Weeds & Seeds - Part 2!!!
Matthew 13:1-23
In Part 1 (read it here —> Weeds & Seeds - Part 1) of this short series about weeds we looked at a parable of Jesus about how God sows the righteous across the Earth, and Satan comes and tries to strangle them out and corrupt the land. In the parable Jesus plainly tells HIS disciples that those who are the unrighteous seed of Satan will be judged and face an eternity in the absence of God’s presence and will be burnt up - whilst those that are the seeds of God (Yahweh) will spend eternity in God’s presence.
In this second part of the series we’ll delve into the recognisable and popular parable of ‘The Sower” found in Matthew 13:1-23. It is both fortunate and unfortunate that this parable is well known.
It is fortunate because it serves as vivid warning to both believer and unbeliever alike about the impact of our choices on our live, on our understanding of God’s word, and on the strength of our faith (or lack thereof).
However, it is deeply unfortunate that it is such a commonly preached and taught scripture - as many pastors and Bible study leaders present a shallow, hollow account of the meaning of these verses that contain Jesus’ parable, and the divine truths the words contain.
(artwork by Schism)
Jesus tells us in Matthew 13:1-23 the following…
Verses 1-2: “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.”
There are a couple of things that are of interest in these first two verses.
Firstly, Jesus just went and sat by the shore of the lake. HE didn’t say anything, HE didn’t send out Insta posts or Tweets to say what HE was going to do or how awesome HE was going to be at doing it…no HE just went and sat. It was the people that were drawn to HIM because they knew HE held the wisdom and truth they were desperately seeking in their lives. How much more-so should we be doing the same thing -especially in these turbulent days? Are we drawn to Christ as the crowd was? If we aren’t we really need to have a good close look at ourselves and what we are allowing to fill our lives.
Secondly, Jesus knew that this was an important teaching time, and whatever reason HE went out to lake to sit - HE put aside. Jesus got in the boat, and had them push off a little ways so that HE could address the crowd effectively. This is a good lesson for us all, and especially those in teaching style ministries - sometimes you need to distance yourself slightly from the crowd in order to speak to it more clearly. And sometimes you need to stop what you were doing and speak into the lives of those who are there in front of you.
Verses 3-8: “Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 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.”
Jesus always spoke to people in ways they would understand. HE spoke to those who lived in rural areas about farming and the care of animals (which is where our word pastor comes from because of the pastoral responsibilities of leading and caring for a flock). If HE was in a town talking to merchants HE talked about businesses and business dealings. If HE was talking to the priests, rabbis and the like then HE spoke clearly of the scriptures and the law. Or if HE was talking to fishermen HE spoke of fishing. Jesus purposefully spoke to people in ways they would understand - and HE continue to do that today through the guidance and voice of the Holy Spirit.
So, in this instance Jesus was talking to those that understood what it was to work in the fields, to sow and harvest crops. And it in in that context that Jesus told the parable of ‘The Sower’.
I have hand sown seeds in a similar manner to how the ancient Jewish people have (having grown up in rural areas) and I understand that when you are hand sowing seeds don’t always land where you want them to, or don’t fall on the carefully cultivated soil that had been prepared for the seeds.
In these verses Jesus outlines the four different types of ground that the seeds fall on and what happens to those seeds.
These are represented by (the meaning of which Jesus expands on in later verses):
Seed that falls on a path - the paths in the 1st Century would have been cobblestone at best, or more typically consisting of dirt and rock. The seeds would be easily seen and consumed by animals (in this case it was birds).
Seeds that fell on rocky areas - rocky areas have very little or no soil to speak of, it is hard for seeds to grow in those areas.
Seeds that fell into thorns (thistles or briar type vegetation) - even in our own garden it is difficult to try and grow plants from seeds of seedling where there are larger plants that cover them, or outcompete them.
Seeds that fell into good soil - seeds grow best in soil that has been properly prepared for them, therefore they are more likely to produce a bountiful harvest.
Verse 9: “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
There is a particular reason I separated out this verse from all the others.
It is the only phrase that is repeated multiple times in the following verses. In Jewish writing, and the Bible in general - if a phrase is repeated, and repeated in a short period of time - then it is an important point that is being made, a vital truth being told to us.
Jesus’ statement of - “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” - is important for believers and nonbelievers equally. It means that if you are searching for God, and you are earnestly, and honestly seeking to find HIM and to grow spiritually through the ongoing development of your faith - then you will have an open ear to hear the truth that Jesus speaks.
If you aren’t seeking God, and you are only wanting (or living) a shallow relationship with God, then you will not hear the truth.
This is a Holy Spirit thing…this has nothing to do with human understanding of divine concepts. If you open the door to the knock on our heart and soul - then you enable the Holy Spirit to speak HIS guidance into your mind and your spirit.
Without this…everything is foolishness. 1 Corinthians 1:18 informs us that… “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Now the choice is yours - are you willing to have ears that hear…or are you going to lean on your own understanding (which Proverbs 3:5 warns us against)?
Will you hear and heed what Jesus is about to say to HIS disciples and to us over 2000 years later?
Verses 10-12: “The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables? He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
The disciples were often slow in understanding the teaching of Jesus because they were using their human understanding of divine things. And in this case they were wondering why Jesus was using stories that were full of metaphors and symbolism to get HIS point across.
We aren’t much different. We focus on our own context, our own lives and our own understandings that our life circumstances have helped produce.
Jesus understands this and HE explains to HIS disciples that the people in the towns and surrounding region haven’t been given access to HIM like the disciples have - so HE has to speak to them in ways that are easier for them to understand the spiritual and eternal truths that Jesus was trying to teach the crowds.
Jesus does provide a warning though. Jesus tells the disciples that those people (like them - but also referring to future believers) who are given knowledge and secrets about the Kingdom of Heaven will be blessed and those who do not hold that knowledge will lose even more than what they have (I interpret this to mean their souls, and an eternity separated from God’s presence).
Verses 13-15: “This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
The first interesting point about this section of verses is that Jesus is directly quoting from Isaiah 6:9-10. He is not only showing HIS Jewish upbringing, but also HIS knowledge of the scriptures. This shouldn’t be a real surprise to us because we read in Luke 2:41-52 we read about how Jesus surprised the religious teachers there with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding of the meaning behind the Word of God.
Given that Jesus IS - The Word of God - it really shouldn’t be a surprise that HE knows what HE is talking about.
Also, by teaching in parables Jesus is fulfilling a prophecy in Psalm 78:2 (a psalm of Asaph) which said “I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old” - the continual fulfilment of prophecy within the Old testament by Jesus proves not only HIS divine authority, but HIS divine power and nature.
Jesus is speaking about HIS chosen people - the Jews. HE is calling out their inability to understand the Word of God which had been passed on to them via Moses, the prophets, and the psalmists. HE was saying, “You have all this wisdom from God, yet you are relying on human traditions and you cannot see who I am, or understand what I am saying” - this is an echo of something Jesus said in Mark 7:8 “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
The strength and intent of Jesus’ words is very strong in the final phrase - HE is saying that the nation and the people are not being as blessed because they aren’t reading, listening and acting on the scriptures that point to HIM. You can hear the distress in Jesus’ voice, that HIS people’s hearts had become callused (hardened and toughened), and because of that Jesus wasn’t able to heal them.
This should serve as a real warning to us, that no matter what we face in life our heart cannot become hardened against God. But if we turn our hearts, minds and ears to HIM then we are in a place where Jesus can heal us mind/body/soul.
Verses 16-17: “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
Jesus takes HIS discussion with the disciples that next step and tells them that because of who HE is, and what HE is - the disciples are blessed to be experiencing HIS presence with them and HIS teachings.
Jesus tells them that all of the prophets, forefathers of the Jewish faith and great leaders like Moses, King David and Abraham all had wished to see the salvation of the Hebrew people arrive in their time.
We are rapidly approaching the day when Jesus will return. We too will be blessed. Jesus himself says in John 20:29 “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”" - this means that all the believers since Jesus’ ascension to heaven are going to be mightily blessed because we believe in Jesus as the Messiah without being in HIS physical presence and hearing HIS teachings with our own ears.
Verses 18-23: “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
So, here we are at the spear tip of Jesus’ parable-based teaching.
Jesus plainly states that the seed is the Word of God (meaning the two-fold importance of himself, and the written Word of God found in the holy scriptures) and that there are people who hear it and they don’t understand it, or the value of the word is stolen by Satan. There are also people who hear it and understand it and live it.
The seed that falls on the path: Satan (the bird imagery) quickly steals the seed of the word. These types of people initially respond to the word, but Satan steals it from them - typically by drawing them back to their sinful, self-centred lifestyle. That which is not understood is not valued, and that which is not valued is easily stolen or lost. If a person feels the same about the Word of God it will not be difficult for that person to have the seed of the truth of God’s word taken from them.
The seed that falls on rocky ground: The key to understanding this element of the parable is that it is… “When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.” - in the western world especially, this is a problem in society. We are too used to being too comfortable and when life’s events happen that shake our foundations we let go of the things that we do not value, or have a deep connection to. If a person does not have a deep connection to the Word of God then they will not engage with it when the times get hard - why? Because they have not developed roots. If we are to survive in this dark world we need to have deep roots in the world, and deep rooted faith in Jesus as our saviour. In these days we cannot exist in a shallow form of Christianity - these are the days for strong Christians to rise up and be fruitful.
Seeds that fall amongst the thorns: Much like the seeds that fall amongst the rocks, the seeds that fall amongst the thorns struggle to grow and be fruitful. Why? Again it is based in the self-centredness of one’s life and lifestyle. Jesus warns that it is because…“the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus tells us “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
We see in these verses that lack of faith about God’s ability to provide and care for us mirrors the ways of this world. We should not be acting or feeling the same way as the unbelievers. We are children of the living God, and HE will provide for us. We cannot let the things of this world rob us of our faith in Jesus, nor our connection to the Word of God.
Seed that falls on good soil: A person who hears - importance of being spiritually open to the voice of the Holy Spirit cannot be understated. In order to fully understand the Word of God, we must first hear it, and hear it correctly. It is only after we have heard it and understood it that we can grow and develop deep roots that allow us to flourish and to be fruitful. The important thing to remember about being fruitful is that the harvest always comes in season. You will never find viable and/or edible fruits/vegetables/berries/seeds out of season.
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 helps us to understand the fullness of our role in being fruitful… “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”
In this study we have seen that the parable of ‘The Sower’ is much more deeper and full of wisdom and truth than what is typically taught and portrayed within many churches world-wide. We have seen that it is a parable of warning and encouragement to those who have heard the word of God. hose that have heard the word of God must take responsibility to understand it, and to apply it in their lives so that they can withstand the troubles and struggles of this life. The end point of our obedience to, and trust in Jesus is fruitfulness where we multiple our faith in others - thereby fulfilling Jesus’ command to the disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 where he tells them to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
I pray that this parable gives you strength and encouragement for your own walk with Jesus. May you grow deep roots in your understanding of the word of God, and may you be fruitful for HIS kingdom.