Bereansearching Bible Studies

The Parable of the Sower Provides the Key to Solving All Parables. It is Both a Biblical Rosetta Stone and A Proof-Text for Typological/Allegorical Interpretation

“And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” Mark 4:13

Introduction

In Matthew 13:1-52, Jesus Christ delivers a total of seven parables of which the Parable of the Sower is the first (followed by the Wheat and the Tares, the Mustard Seed, the Leaven, the Hidden Treasure, the Pearl of Great Price, and finally the Fishing Net).  Notably, in six of these parables, all of the ones that follow the Parable of the Sower, Jesus begins by saying “the kingdom of heaven is like…” 

The Parable of the Sower is quite unique in a number of ways.  Discussion of it can be found in three places in the Bible….Please see: Matthew 13:3-23, Mark 4:3-20, and Luke 8:4-15. (these verses are also provided in the Appendix at the end of this post)

What is most unique about the “Parable of the Sower” (together with the companion “Parable of the Wheat and the Tares” as found in Matthew 13:24-30, which is the only other one that was explained by Jesus in Matthew 13:36-43) is that we not only read about Jesus openly speaking the parable (essentially a riddle) to the masses, but then we also learn how Jesus later expounds, privately, to the disciples on the meaning of the parable (Jesus solves the riddle for us).  

Moreover, Jesus goes further to provide the reason why He spoke in parables, and in the process then Jesus makes it clear that He did not intend to make it possible for everyone to understand what He was saying.  Jesus clearly states that it was not His intention to save “everyone”.  Jesus also seems to have somewhat upbraided the disciples for not being able to understand the parable on their own, when in Mark 4:13, Jesus said to his disciples, “Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?“  (We will look more into this point in the course of this study.)

The Scribe (One Who Is In Christ Jesus) Expounds the Hidden Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge Out of the Scriptures

Before we go any further we should also be mindful of what Jesus said to His disciples immediately at the end of His delivering the seven parables. In Matthew 13:51&52. “¶Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. ¶Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe [which is] instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that] is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure [things] new and old.”  It would appear therefore that Jesus is saying that a Bible “teacher” (because the word translated as “scribe” is the Greek word,  γραμματεύς (grammateus)^G1122, which can also be translated as “interpreter“*) is one who has been “instructed” by God and given “understanding” from these parables (and therefore ALL of God’s Word as found in the Bible) is like a householder (a responsible party), who will bring forth and expound upon the treasures that God has hidden within the Bible, both old and new (which might be viewed as meaning that which is found in both the Old and New Testaments?).  

Remember how clearly God compares His Word to “hid treasures” as He tells us in Proverbs 2:1-6 “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding.” Finally, in Colossians 2:2&3, “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

God provides us with pastors and teachers, etc., as it is written in 1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” And in Ephesians 4:11  “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;“

*Note how in Nehemiah 8:7&8, Ezra the Scribe (a “Type” of Jesus) and the other men (scribes?) and the Levites (priests) with him, “…caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading.“

True Understanding of God’s Word Is Only A Gift from God!

In Luke 8:4-8, we read that Jesus spoke the Parable of the Sower, and his disciples question Jesus about the meaning of the parable. Then Jesus answered them first by saying, in Luke 8:10, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”  Understanding, commensurate with salvation, is “given” and therefore a “gift” from God!

In Mark 4:11-12, Jesus is quoted saying the same thing, but with some additional information highlighted here in bold, “Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables. That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” 

In Matthew 13:10-16, we read the same thing, but with a cross reference from Jesus back to Isaiah 6:9-10 (see also Ezekiel 12:2). “And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parable? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias (Isaiah), which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.“

Note also that Matthew 13:35 says, “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” This was a cross reference back to Psalm 78:2 “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:“ Similarly, in Psalm 49:3&4 we read, “My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and  the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.”

Knowing the Parable, and Therefore Knowing ALL Parables?

As was mentioned above, in Mark 4:10 we read that Jesus, when He had just finished telling the parable of the Sower, was asked by His disciples what the parable meant; “And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.”  In Mark 4:13, Jesus gave the following response, “And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?”  

Why did Jesus imply that His disciples should have known what the parable meant?  Could they have known before Jesus explained it to them?  Also, He indicated that if they did know the meaning of this parable, then they would be able to know the meaning of all parables.  What did that mean?

When we do a word study of the parable of the Sower, using a concordance such as Strong’s or Young’s (or even better yet… a personal familiarity with the Old Testament), comparing scripture with scripture (“comparing spiritual things with spiritual” as we are instructed to do in 1 Corinthians 2:13); we find that if we search just the Old Testament (the only scriptures available at the time of Christ) we can derive essentially the same meaning of the parable as Jesus gave His disciples.  By applying the same principles to the rest of the Bible, trusting God’s Word, by faith, being led by the Holy Spirit, it would seem to be consistent that we ought to be able to learn the meaning of “all” parables.

However, please remember that the information in this Bible Study Help is not to be viewed as some kind of a cookbook “recipe,” by which we can automatically come to truth.  God is Sovereign, and in complete control of the revelation of saving truth from His Word, the Bible.  Intellectual knowledge will never save anyone (it could actually add to his or her greater condemnation).  May we never be as those God describes in 2 Timothy 3:7, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”   (Remember also that Jesus is The “Truth”). Also remember what Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.”

The Gift of the Holy Spirit is Required

The Bible requires spiritual insight to understand it.  That faculty is only obtained as a Gift from God, through the indwelling (or anointing) of His Holy Spirit, The “Spirit of Truth*“, Who Is also known as “The Holy Ghost“.  That action is God’s Alone, and is synonymous with the Gift of salvation (Acts 5:32, “And we are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.“).  

It is quite interesting to find in Exodus chapter 31, when God looked for a man of wisdom and understanding and knowledge, that God told Moses the following starting in verses 2-5:“See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.”

Since Proverbs 1:20-23, “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.“  For more on “who” this is, please see the Proverbs Chapter 8 study.

The key here is the Spirit that makes God’s Words known to us, which is entirely in accordance with 1 Corinthians 2:12-16, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. ¶Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.“

We must also be mindful of the fact that spiritual discernment is necessary to understand the Bible. The anointing of God The Holy Spirit is required to have Jesus clearly revealed to us as is clearly stated in 1 John 2:27, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.“ The anointing is of the Holy Spirit Who God the Father sent to the believers to lead them into all truth, and that Truth Is Jesus. John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that]shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” Note the consistency with John 14:26, “But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” and 1 John 2:20, “¶But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” (“unction” means “anointing”)

We must conclude from the above that to understand a parable, we must be “comparing spiritual things with spiritual things“, hence we must compare God’s Holy Word with God’s Holy Word (the Bible with the Bible, scripture with scripture) being led by God the Holy Spirit.

Word Study, Parable of the Sower

The following explanations in this study of the various parts of the parable are provided directly to us by Jesus Himself (Who Is The Word Incarnate), but they potentially can be understood through diligent searching the Bible to see how the key words are used elsewhere and thereby derive identical meanings to that which Jesus interpreted for His disciples.

The Parable is Divided Into Four Parts, and Highlighted by some Key Words Drawn From All Three Accounts in Matthew, Mark and Luke:

1. The “Sower” sowed “seeds” and some fell by the “wayside” and was trodden down and the “fowls of the air” “devoured” them.
2. Some seed fell on “stony ground”, no depth of earth, sprung up and because they had no “root” were “scorched”by the sun and lacked moisture and “withered”.
3. Some seed fell among “thorns” that choked them so that they yielded no fruit.
4. Some seed fell into “good ground” and brought forth “fruit”, some 100 fold, some 60, some 30.

The key words of the parable above can be researched from the Bible as provided respectively below:

The Sower and His Seed: (the meaning is by interpretation: God and His Word)

We can see the consistency between what Jesus expounded regarding the seed and the sower with what can be found in Isaiah 55:10&11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.  

There is a very clear correlation between the above and what we read in the “Parable of the Seed” found in Mark 4:26-29, “¶And he (Jesus) said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” And the “harvest” is Judgement Day!

And we should also note how consistent this is with Hebrews 6:7&8, “¶For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers [is] rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned.” (Please note how this is also consistent with the “Parable of the Wheat and the Tares” as found in Matthew 13:24-30, which is the only other parable that was explained by Jesus in Matthew 13:36-43 making clear that the unsaved, the “tares”…”the children of the wicked [one]” who respond to the Word by “bearing thorns and briars“, would be “burned” in a “furnace of fire” (Hell) “in the end of this world“.

Dear reader, please not how perfectly these verses harmonize with what we find in Ecclesiastes 11:1-6. There we read, “¶ Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.  As thou knowest not what [is] the way of the spirit, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike good.”  

The above sets of verses, when taken together, tell us quite clearly that we are not to be slack in sowing the seed, that is, by Jesus’s own interpretation, to not be slack in spreading the Good News of “The Gospel of Salvation through the Person and Work of the LORD Jesus Christ” as is wholly contained in the Bible. God is telling us not to worry, fret or fear about how well it will be received, or even whether or not it will be received at all! The seed/Word is God’s, and the ground/heart of man is made and prepared by God to receive it or not.  We do not know the heart of man, only God does.  It is all God’s business, so as faithful servants, we are simply to go forth into the world to preach the word faithfully. In Isaiah 32:20 we also read, “Blessed [are] ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth [thither} the feet of the ox and the ass.” This is also telling the believers to preach the Gospel everywhere, as well as to send forth missionaries to preach the Gospel, and they will be blessed of God.

And remember how God, through Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, encourages us in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”  God Is The One Who will make the seed/word prosper or not.  God will be the one to make the planted seed/word bear”fruit”by converting and saving a sinner.  (NOTE: That we are provided a similar instructive admonition by God in the Parable of the Talents.)

Note also Job 5:8-10: “I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:”

And finally, note the harmony of the above with Psalm 65:9-13, “Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, [which] is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. They drop [upon] the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.“ When the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ (like water) goes forth upon those to whom God gives the ears to hear, then they will spring forth like corn and become fruitful for God themselves. Hosea 14:7 tells us that, “They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive [as] the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof [shall be] as the wine of Lebanon.“

Sow in Tears, Reap in Joy!

We also see in Psalm 126:5&6, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].  These verses can only be interpreted that it is only through the sowing of the precious seed is the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Word of God, that can only lead to the ultimate joyful harvesting of saved souls for God.  Jesus was the Suffering Servant Who sowing the precious seed of the Gospel will doubtless come again (on Judgment Day) rejoicing and bringing His sheaves with Him!

We should also remember that the majority of the seed did not yield good fruit, and only a relatively small portion grew and brought forth good fruit, but the seed was sown everywhere nonetheless. Similarly, we are not given to know beforehand how the seed will end up, we are simply to sow the seed, which is the Word of God. The result will eventually be manifest one way or the other, but, in any case, we are assured that, as we read in the last part of Acts 13:48, “¶And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.“

Hosea 10:12, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.“

Zechariah 10:9 , “And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.”

*We also should remember what Jesus said in John 4:35-38, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.“   Moreover, we read in in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 , “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” 

Then in 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, “¶But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for [your] food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” [NOTE to the Reader: While these verses can be interpreted to mean the sharing and dispersing monetary benefits to the poor, it is most importantly discussing the spiritual blessing of salvation to the spiritually poor of the world through the sharing and dispersing of the Word of God. Only by sowing that “seed”, can it multiply and increase the fruits (bringing souls to Jesus).]

Finally,James 1:18 tells us that the believers are begotten with the “Word of Truth” (which is the Word of God, which is Jesus Christ) and result in being the “firstfruits” of His creation.  The Word is the seed that gets planted by God that beats the good fruit, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.“

The  Wayside: (The World, that which is not in “the Way”.   Remember that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life)

*Matthew 20:30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, [thou] son of David.

* New Testament, only shown to reinforce illustration.

Fowls of the Air:  (Forces of Satan…he is the “Wicked One”)

1 Samuel 17:44 “And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.”

1 Samuel 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

Job 28:21, “Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close (concealed) from the fowls of the air.”

We should also be cognizant of the fact that God specifically call birds of prey and carrion eaters as an “abominations” and God doubles the use of the word “abomination” to make the point.   Leviticus 11:13-15 ¶”And these [are they which] ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they [are] an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind;“

Given that the devil and his workers their works are also “abomination” to God, we can readily see the connection between fowls of the air and the devil’s hosts

And Regarding the “Wicked One”:

The moniker, the “Wicked One”, makes it very clear who the fowls of the air are meant to represent, but again it is entirely consistent with the exposition presented above.

*Ephesians 2:2, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. ¶But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:“

*1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:;

*Matthew 13:38, “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked [one];“

*Matthew 13:39, “The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.”; and,

*2 Thessalonians 2:8, “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:“

Devour: (Destroy or Consume)

2 Chronicles 7:13, “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;”

Isaiah 33:11 “Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, [as] fire, shall devour you.”

Jeremiah 51:34, “Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.”

Zephaniah 3:8, “Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.”

Stony Places: (Hard Hearts)

Psalm 141:6, “When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.”

Root: (Jesus Christ, the Root of Jesse. We Must be Rooted in Christ!)

2 Kings 19:30, “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.“

*Colossians 2:6-8, “¶As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so]walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. ¶Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.“

Withered: (Dried Up and Scorched, as by the Fires of Hell…Those who cannot endure the trials of tribulation and persecution)

Isaiah 27:11 When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, [and] set them on fire: for it [is] a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.

Joel 1:12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, [even] all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

*John 5:3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

*John 15:4-6 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ¶ I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned.”

Thorns:  (Cares and Enticements of This World, as well the Snare of False Gospels)

Genesis 3:18 “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;”

Judges 2:3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be [as thorns] in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

Proverbs 22:5 “Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.”

Isaiah 32:13 “Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns [and] briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy [in] the joyous city:”

Isaiah 33:12 And the people shall be [as] the burnings of lime: [as] thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

Jeremiah 4:3  For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Ezekiel 2:6  “And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns [be] with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they [be] a rebellious house.“

Good Soil (the “good heart” of the elect of God)

Ezekiel 17:8 It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

Fruit: (Fruit, is the Evidence of True Salvation…and that fruit should be manifest in the winning of souls for Jesus Christ through the sharing of the Gospel)

Mini Introduction:

There are some important verses regarding fruitfulness in the Bible.  Key ones to ponder begin in Proverbs 11:24-26, “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and [there is] that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing [shall be] upon the head of him that selleth [it].”  and also Proverbs 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.” and likewise, James 5:20, “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.“

Note how this harmonizes with what we find in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8,  Where Paul states that as a Believer, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”  Paul was not just talking about planting churches per se, but rather bringing in new believers through the spreading of the Gospel of Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Leviticus 26:4 “Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.”

Deuteronomy 11:17, “And [then] the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and [lest] ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.”

Deuteronomy 22:9  “Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.”

Psalm 1:3, “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.“

Proverbs 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.“

Proverbs 12:12,”The wicked desireth the net of evil [men]: but the root of the righteous yieldeth [fruit].

Isaiah 4:2 “In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth [shall be] excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.“

Isaiah 27:6, “He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:8, “For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.“

Ezekiel 34:27, “And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.”

*Matthew 3:10, “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.“

*John 15:5&6, “¶ I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned.”

*2 Corinthians 9:6-11, “¶But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for [your] food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.“

*Colossians 1:5,6, “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as [it is] in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as [it doth] also in you, since the day ye heard of [it], and knew the grace of God in truth:

Conclusion:

The Parable of the Sower is provided by Jesus to teach about His Kingdom and the results and effectiveness of His Word (The Gospel of Salvation) as it is dispersed universally throughout the whole world. Only the elect of God will be rooted in Christ, and have that Root take hold in their hearts to be able to bring forth good fruit (bringing more believers into the fold through the spreading of the true gospel as it was given to them).  Though it was initially spoken by Jesus as a parable, Jesus openly expounded the meaning of that parable (as well as the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares), thereby providing us a means by which to interpret the entire Bible.  That means is by using the Bible, God’s Holy infallible Word, as its own interpreter.  We must compare scripture with scripture, “spiritual things with spiritual.”  We can also see that the lesson is just one more proof that the Bible is one cohesive whole, from beginning to end, and that it always points to the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ! Praise God for His Wisdom and Mercy!

Additional KEY verses related “sowing” and “reaping” that are definitely worth pondering:

Hosea 10:12, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.“

James 3:18, “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

2 Corinthians 9:6, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

Job 4:8 , “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.”

Hosea 8:7,“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk; the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.”

Galatians 6:7-9, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.“

Other verses to ponder regarding God’s Word in General:

Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.“

1 Corinthians 10:11, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.“

Psalm 19:11, “Moreover by them is thy servant warned: [and] in keeping of them [there is] great reward.” (please, if at all possible, read all of Psalm 19 and Psalm 119)

Psalm  37:30, “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.“

Ecclesiastes 8:5, “Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.”

Hebrews 12:25 “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven:  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more (Judgment Day) I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.“

Ecclesiastes 1:18, “For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.“

Galatians 1:12, “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.“

1 Corinthians 13:1&2, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love, “agape” in the Greek), I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love, “agape” in the Greek), I am nothing.” 

If we don’t have the Godly love (agape) of Jesus Christ in us (which is synonymous with true salvation), we are nothing.

APPENDIX:

1) The Parable of the Sower as found in the book of Matthew 13:1-23

Matthew 13:3-17″The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 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. 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.” 

“And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” 

Jesus’ Explanation:

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. 

2) The Parable of the Sower as found in the book of Mark 4:3-20

Mark 4:3-13, “¶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 nodepth 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.

¶And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them“.

Jesus’ Explanation:

Mark 4:14-20, “¶And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?“

“The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 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. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive [it], and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.“

3) The Parable of the Sower as found in the book of Luke 8:5-15

Luke 8:5-10, “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, andthe fowls of the air devoured it.And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

¶And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? ¶And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Jesus’ Explanation

Luke 8:11-15, “¶Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. lest they should believe and be saved. 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.And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection.But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience.

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