The Parable of the Sower

A compilation taken from Mt 13:1-23, Mk 4:1-20, and Lk 8:4-15.

The sower sows the Word of the kingdom…

1. By the Wayside – He who hears the Word of God but doesn’t understand it. The devil/the wicked one/Satan comes, snatches, and takes away the Word that was sown in his heart lest he should believe and be saved.

2. On Stony Ground – He hears and immediately receives the Word with joy and gladness, yet he has no root in himself. He believes and endures for a time, only a little while. In time of temptation, tribulation, affliction, or when persecution arises for the Word’s sake, he immediately is offended, stumbles, falls away, and becomes unfruitful.

3. Among the Thorns – He hears the Word and goes out. But the cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, pleasures of life, and lusts for other things enter in and chokes the Word. He becomes unfruitful and brings no fruit to maturity.

4. On Good Ground – Having heard the Word with an honest and good heart, he understands, receives, accepts, and keeps it. He bears fruit with patience and produces some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

“With patience” (G5281 – hypomonē):
– steadfastness, constancy, endurance, a patient waiting for, sustaining, perseverance, a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.