Title: The Parable of the Soils
Text: Matthew 13:1-23 – but primarily 18-23
FCF: We often struggle knowing exactly who is a genuine believer and who is not.
Prop: It is only those who hear, understand, and obey that are genuine believers, so we must hear, understand, and obey.
Parable Intro:
[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Matthew chapter 13. Today we will begin Jesus 3rd discourse in earnest. Last week was more of an introduction to this – mainly because Jesus is going to teach exclusively in parables. And that really required us to understand exactly what those are and why He would do this.
So today we start with the first of 8 parables, the parable of the soils. Since the parable’s explanation is found later – it is difficult for us to do a verse by verse exposition here. First we will begin looking briefly at verses 1-9 to get some cultural context for the illustration Jesus gives. Then we will step into the heart of the message today with the explanation Jesus gives to his disciples. So read with me starting in verse 1 of chapter 13. I’ll be reading form the NASB but follow along in whatever version you prefer.
[Slide 2-3] 1-3a – That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. And large crowds gathered to Him so He got into a boat and sat down and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. And He spoke many things to them in parables saying…
- General transitions to get us to Jesus teaching from a boat with the disciples in the boat with him and the crowd on the shore.
[Slide 4] 3b-4 – behold a sower went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.
- As attested by several commentators, it was not unusual for a farmer to put the seed on the field and then plow the field thus pushing the seeds deep in the ground.
- This may explain why there was seed on the road side
- Another explanation is that often times, footpaths would go through fields for people to get around more easily.
- In any case – the fact that seed would fall on the road was not uncommon
- And since this ground is beaten down and not tilled – the birds would get a free lunch
[Slide 5] 5-6 – Others fell on the rocky places where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
- Rocky places would mean a place where there was bedrock covered over by a thin layer of soil.
- Again, this would be an untilled place, because the plow would have no doubt been unable to make it through.
- As such, seed can begin its germination and indeed would grow quickly, but when the hotter portions of the growing season would come – its water supply would quickly be spent and the plant would die.
[Slide 6] 7 – others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out
- Thorny ground no doubt indicates good ground. A place that would have no doubt been tilled
- But the weeds and thorns were not adequately removed or destroyed in the plowing and so the seed and the weed grew together – and as weeds often do – they grow faster than crops.
- Thus the crop is choked out by the more zealous thorn
[Slide 7] 8- and others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundred fold, some sixty, and some thirty
- This ground is obviously intended to bear the fruit of the crop
- It is well tilled – no weeds or few remain. It is deep and rich and able to sustain life
- Even life to the point of increase.
[Slide 8] 9 – He who has ears, let him hear
- This is Jesus’ go-to-phrase when He has spoken something quite significant
- This is a euphemistic phrase
- Most people have ears – and unless they are broken or stopped up – we hear without consenting.
- Jesus is most likely saying instead – those you have heard what I said – UNDERSTAND. Take heed. This requires your attention and your response.
Scripture Intro:
[Slide 9 (blank)] So now that we have seen the parable in question, we have but to understand its meaning. It is at this time that His disciples asked him to pause the teaching of the crowd and explain to them why He was teaching them in parables without explanation? To which Jesus replies what we talked about last week. Last week we noted that parables both reveal truth to those God has provided understanding and concealed truth to those who would reject it. Jesus tells his disciples that the crowd has not been given more truth, because they will not comprehend it. They won’t understand. They won’t respond. Like giving a vaccine to a corpse for the disease that killed him. But to them – Jesus says they have been given grace. They have been given insight. They will be blessed with understanding. And this is where the bulk of our message will be. Read with me now in verse 18 again from the NASB.
Transition:
Having just come out of a narrative portion where we saw the growing opposition to Christ and His Kingdom – and the conclusion that his disciples are His family, you may get the distinct impression that there is a polarizing effect that the gospel has on mankind. In fact we talked about that last week, and we saw two very different responses to truth. The Israelites from 700 years ago stopping up their ears to the truth and the disciples in the first century seeking it.
There may seem to be several different responses to the gospel since Jesus is about to give us 4 examples. But as many responses as there are, what we know for certain, is that there is only 1 that proves to be saving faith. Meaning of course that there are only, really, two responses to the gospel. A response that leads to the salvation of a man – and a response that doesn’t.
So which response is the right one?
Let’s look at Jesus’ teaching on the meaning of the parable of the soils.
I.) Hearing without understanding produces stolen truth, so we must hear, understand, and obey. (18-19)
a. [Slide 10] 18 – Hear then the parable of the sower.
i. Most translations do not quite express exactly what is going on here. NASB comes close.
ii. Literally Jesus says – You You hear therefore
iii. This is something in Greek to provide emphasis. The same way we would italicize or even underline.
iv. So since the disciples have been given the secrets of the Kingdom from God – Jesus tells them and only them to listen – to understand the meaning of the parable.
v. Parable of the sower is a misleading title. Not only does the parable have very little to do with the sower – but even in the explanation it is not made clear though we may guess as to who the sower is –
vi. So why does Jesus call it the parable of the sower?
vii. In this time, it was actually quite common to give stories titles based on characters or people who were mentioned first.
viii. Today – since we title things differently – perhaps Jesus would have called it the parable of the soils.
b. [Slide 11] 19 – When anyone hears the word of the kingdom
i. To hear is common among all the soils mentioned.
ii. Here we find that the seed is the word of the kingdom, or the gospel. Be careful to understand this in its most broad terms though. We are not necessarily talking here about a full presentation beginning to end of the gospel. Rather, truths spoken about the kingdom of God.
iii. Therefore, the very parable itself is a seed cast by Jesus.
iv. But why is Jesus giving this word to them? Does this not violate what we spoke about last week? Why would he give the word to them if they won’t respond?
v. This does not violate what Jesus has said earlier. What they lack is understanding, not hearing.
vi. What he has given here is a bread crumb – but will they seek more?
c. And does not understand it
i. Here is the key to interpreting all of this.
ii. Understanding is less intellectual and more deep spiritual understanding. It is the difference between knowledge and wisdom.
iii. But why have they not understood?
d. The evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart
i. The soil being described is ideal for the work of Satan.
ii. Such soil cannot understand, it cannot take in the seed of truth
iii. Because the seed is rejected – the birds come to pick it clean
iv. So it is with the hard hearted. They refuse to and are unable to understand – so the truth is pulled out of their consciousness
e. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
i. Paths through fields were common. The side of the road would never accept the seed and provide an easier meal for the birds
ii. So the hard and dusty hearts of the skeptic, the scoffer, and the apathetic – reject the truth as foolishness.
f. [Slide 12] Hearing without understanding produces seed that is ripe for stealing. This is why Jesus spoke to these folks in parables. To have watered a seed, unburied on the ground – is a waste of water. Indeed, while getting the watering can, you would return to find the seed gone.
g. These are the swine and the dogs from Matthew 7.
h. Do not cast your pearls here friends. The seed was cast, but not tended.
i. And if this soil is you… you may not even know it’s you. But if this is you… you must beg God to break you and open your eyes. It is your only hope.
Transition:
But what is the ground with a thin layer of soil but on top of bedrock?
II.) Hearing with selfish reception produces selfish rejection, so we must hear, understand, and obey. (20-21)
a. [Slide 13] 20 – the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,
i. The first thing we need to see is that reception and understanding are not the same. Although not said here, it is clear that this soil too did not understand the word.
ii. To immediately receive with joy indicates that this person made an emotional decision.
iii. True all conversions no doubt have an emotional component – in fact we see that throughout scripture.
iv. But to be emotionally impacted without understanding means that it is ONLY emotion.
v. So why does he receive it joyfully?
vi. This is a person who has tasted the blessedness of the promise of forgiveness and eternal life, and based on selfishness and humanistic desire for betterment they make an uncalculated and quick decision to believe. And the faith they have – unfortunately – is not saving faith.
vii. How do we know that? Read on…
b. [Slide 14] 21 – yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary
i. Since there is no understanding the truth of the gospel only penetrates the feelings and thoughts of this person.
ii. There is no root lodged into his soul – it is only growing from the surface of who he is.
iii. He may appear to be growing – but it is only as conditions are faire.
iv. While it is in his best interest to be a Christian, he will be a Christian.
v. But…
c. And when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
i. When conditions worsen.
ii. When the blazing heat of summer saps all the moisture from his inch thick faith
iii. When suddenly it costs something to be alive, to be productive.
iv. When there is no gain to being a follower of Christ and only cost
v. He immediately falls away – we must see two components here
1. Falls away – does not mean backslidden. If we go back to the parable Jesus said that they were scorched and withered away. Falling away is euphemistic for death. He dies. You get the image of a tumble weed. A weed that has so been scorched by the sun that it has been uprooted and its lifeless husk has been blown to and fro by the wind.
2. Immediately is the same word used that was used to describe how they received the word. They immediately received it with joy – because it gained them something. But when it begins to cost them something – for the same selfish reason – they will throw it out as fast as they took it in. Why? For personal gain.
d. [Slide 15] And so we see that hearing with selfish reception will produce selfish rejection.
e. These are the religious, opportunists, humanists, and lovers of self. There is no denying that the message of the gospel has an element of gain for us – but it is with HEAVY COST that we accept this free gift. And the moment the religious and humanistic opportunists realize that, the moment it costs them something to be His disciple they will vacate our churches faster than they came.
f. And those who peddle an easy belief gospel prey upon this soil the most. For couched in their question, asking if people wish to go to heaven, they prey upon the selfishness of our hearts. And after these people, children to elderly, receive the message with joy they are assured that they are heaven bound. Yet they go on living a life of death. Because they received the message not desiring to be a fruitful plant for the sower but to live a glorious life for themselves. Is it any wonder that children are leaving the church before they exit High School? It is costing them something. And it is a cost they are unwilling to pay.
Transition:
But what is the thorny soil? Who are these people?
III.) Hearing with divided loyalties produces spiritual barrenness, so we must hear, understand, and obey. (22)
a. [Slide 16] 22 – And the one on whom the seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unfruitful
i. Jesus’ message was to repent and believe the gospel, and up to this point neither soil has done either. The road side soil rejected the truth outright.
ii. The thin soil on bedrock may have received the bright side of the message but there was no repentance and no true dependence and surrender there.
iii. But here we find a fascinating and downright terrifying soil.
iv. The soil itself is good. Ask any gardener. Weeds and thorns means it is probably good soil. Something is growing there.
v. Do we see someone believe here? They accept the truths – the facts of the gospel. They believe the right things. Perhaps even they have surrendered to coming to church – reading their bible – prayer.
vi. And as with the rich young ruler we are left to wonder – what do they lack? Jesus told him to sell everything He had. Now is this a universal requirement to be a follower of Christ? No. But it cut to the heart of the rich young ruler. A heart that was among thorny soil. His wealth and power had such a hold on him that his loyalties were divided.
vii. Such a soil produces the same amount of life giving essentials as it would to a fruitful crop but with the unfortunate exception of it sustaining not just the crop but interlopers. Invaders.
viii. And so the plant struggles to produce life. It grows so slowly that it cannot produce fruit by harvest. And is therefore cut down with the rest of the weeds and cast into the fire.
b. [Slide 17] So even in belief – without repentance the thorns of the concerns of this world steal the power of the word of God and do not produce salvation. Repentance is a rejection of yourself and this world. It is a dismissal of all hope and care in anything else save the pursuit of Christ - His kingdom and glory.
c. And so it is with many believers in America. We are neither persecuted nor are we lacking for worldly distractions. We are bombarded with career, movies, games, hobbies, fun, relationships, social media, sports, friends, clothes, food and everything under the sun so that it becomes difficult knowing what is actually most important in life. Is the life giving gospel of Jesus Christ the only thing that matters or simply one thing that matters?
d. Hearing the message of truth with divided loyalties produces spiritual barrenness. When a man’s knee bows to more than one kingdom, it is impossible to produce anything good for God’s kingdom. Because God’s Kingdom demands our undivided attention.
e. Can you have hobbies and interests and still be a follower of Christ? Can you have a career or be a foodie and still be a follower of Christ? Friend I don’t know where the balance is. I wish I could tell you that if you spent X amount of time playing games or watching sports then you are not a believer… but we are free of the law friend. And since we are free of the law and bound to the Spirit of God that means that we will have to settle for less objective means of evaluation and instead focus on what we can.
Transition:
And that is really where we go next. Rather than spending a lot of time finding out what kind of soil is not a follower of Christ – why don’t we talk about the kind of soil that is.
IV.) Hearing with understanding produces obedience, so we must hear, understand, and obey.
a. [Slide 18] 23 - And the one on whom the seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it
i. Notice here the qualification of understanding.
ii. Understanding is what is missing from the crowd. Understanding is what is missing from the Israelites in Isaiah.
iii. Understanding is missing from the roadside soil, the rockbed soil, and the thorny soil.
iv. We touched on understanding when we talked about the roadside soil lacking it – but let us explain a bit deeper into this word. It has the idea of bringing two things together. The same word is used when two combatants come together. When two combatants come together what will happen? And when knowledge collides with a heart, a soil, a soul that is ready to receive it – what will happen?
v. Life my friend. And not simply the quick growth with no root and not slow growth with divided resources… Life that is abundant and free.
vi. What happens when the word is met with understanding?
b. Who indeed bears fruit and brings forth some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
i. Production.
ii. Just as when good seed is planted in good soil the result is germination to the point of producing more than was planted – so when the word meets understanding the result is producing more than was planted.
iii. Now we need to be cautious as we approach the production levels of the fruit and trying to assess what the fruit is.
iv. First what is the fruit? And the reason we need to be cautious is that Jesus does not overtly say what the fruit is. But I think based on the context of the gospel of Matthew – combined with the teaching we have already encountered from Jesus – it is relatively safe to assume that at bare minimum this means a life that has been changed.
v. Indeed why would a farmer plant a crop but to get more crop? So why would a person be saved? Paul tells us in Ephesians 2 – we were re-created in Christ as His masterpiece for good works and to walk in them.
vi. Now to the question of return. There seems to be a disagreement among commentators over the nature of the yield of the fruit. If indeed the fruit is good works-is Jesus saying that there are those who will have a lot of good works, some with not quite as many, and some with not very much? Furthermore – how do these yields compare to what was expected? Is 30 actually not very much?
vii. The fact is that we simply don’t have enough information. Without knowing what kind of seed the sower is casting – we can’t know what the expected return on the crop is. Therefore we can’t evaluate whether 30 is good or bad. And is Jesus really saying that there are levels of Christians? That some are better than others? Perhaps. But perhaps what Jesus is actually showing – is that production is what is expected of good seed in good soil. That there will be a return. There will be growth.
c. [Slide 19 ] In doing this then, it is obvious that the message of Christ will have polarizing effects on mankind. In the previous narrative section we saw several groups opposing Christ’s message and ministry to varying degrees. And in this parable there are really only two groups of people. Those who hear and understand and those who hear and do not understand.
d. Hearing with understanding produces fruitfulness. It produces obedience. It produces a person who is changed to bear the image of God and be like His Son.
Transition:
So what shall we learn from this parable? What truths do we see and how do they change us?
Conclusion:
First of all we must realize that not all are given understanding. Perhaps even after hearing the explanation of all this today, you are still baffled and confused. You have no idea what Jesus is talking about. If that is you – the only application I have for you today is to beg God to open your eyes so that you may understand. Don’t reject the truth because you don’t understand it. Instead – seek understanding from the one who can give it.
Second, if you are here today and you have heard these truths for the first or one hundred and first time, then you have a difficult question to ask yourself.
Am I Fruitful?
And immediately our minds rush to all the bad things we don’t do. I don’t smoke, chew or run with those who do. I haven’t cheated on my wife, or killed anyone… and so on.
Not a bad place to start – but don’t end there. Remember the Pharisees? Their list, would have been miles longer than yours. In fact, they would have been the poster children for law-keeping. Yet they were the road side soil where truth was stolen away.
Perhaps you run to an experience, a time when you wept bitterly over your sin and with joy accepted God’s gift of forgiveness. Perhaps you tear up every time you think of the gospel and what God did for you… and so on.
A good place to start – but don’t end there. Emotional experiences rooted in gaining something for you is the basis of assurance for the scorched and rootless crop.
Perhaps you think of all the good you have done for God, your bible reading and prayer, I gave this, do this, read this, prayed that, help this person, cared for this person… and so on.
A better place to start – but don’t end there. Doing good but being overwhelmed with worry and care for this life and all the pleasures that it offers was the state of the choked crop that bore no fruit.
Well, Chris, you have pretty much eliminated every good work I can think of? So what could be the fruit that Jesus is talking about? What could be the good works?
[Slide 20 – just switch to it and let it play (end)] A life transformed. Selfless Love, unconditional joy, unshakable peace, merciful patience, sweet and simple kindness, generous goodness, trustworthy faithfulness, humble strength, unflinching self-control.
These are not check box items that you can do every day to ensure yourself that you are fruitful… but they are the fruit of the Spirit. They are characteristics of a grace invaded life.
Are these words that describe you?
Because the color of green in your stem, the potential you show based on the health of your soil, the speed you grow, or the promise you show matters very little to the farmer that planted the seed for fruit.
Those who hear and understand, bear fruit of obedience. Their lives are changed from inside out by the power of God.
So which soil are you? One that bears fruit? Or one that does not.
