THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER EXPLAINED

Passage: Matthew 13:18-23

Key verse: 23

NIV

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom(A) and does not understand it, the evil one(B) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 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.(C) 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth(D) choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 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.”(E)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 (A)“Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of (B)the kingdom and (C)does not understand it, (D)the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately (E)receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but (F)endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately (G)he falls away.[a] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but (H)the cares of (I)the world and (J)the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and (K)understands it. He indeed (L)bears fruit and yields, in one case (M)a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 13:21 Or stumbles
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The three bad kinds of ground (18-22)

Jesus said that the parable of the sower is about whose heart can receive the word of God. The first type of ground, the path, is like someone with a hard heart; as soon as they hear the word, the devil takes it away. The rocky ground is like someone who responds with joy to the word, but they don't put down deep roots, and so they fall away when persecution comes. The weedy soil represents a person for whom the concerns of earthly life choke the growth of God's word. Considering these spiritual dangers, we can examine the condition of our own hearts before God.

2. Good heart soil (23)

If our heart is a soil where the word of God can take root, we have great prospects. We will grow spiritually mature and our life will be a blessing to many people. We can ask the Holy Spirit to soften our hard hearts, and we can prioritize meditating on God's word until it transforms our inner self.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your insight about how the word of God grows in our hearts. Please make me good soil to bear fruit for your kingdom.

One Word: Good heart soil bears an abundant crop.