Bible Lesson: Parable-Our Lord's- The Sower

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's
Parable: The Sower (Matthew 13:1-9/ Mark 4:3-9/ Luke 7:5-8).

Below is the parable of the sower, and Christ's explanation which appears latter in the chapter.

Metaphor: A figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another.
(New World Dictionary)

Jesus is here talking about husbandry, but He had a spiritual reference to the field of the heart, as He went on to explain to His disciples.

Matthew 13:1-9 KJV
[1] The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
[2] And great multitudes were gathered together unto Him, so that He went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
[3] And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

A)
[4] And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

[18] Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
[19] 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.

Who hasn't been out in the country side at one time or an other and seen the birds, after seed planting, looking for seeds to eat.
Circling, and scratching, and some are found and eaten.

Our Lord, who had come from His throne in heaven, and who knew only to well the spiritual enemies of man, likened this seed stealing to Satan's forces stealing away the word from the hearts of those who had heard it.

And Satan, does this, if we but hear the Word of God, and do not Understand it!
It becomes so much water under the dam.
How many times have you sat in church, and let your mind wonder, to the sound of the speakers message, a message he no doubt has labored over with much prayer, only to have it, put you to sleep.

Danger, danger, Satan, and his emissaries are working, right in the most holy place, God's sanctuary!
With what authority are they at such liberty?
Why with the authority you have given them!

Circling, and scratching, with fiendish claws of evil, they steal, steal away, precious life giving seed!

A homely homily:
For years, this once young preacher, would go three, four times a week to a dear pastor's office as a teen, wanting to know, wanting to understand better “what saith the Lord.”
And if it was in the Word, why weren't we doing it that way, or why weren't we following the Bible example etc. etc.
It was one cold day, on such a visit, that the dear man of God, reached for his coat and said, you know I'd like to take you to a church that thinks more like you do, he did, and I am glad that he did, for in his church, things weren't necessarily based upon the word.

Friend, you must “understand the word,” for it ever to take root and bear fruit in your life.
If you are not overly concerned, your life will “not,” overly be a blessing to anyone, for your tree, is without fruit.
Stop the enemy, challenge your mind, to hear, and understand the truth of the Word of God.

B)
[5] Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
[6] And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

[20] But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
[21] 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.

Verse six, “no root.”
Oh, yes there may very well be a lovely plant above ground, for what a plant can not do in the soil, it often over compensates for above the soil.
But, no plant can survive very long, that way, for it has no nutrient.

How like so many, a great show in church, religious circles, yes, but really without any roots.
When the sun of hardship, discouragement, character, come, they wither and die, for they have, “no root.”

To be a Christian, means that one is “growing in faith.”

Hebrews 5:12-14 KJV
[12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
[13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
[14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 5:12-14 NLT
12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.
14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

James 1:5 KJV
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.


C)
[7] And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

[22] 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.

There can only be one word that properly describes this, and that is the word, “application.”
All the Biblical knowledge in the world, does one, no good, if not put into application.

James 4:17 KJV
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Matthew 7:15-20 KJV
[15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
[16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
[18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
[19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

You may be known as a “walking Bible, and many are (due to a photographic memory, hardly a sign of spirituality), but just what are the “fruits of your life?
We must “not,” recognize men, by any ability to quote scripture, even Satan, can do this (Matthew 4:6), but, Jesus says, by their fruits.
How do they live, are they living of the gospel, or merely reciting it? Does their way of living, give “life,” to others, or does it cause them to wither and die?

Psalm 1:1-6 KJV
[1] Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
[2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.

[3] And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

[4] The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
[5] Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
[6] For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

God's trees, yield live giving fruit!


D)
[8] But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
[9] Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

[23] 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.

Fruit, for the Master of the harvest, some one hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Why the different rewards?

See ….
Rewards For The Christian
Crowns-Different

Succinctly stated, character, motives, labor, all play a part at the time of works being judged.

Good ground, where understanding is at tune, growth encouraged, and application is foremost, the little lowly seed of the gospel, may take root, and grow.
Growing into a fine fruit laden tree, of life giving nourishment.

Is that your life?
With the help of our Lord, it can be, reverently ask Him now.
Selah