lives as we obey His Word.

Where you find true “fruitfulness,” you find things like:

• Praise to God (Hebrews 13:15)
• People coming to faith in Christ (John 4:36; 1 Corinthians 16:15)
• Sacrificial giving (Philippians 4:17)
• Christlike character (Galatians 5:22-23)
• Aid to those in need (Romans 15:28-”sealed” means finishing the task or completion)
• Communication that helps others (1 Corinthians 14:14)
• Conduct that is pleasing to God (Colossians 1:10)

These examples of spiritual fruitfulness are only possible by the inner working of God.

Because “fruitfulness” is so important and the desired result God wants to see, He gave us a parable on “fruitfulness.” In it He explains the different ways people respond to the Word of the Kingdom and what specifically prevents them from becoming the fruitful believers Christ desires.

Look at the particulars of Matthew 13 and specifically the opening parable in which Jesus gives us the different conditions of people’s hearts that hear the Word of God.

• There are actually eight parables in this chapter (Matthew 13) dealing with the Kingdom of God.
• The Kingdom of God is the rule of the eternal, sovereign God over all creatures and things (Psalm 103:19; Daniel 4:3).
• It is also the sphere of salvation entered into at the new birth (John 3:5-7) and is synonymous with the “kingdom of heaven.”
• The first four parables were spoken in the presence of the multitudes that had gathered to hear Jesus and the last four were only heard by His disciples.
• The parable of the sower and the seed is introductory to the other Kingdom parables and the closing parable serves to instruct the disciples as to what they must do with this knowledge concerning the Kingdom of Heaven.
• While all of these parables are Kingdom parables, it is the middle six that give specific insight into the Kingdom of Heaven and its outworking in our world today.
• Each of these six parables is introduced with the words “the Kingdom of Heaven is like…”
• You also find the word “understand” (13:13,14,15,19,23,51) six times in Matthew 13. This is an important key to interpreting what Jesus is telling His disciples about those that hear “the word of the Kingdom.”
• In the parable of the sower and the seed, all four heard “the word of the kingdom.”
• All four hearers are said to have “received” (13:19,20,22,23) the seed, but only one of the four became fruitful.
• The listener that is likened to the seed that falls by the wayside did not “understand” what he had heard, but it was due to his own hardheartedness.
• There is no mention as to whether the stony soil or thorny soil listener “understood” the message. But, it seems likely that they had some understanding, since each of the seeds that fell in these soils germinated and grew for a time.
• Each of the first three types of soil successively represents more growth till you reach the one that actually bears fruit.
• The final phrase in 13:22, “becomes fruitful,” suggests that the person did not completely abandon the faith, but fell short of Kingdom expectations.
• Only one of the four types of soil is said to have “understood” to the place of  “producing” fruit in varying quantities.
• The listener that is likened to “good soil” has a prepared heart, ready to receive the “seed.”
• However, one additional detail is given about the “good soil” listener. He not only “bears fruit,” he also “produces” different quantities of fruit.
• The importance of this idea that the “good soil” listener “produces” fruit is that this Greek verb is translated elsewhere with doing the will of God (cf. 5:19; 7:21; 12:50).
• The point is that the “good soil” listener “hears,” “receives,” “understands” and “produces” (i.e., does the will of the Father or applies the Word of the Kingdom...he is not a hearer only--James 1:22) fruit.

What interests me in the parable of the sower and the seed are the things that work to prevent the fruitfulness God desires in believers’ lives.

1. There is the constant enemy of believer’s soul...Satan.

When people trust Christ as Savior they do not escape the devious workings of Satan against them. If he can’t steal the “seed” from people’s hearts, he works to diminish its effectiveness in their lives.

• He may cast doubt on God’s goodness in an effort to shipwreck your faith (Genesis 3:4-5).
• He may tempt you to deceive others in order to create the impression of being spiritual (Acts 5:3; John 8:44).
• He may attempt to steer you away from the simplicity of Christ and His gospel (2 Corinthians 11:3).
• He may fight against the progress you seek to make in Christ (Ephesians 6:12).
• He may tempt you to commit sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 7:5).
• He may lead you toward theological compromise and false doctrine. (1 Timothy 4:1-3).
• He may attempt to cripple your effectiveness through confusion, discouragement, and despair (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

These are just some of the examples in scripture of how Satan works to prevent believers from being fruitful in their spiritual lives.

2. There is the condition of a person’s heart to receive the Word.

• Some are unresponsive because they have become hardened.
• Some only want a surface relationship with Christ.
• Some want the benefits of salvation with little commitment to following Him.

3. There are the circumstances that work against fruitful living.

• Persecution/tribulation (Matthew 13:21)

• The cares of this world (Matthew 13:22A)
• The deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22B)
• The desire for other things (Mark 4:19)

Closing:

1. Prepare your heart to receive God’s Word.
2. Seek to “understand,” not just hear God’s Word.
3. Respond to God’s Word with obedience.