Recap of the PARABLE OF THE SOWER (aka Parable of Soils)

[oyster67]

In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches us the Parable of the Sower. This Parable is not left open to every individual's personal interpretation, for Jesus reveals the meanings of the symbols later in the Chapter.

Matthew 13:
3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

We will soon see that Jesus is the Sower, the Seed is the Gospel, and the Soil is the heart of the hearer. My interest at the moment is to discuss the different ways the Gospel is received by the hearer.

v.4 Not understood.
v.5,6 Heard (even with initial joy) but did not take root.
v.7 Heard, initially accepted, but later rejected the Gospel because of the cares of this world.
v.8 Accepted, cherished, and nourished unto fruit by a glad and thankful heart.

Now let's check this against what Jesus says later in the Chapter:

Matthew 13:
18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19When 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.

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

22He 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.

23But 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.


Now we are armed with a solid scriptural basis upon which to discuss the nature of salvation and do not have to rely on heritage, tradition, and denominational distinctives anymore.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Do you notice how it’s just about persevering in the gospel ? Even when we fall short or maybe only produce thirty ? And someone else might be producing a larger harvest but it’s about holding on and persevering in faith through that process we are changed from producing the fruits of the flesh like these

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

and it will change us to begin producing the fruits of the gospel

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:

against such there is no law.

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-25‬ ‭

also notice how the fruits are actually a nature by which we deal with things love joy peace patience gentleness goodness faith meekness self control ….

 

[Nehemiah6]

In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches us the Parable of the Sower. This Parable is not left open to every individual's personal interpretation, for Jesus reveals the meanings of the symbols later in the Chapter.

That's right. The seed is the Gospel and the various soils are the hearts of those who hear the Gospel. So what we have are four responses to the Gospel:

1. NO UNDERSTANDING
2. NO ROOT
3. NO FRUIT
4. ALL THREE CONDITIONS PRESENT (good soil with different degrees of fruitfulness)

What are the factors which interfere with the salvation of the lost? (1) Satan, (2) tribulation and persecution relating to Gospel obedience, (3)the cares of this world, (4) the distractions of wealth.

 

[Snacker]

v.5,6 Heard (even with initial joy) but did not take root.
v.7 Heard, initially accepted, but later rejected the Gospel because of the cares of this world.

The above verses show that people can lose salvation by losing faith, and this goes against OSAS, unless of course the people described above were never saved in the first place. I’m not sure which is the case.

 

[oyster67]

The above verses show that people can lose salvation by losing faith, and this goes against OSAS, unless of course the people described above were never saved in the first place. I’m not sure which is the case.

Verse 22 is interesting. It says he became unfruitful. This sounds like apostacy.

22He 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.

 

[Snacker]

Verse 22 is interesting. It says he became unfruitful. This sounds like apostacy.

Good point. 😎

 

[Evmur]

In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches us the Parable of the Sower. This Parable is not left open to every individual's personal interpretation, for Jesus reveals the meanings of the symbols later in the Chapter.

Matthew 13:
3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

We will soon see that Jesus is the Sower, the Seed is the Gospel, and the Soil is the heart of the hearer. My interest at the moment is to discuss the different ways the Gospel is received by the hearer.

v.4 Not understood.
v.5,6 Heard (even with initial joy) but did not take root.
v.7 Heard, initially accepted, but later rejected the Gospel because of the cares of this world.
v.8 Accepted, cherished, and nourished unto fruit by a glad and thankful heart.

Now let's check this against what Jesus says later in the Chapter:

Matthew 13:
18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19When 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.

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

22He 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.

23But 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.


Now we are armed with a solid scriptural basis upon which to discuss the nature of salvation and do not have to rely on heritage, tradition, and denominational distinctives anymore.

... Who cultivated that soil and made it fit to receive the seed, perhaps also there is hope for the other soils, if the thorns and thistles can be removed ... the rocks.

The path looks pretty hopeless ... we shall see.

 

[Evmur]

The above verses show that people can lose salvation by losing faith, and this goes against OSAS, unless of course the people described above were never saved in the first place. I’m not sure which is the case.

to see perseverance you have to look at the Good soil. In evangelism you meet plenty folks who hear and at first are quite taken with the good news but they do not go through to receiving the Lord.

 

[Evmur]

to see perseverance you have to look at the Good soil. In evangelism you meet plenty folks who hear and at first are quite taken with the good news but they do not go through to receiving the Lord.

The seed does not fail ... the soil is where the problem lies.

 

[Evmur]

Verse 22 is interesting. It says he became unfruitful. This sounds like apostacy.

... but would that make salvation a reward for works or fruitfulness ? the nature of the soil does not change and the seed is good, the seed would have become fruitful in good soil.

 

[Nehemiah6]

The above verses show that people can lose salvation by losing faith...

That is not necessarily how this should be interpreted. There are many who will give mental assent to the Gospel but do not truly repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. They were not saved to begin with. Nobody loses their salvation if they are genuinely saved.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

That's right. The seed is the Gospel and the various soils are the hearts of those who hear the Gospel. So what we have are four responses to the Gospel:

1. NO UNDERSTANDING
2. NO ROOT
3. NO FRUIT
4. ALL THREE CONDITIONS PRESENT (good soil with different degrees of fruitfulness)

What are the factors which interfere with the salvation of the lost? (1) Satan, (2) tribulation and persecution relating to Gospel obedience, (3)the cares of this world, (4) the distractions of wealth.

amen a great observation useful for sure

“the cares of this world,the distractions of wealth.”

 

[oyster67]

... Who cultivated that soil and made it fit to receive the seed, perhaps also there is hope for the other soils, if the thorns and thistles can be removed ... the rocks.

The path looks pretty hopeless ... we shall see.

Evmur and Oyster's job is to be workin' the road,
Lighnten'en the load,
For other's who'll be comin' behind.


1 Corinthians 3:
4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

 

[oyster67]

... but would that make salvation a reward for works or fruitfulness ?

Salvation comes first and is a consequence of faith alone. Fruit and works naturally follow soil that remains yielded to it's master. That also is contingent upon faith.

the nature of the soil does not change

Sadly untrue. We must not link the nature of the soil with the nature of the Seed (which is the pure Gospel).

The seed does not fail ... the soil is where the problem lies.

Correct.

 

[oyster67]

to see perseverance you have to look at the Good soil. In evangelism you meet plenty folks who hear and at first are quite taken with the good news but they do not go through to receiving the Lord.

Yes, some blessed souls will persevere and continue to bear fruit many fold for the rest of their lives, but others will not (even though the root initially took hold.)

 

[awelight]

The seed does not fail ... the soil is where the problem lies.

Yes, indeed. The parable is an agrarian example and since most of those listening had an agrarian lifestyle they would have understood. The only question is, could they make the connection about soils as being an example with the heart.

Every farmer would know, that you don't plant seed on unprepared soil. If you do, the yield will either be very low or non existent. First the land must be "plowed". This breaks down and turns over the soil, so that the weeds and grasses will be turned under. This causes the weeds and grasses to die and become organic fertilize. Then the soil is "disk harrowed", smoothed out and the soil is further broken down. Now you have "good ground". Only after this, can the soil be furrowed and planted. This will insure an abundant yield, as long as the seed is properly watered.

These multiple steps to prepare the soil (heart), into good ground (good heart), magnifies the Holy Spirits ministry in those that shall produce good fruit.

As you said, the seed never fails. However, if the Holy Spirit has not plowed the heart, the seed cannot grow strong and tall.

 

[oyster67]

That is not necessarily how this should be interpreted. There are many who will give mental assent to the Gospel but do not truly repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. They were not saved to begin with. Nobody loses their salvation if they are genuinely saved.

A good question would be; what do we call those of the third group who initially allowed the seed to take root but then ceased to bear fruit due to being sidetracked by the cares of this world...

Matthew 13:22
“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.”

I would hesitate to say that they were never saved. I would call them apostates. But whatever we choose to call them, I think we can agree that they shall not enter the kingdom of God unless they return as the Prodigal Son did. (And let's hope that they do not harden their hearts completely during the interim.)

 

[John146]

In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches us the Parable of the Sower. This Parable is not left open to every individual's personal interpretation, for Jesus reveals the meanings of the symbols later in the Chapter.

Matthew 13:
3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

We will soon see that Jesus is the Sower, the Seed is the Gospel, and the Soil is the heart of the hearer. My interest at the moment is to discuss the different ways the Gospel is received by the hearer.

v.4 Not understood.
v.5,6 Heard (even with initial joy) but did not take root.
v.7 Heard, initially accepted, but later rejected the Gospel because of the cares of this world.
v.8 Accepted, cherished, and nourished unto fruit by a glad and thankful heart.

Now let's check this against what Jesus says later in the Chapter:

Matthew 13:
18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19When 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.

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

22He 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.

23But 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.


Now we are armed with a solid scriptural basis upon which to discuss the nature of salvation and do not have to rely on heritage, tradition, and denominational distinctives anymore.

A bonus is the parable is anti-Calvinist.😀

If I testify to someone that Jesus died for their sins and they are not “elect“, that makes me a liar.

 

[John146]

In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches us the Parable of the Sower. This Parable is not left open to every individual's personal interpretation, for Jesus reveals the meanings of the symbols later in the Chapter.

Matthew 13:
3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

We will soon see that Jesus is the Sower, the Seed is the Gospel, and the Soil is the heart of the hearer. My interest at the moment is to discuss the different ways the Gospel is received by the hearer.

v.4 Not understood.
v.5,6 Heard (even with initial joy) but did not take root.
v.7 Heard, initially accepted, but later rejected the Gospel because of the cares of this world.
v.8 Accepted, cherished, and nourished unto fruit by a glad and thankful heart.

Now let's check this against what Jesus says later in the Chapter:

Matthew 13:
18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19When 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.

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

22He 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.

23But 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.


Now we are armed with a solid scriptural basis upon which to discuss the nature of salvation and do not have to rely on heritage, tradition, and denominational distinctives anymore.

Luke 8...notice the wording. Who is the one sowing his seed? The seed is the word of God.

5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 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.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 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.
14 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.
15 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.

 

[Nehemiah6]

As you said, the seed never fails. However, if the Holy Spirit has not plowed the heart, the seed cannot grow strong and tall.

True enough. At the same time the seed of the Gospel is to be scattered far and wide without any selective sowing. The Gospel is "the power of God unto salvation" but all will not obey the Gospel. So the results must be left in the hands of God. Just like the farmer sows and then simply waits for the harvest. And not all harvests are fantastic.