We have established that the parables were spoken by Jesus because the religious leaders had rejected the plain teaching of Christ. The first two we will look at are given an explanation by Jesus Himself. The others will require us to do some digging!
Matthew 13:3-9- And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Notice the last sentence- Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Jesus says this a lot because He wants someone to take heed. This phrase is used in Revelation with just a little variation- He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
This parable of the sower is explained by Jesus just a few verses down.
Matthew 13:18-23 - Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 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. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 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. 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. 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.
The sower is giving the gospel out everywhere heedless of the condition of the ground. Why? Because we are called to give the gospel to every creature! The word of God is sown out among the hearts of men, but it doesn't always take root or bear fruit. It depends on the condition of the heart of the man hearing it.
This parable is also in Mark 4, but there are some differences that need to be noticed.
Mark 4:3-9- Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Instead of saying "the wicked one" it says the "fowls of the air" which shows us that in the Bible devils, or evil spirits, are referred to as the fowls of the air.
In this version, the sun scorched the seed on the stony ground. Matthew translates this as tribulation or persecution that comes because of the Word of God. Luke 8:13 says They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. These people received the Scriptures with joy, they have even gotten saved, but they don't walk the Christian walk because it costs them too much.
The devil will do anything to snatch away the Scripture. But if the Word of God takes root, his tactics change to making sure that the seed doesn't bear any fruit. If he can't keep you from getting saved, he will try to keep you from growing as a Christian so no one else will hear the gospel from you!
The thorns are explained in Mark 4:18-19, And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Thorns are a result of the curse of sin. This Christian is saved, but doesn't live it. The world is too distracting and alluring to them.
Matthew 13:23 says that the person who hears the word and understands it is the one who will bring forth fruit. But there's a little more we will see if we look at the parable in the other gospels. Mark 4:20 says that the person who hears the word and receives it, while Luke 8:15 says that they having heard the word, keep it. So for a Christian to bear fruit they must understand the Word, receive the Word, and keep the Word!
God wants Christians to bear fruit. He could send angels to tell others about the gospel of Jesus, but He chose to use Christians! We have a chance to witness to the lost around us and get a reward for that service!
The next explained parable is in the same chapter of Matthew 13. This is the only mention of this parable in the Bible.
Matthew 13:24-30 - Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Again, Jesus gives us the explanation in the same chapter.
Matthew 13:36-43 -Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
In this parable, the sower wasn't the one who was sleeping; He sowed good seed. It was the men who should have been keeping the fields that were sleeping. The enemy was able to slip some counterfeits in because the watchers weren't doing their job! And yet, those same people responsible tried to blame the Lord- Didn't you sow good seed? Like perhaps He was the one at fault.
These counterfeits are really good at looking like the real thing until there's a judgment. When the fruit makes the heads of wheat to bow their heads in humility, the counterfeit tares are standing straight with pride. God allows these imposters to do their thing, possibly because it's the best way to see who is going to search the Scriptures and who is going to just warm a pew.
There's a division made between the two, and one doesn't fair well in the judgment! Those imposters don't get to live happily ever after; they suffer for an eternity for their deception!
