The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower

'As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 'Matthew 13:4-8

The sower went out and sowed seed in four different places.

Jesus explains through this farming illustration, what happens in each case. The seed is symbolic for the word of God.

1) And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them all.

2) Some fell upon stony places where there was not much earth; and forthwith they sprung up. But because there was no deepness of the soil, these had no roots so when the sun came up, they were scorched and they withered away and died.

3) Some fell among thorns but the thorns sprung up and they were choked by them and these also died.

4) But there were others that fell into good ground, and these brought forth fruits in the plentiful. Some were a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and others thirtyfold.

Therefore-:

Wayside:  Exposed so evil one snatch what has been sown in the heart.

Rocky:   Vulnerable;   Hears the good word, receives with joy but because of no root, falls away in affliction.

Thorns:  Starved; hears the good word but worry and riches choke the word so no fruit.

Good Soil:   Grows nicely and bears fruit, is deeply rooted in the soil so therefore grows healthily and bears fruit in abundance.