What Is The Parable of the Sower?

The Parable of the Sower

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Jesus was first and foremost a teacher anointed by the Spirit of God. One of Jesus teaching methods was the use of parables. In this new series, we will look at one of these parables, The Parable of the Sower. Does this parable apply to us in the church? If it does what powerful truths can we glean from it and how can we apply these truths in our everyday life.

This is part 1 of the Series “The Parable of the Sower?”

ILLUSTRATION: The Book of Parables
A candidate for church membership was asked, “What part of the Bible do you like best?” He said: “I like the New Testament best. Then he was asked, “What Book in the New Testament is your favorite?” He answered, the Book of the Parables, Sir.” They then asked him to relate one of the parables to the membership committee. And a bit uncertain, he began… “Once upon a time a man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves; and the thorns grew up and choked the man. And he went on and met the Queen of Sheba, and she gave that man, Sir, a thousand talents of silver, and a hundred changes of raiment. And he got in his chariot and drove furiously, and as he was driving along under a big tree, his hair got caught in a limb and left him hanging here! And he hung there many days and many nights. The ravens brought him food to eat and water to drink. And one night while he was hanging there asleep, his wife Delilah came along and cut off his hair, and he fell on stony ground. And it begin to rain, and rained forty days and forty nights. And he hid himself in a cave. Later he went on and met a man who said, “Come in and take supper with me.” But he said, “I can’t come in, for I have married a wife.” And the man went out into the highways and hedges and compelled him to come in! He then came to Jerusalem, and saw Queen Jezebel sitting high and lifted up in a window of the wall. When she saw him she laughed, and he said, “Throw her down out of there,” and they threw her down. And he said “Throw her down again,” and they threw her down seventy-times-seven. And the fragments which they picked up filled twelve baskets full! NOW, whose wife will she be in the day of the Judgment?” The membership committee agreed that this was indeed a knowledgeable candidate 1!

Introduction to Mark’s Gospel

  • The purpose for emphasizing the introduction is to frame Jesus words on parables. The section includes several parables but starts out with the number one parable, the sower.
  • You can find the entire Introduction to the Gospel of Mark here.
  • Four main ideas permeate Mark’s gospel; Ministry, Miracles, Opposition and Passion.
  • Unlike the other synoptic gospels, Mark doesn’t contain a birth account of Jesus.
  • What you have in Mark’s gospel as he leads up to the parables of chapter four is an establishment of Jesus healing and delivering ministry.
  • When you get to chapter four, Mark is saying in effect, ‘Okay now you have seen what Jesus can do. Now, look at what Jesus said.’
  • First on the list of all Jesus said? The Parable of the Sower.
  • Its first place status gives an air of importance to this parable.

[Tweet “Four main ideas permeate Mark’s gospel; Ministry, Miracles, Opposition and Passion.”]

Jesus Purpose for Parables

Mark 4:11–13 (KJV)
11 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: 12 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. 13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

  • Look at the scene beginning in verse one.

Mark 4:1 (KJV)
1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

  • Jesus is in a boat pushed off from the land.
  • The crowd including the disciples are on the land in anticipation.

Historical Background: The Bay of Parables
On a geographical note, Israeli scientists have confirmed the acoustics of this area, known as the Bay of Parables, are of such a high quality that Jesus could easily be heard 2.

Question: How did the disciples come to an understanding of this parable?

  • These same disciples, to whom the mystery of the kingdom belonged, stood with the crowd on the land.
  • They heard the same words, at the same time, as the rest of the crowd did.
  • No one understood the parable upon first hearing.
  • No one understood the spiritual applications Jesus made during this time. Not even the disciples.
  • Jesus states only a certain group of individuals would have access to understanding the parable.
    • Was Jesus being exclusive?
    • Is that who God is, an exclusive God?
    • Is this snobbish behavior on the part of Jesus or is there something else going on?
  • Some scholars have proposed that Jesus was just acting on the foreknowledge which He possessed. And spoke in parables because he already knew who would receive it. In other words, the ‘casting pearls before swine’ angle.
  • One of the problems with this view is that Jesus did not have foreknowledge as God. He operated His ministry as a man anointed by the Spirit of God (Mat. 3:16).
  • Jesus did not known who would receive His words generally. He only displayed such knowledge as the Spirit willed for Him to have it (1Cor. 12:7).
  • It is clear something else is going on besides exclusivity.
  • How did the disciples gain understanding then?

Mark 4:10 (KJV)
10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

  • The disciples walked up to Jesus when He was alone and asked questions about what He said.
    • Who were the blind who didn’t see that day?
    • Who were the hearers who didn’t hear?
    • Who were the fulfillers of Isiah’s prophecy?
  • It simply was those who didn’t follow up with Jesus.
  • It was those who didn’t get Jesus alone and ask.
  • There is something absolutely necessary about you coming to Jesus and asking Him questions.
  • When you hear a sermon at church, what do you do with it?
  • What do you do with the Words you hear?
  • Do you take notes or are you satisfied with just religious hearing?
  • I mean, you have done your duty man. You came to church. You heard the Word. But…
    • Hearing is never enough.
    • People who receive revelation, dig.
    • People who receive revelation, search.
    • People who receive insight, seek, knock, ask.
    • They pray. They ask God questions. They are peppering Him all the time.
  • Do you desire insight into kingdom affairs?
  • Do you want those doors to open to you? Then…
    • Just ask (Mat. 7:7).
    • It’s yours for the asking.
  • Asking Jesus questions displays an important spiritual trait, hunger.
  • Those who hunger and thirst enough to ask will be filled. That’s a Bible fact (Mat. 5:6).

The Biggest Parable of Them All

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

  • The key to gaining insight from the ‘rest of Jesus parables’ is to know, understand AND walk in the light of this parable.
  • Jesus is saying, “Don’t bother with my other sayings, until you get this one under your belt.”
  • This elevates the Parable of the Sower to the head of the list.
  • It has supreme status among the parables of Jesus.
  • Why?
    • Is there some mystic clue in this parable that, if found, would be the key to unlocking all the other ones?
    • Maybe the Parable of the Sower is a treasure map of some kind?
    • Haven’t you read some of Jesus parables and had trouble understanding what He was saying?
    • Maybe the reason you had trouble is that you didn’t have the key? Right? Wrong.
  • There is no missing key.
  • The Parable of the Sower is simply a foundational building-block parable.
  • Jesus emphasized it because He knew God’s Word is a stepping stone to all things God.

[Tweet “The key to the rest of Jesus parables is to know, and walk in the light of the Parable of the Sower.”]

Our Responsibility To God’s Word

  • Understanding the Word of God is always a line upon line affair.
  • Our responsibility to God’s Word is what’s laid out in this parable.
  • Engaging other parables or other portions of God’s Word without applying the principles found in the Parable of the Sower leads to getting your ‘lines out of order.
  • Believers are called to live fruitful lives.
  • Lack of fruit indicates a need to return to foundational basics.
  • We are going to see that there are certain lifestyle choices which cause the Word to not produce in one’s life.
  • You hear it, you read it but it doesn’t produce.
  • It’s when you align your life with what God said in this parable that the door opens for the rest of the sayings of Jesus to bring forth a harvest of fruit in your life.

 Call to Action:

You have responsibilities in life. There are many things as a human alive on planet earth which are laid at your door. There are spiritual responsibilities also. Tending to God’s Word is at the top of the list. In Bible talk, Proverbs 4:20-23 says this the best way it can be said.

Question: What Bible verses speak to you along the line of our responsibility to God’s Word? Please leave your comments in the comments section below.

References:

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  1.  Galaxie Software, 10,000 Sermon Illustrations (Biblical Studies Press, 2002) ↩
  2. James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 126 ↩

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Category: Parables