Matthew 13:1-9, Page 825 in Pew Bibles 1.On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2.Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.

3.As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 4.Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. 5.But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered.

6.But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered. 7.Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them.

8.Still others fell on good ground, and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown. 9.Anyone who has ears should listen!”

18. “You, then, listen to the parable of the sower: 19. When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.

20. And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. 21. Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

22. Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

23. But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown.”

The Parable of the Sower and the Soils

Ray Stedman > This parable “is about a farmer who broadcasts his seed with a lavish hand, throwing it out without regard to where it falls.”

Non-Variables The Farmer The Farmer The Seed: The Word of the Kingdom The Seed: The Word of the Kingdom The variable was the Soil The variable was the Soil >

TWO THINGS TO LISTEN FOR

The Questions What kind of soil (hearer of the Word) am I? What kind of soil (hearer of the Word) am I? – In terms of the gospel, and in terms of hearing the Word on an ongoing basis Where kind of soil are the people I am talking to in regard to hearing the Word? Where kind of soil are the people I am talking to in regard to hearing the Word?. >

The Four Soils fell along the path Vs. 4 “As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path” rocky ground Vs. 5 “Others fell on rocky ground” among thorns Vs. 7 “Others fell among thorns” good ground Vs. 8 “Still others fell on good ground”. >

The Beaten Path the path Vs. 4 “As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up.” >

The Impenetrable Heart Vs. 19 “When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.” >

He doesn’t pick up on its significance He doesn’t pick up on its significance – Doesn’t consider it relevant – G. Campbell Morgan: “Unreceptive heart” – Peter Lord: Crickets He doesn’t “get it” He doesn’t “get it” – Vs. 19 “When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it…” He quickly forgets it He quickly forgets it – Vs. 19 “…the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart” > The Impenetrable Heart

Demonic Influence the evil one comes Vs. 19 “…the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart”. >

The Shallow Soil shallow Vs. 5-6, NLT “Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.” >

The Impulsive Heart immediately receives it with joy Vs. 20 “And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.” >

Ray Stedman: “The heart that is always on the prowl, restless, searching, groping” William Hendriksen: “The Impulsive Heart” > The Impulsive Heart

no root Vs. 21 “he has no root in himself…” short-lived pressure or persecution Vs. 21 “…but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”. > The Impulsive Heart

Vs. 7 “Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them. ” > The Weed-Infested Soil

hears worriesthis age seduction of wealthchoke Vs. 22 “Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Buying things they don’t need with money they don’t have to impress people they don’t like. > The Indecisive Heart

choke the word Vs. 22 “Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Peter Lord: The Cluttered Heart Hasn’t dealt with these issues decisively Q > The Indecisive Heart

William Barclay. > A man becomes too busy to pray; he becomes so preoccupied with many things that he forgets to study the word of God: he can become so involved in committees and good works and charitable services that he leaves himself no time for him from whom all love and service come. His business can take such a grip of him that he is too tired to think of anything else. It is not the things which are obviously bad which are dangerous. It is the things which are good, for the "second best is always the worst enemy of the best."

The Productive Heart hears understandsbear fruityields Vs. 23 “But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown.” Real Christians do not just say they are Christians, they produce They produce to varying degrees, but they all produce. >

Kinds of Soil Hardened Path: Impenetrable Shallow Soil over Rock: Impulsive Weed-infested Soil: Indecisive Good soil: Productive >

Can One Kind of Soil Change to Another Kind? William Axling in Japan.