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The Parable of the Sower: A New Perspective

The Parable of the Sower: A New Perspective

Last updated on: January 6, 2014 at 7:00 am by Tim

The Parable of the Sower: A New Perspective 2014-01-06T07:00:18-05:00 Tim

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It’s fascinating to read the parables of Jesus because there always seems to be something new that comes from it. That’s how I feel about the parable of the sower.

The parable is simple: the sower (Christ) scatters his seeds very generously and it ends up on four different types of terrain. Some land on the side of the road, some on rocks, others in thorny soil, and some in good soil. The first three groups of seed die and the seed planted in the good soil flourishes.

And we immediately say, “I want to be the good soil.” Or we say, “I know some people who are like the rocky soil,” and “let’s pray for the folks who are stuck in the thorny soil.”

The parable of the sower quickly becomes the parable of the soil.

So why is it called the parable of the sower, when all we do is talk about the soil?

Shifting back to the sower

If we reread the parable from the perspective of the sower, we get a better understanding of why Jesus called it the parable of the sower, not the parable of the soil.

Jesus shares that the sower scattered seed (the Word of God) on all types of ground. It didn’t say that he was meticulously planting the seeds in designated ‘good soil’ areas – it says he was scattering the seed everywhere.

Doesn’t that seem wasteful though? I mean, if I were planting a field, why would I throw seed on rocks, thorns, and the side of the road? Wouldn’t you want to be careful and put the seed in the good soil from the beginning?

But remember what Jesus said earlier in Luke 5:31, “it’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Christ makes it clear that he came to rescue sinners. His purpose was to bring salvation to everyone.

The meaning of the parable of the sower is twofold:

To show that Christ came to share the Word of God to everyone. We don’t serve a stingy God who picks and chooses who is good enough to hear the word. He graciously sows into everyone who is willing to accept his word.
To show us how the different soils in our life can keep us from sharing God’s truth with others.

So where do the soils come in?

We can’t ignore the soil types completely, but it was important that we first recognize the message of the generous sower.

Jesus knew that most of the people in the crowd would say, “wow, great story” and move along with their lives. When he ended the parable with, ‘he who has ears to hear, let him hear’ Jesus was challenging them to think about the meaning of the parable.

The best part about Jesus’ examples of the soil types is that a lot of us will experience a few of them in our own life.

‘Some fell along the path’

This is the ‘in one ear, out the other’ crowd. Picture a middle-eastern road hardened by years of travel by men and animals. What happens to the seed when it falls here? It sits out the open for the birds to come and get it. If we don’t take God’s Word seriously, that’s the soil we’re representing.

‘Some fell on rock’

These people know the Word of God, but when they’re tested, they collapse. They have no root. They’re not planted deep enough in the soil, so God’s Word hasn’t truly become their foundation.

It’s a superficial faith that springs up when times are good. But when the heat comes, just like the sun on a hot day, the small seedling that shot up on the rock will wither and die for lack of soil and water.

‘Other seed fell among thorns’

They hear the word, but do nothing with it.

They know the word, but don’t truly accept it.

They teach it, but don’t practice it.

If we’re not earnestly seeking the Word of God, it leads to indifference about devotions and relationship with him.

So what happens? The source for satisfaction comes from external things (the thorns): riches, pleasures, and prosperity. Even though the seed was planted in good soil, the thorns choked it, just like these things can choke us from depending on God.

‘Still other seed fell on good soil’

…and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. It may seem like funny math and bad business, but God knew what he was doing when he sent Christ to scatter the seed everywhere.

There’ll be times in your life when you feel like you’re firmly planted in the good soil. Use this opportunity to share God’s Word with others.

But remember, the fruit of sharing the Gospel doesn’t just happen on its own. It takes a humble heart and meditation on the Word of God to produce good fruit and to further the Kingdom of God.

Have you read the Parable of the Sower lately? Find it in these passages:

Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23

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