Matthew 13 (part 1)

Read vs. 1-23

Parables were a common form of teaching in Judaism.  A parable is a long analogy, often told in the form of a story.  It meant taking something observable and earthly and laid it alongside something spiritual so people could understand the spiritual truth. …Up to this point in HIS ministry, Jesus had used clear teaching.  Parables required explanation.  Jesus used these to obscure the truth from unbelievers.  From this point forward, HE only speaks in parables to the multitudes.

In vs. 11 – Jesus affirms the ability to understand spiritual truth is a gracious gift of God.

Look at vs. 12 and compare to Matt. 25:29  - is this the same information?  _________________

In vs. 13 - Those who are not elected will remain spiritually blind…..and it’s because of their unbelief.

Look at vs. 14-15 ….. then read Isaiah 6:10  (Isaiah’s message was to be God’s instrument of hiding the truth from unreceptive and unrepentant people). …… Just like Jesus’s Parables!

Who has ever planted seeds?  Who has ever seen how a farmer plants lots of seeds?

What are the 3 components that this parable looks at….and what do they represent?

Ø  The Sower =  the Son of Man (read vs. 37) ….or anyone who is sharing the “Good News” of the Gospel

Ø  The Seed =  the Word of the Kingdom …and how to get in = Gospel  (read vs. 19 and read Luke 8:11)

Ø  The Soil =  the Heart of Man (read vs.19)

The result of the hearing of the Gospel depends on the condition of the soil (Man’s Heart) – not the skill of the sower.  This parable refers to 4 types of hearts

§  Unresponsive Heart

§  Impulsive Heart

§  Pre-occupied Heart

§  Well-prepared Heart

The Parable of the Sower highlights four different responses to the gospel.

What is the seed?  Word of God – the gospel message

# 1      Read vs. 4 & vs 19

What types of people does “side of the road” represent?  The self-righteous, hard hearts, false religions

What happens to seeds that land on side of the road? Birds came and ate…message is snatched away

Who plucks it away?  birds or evil one who represents Satan

Give examples of these people (what heart?)___________________________________________________

# 2      Read vs. 5-6 & vs.20-21

What types of people represent “rocky places/stony ground”?  Those who hear the gospel and get excited – but when bad things happen, they fall away. 

What happens to seeds that land on rocky places?  They spring up & the sun scorches them and they wither

Why?  they have no depth, no deep roots

Give examples of these people  (what heart?)_______________________________________________________

# 3      Read vs. 7 & vs. 22

What types of people represent soil between thorns?  People who hear the word and it sounds good

What happens to the seeds that land on soil between the thorns?  Seeds are choked by the thorny weeds and become unfruitful 

Why?  because of the worry of the world and deceit of wealth

Give examples of these people  (what heart?)________________________________________________________

# 4      Read vs. 8 & vs. 23

What types of people represent the good or fertile soil?  The man who hears the word and understands it

What happens to the seed that falls on good soil?  It bears fruit and produces more fruit – up to 100 times more!

Why?  Because of understanding and transformation

Give examples of these people (what heart?)________________________________________________________

ONLY ONE OF THESE 4 SOILS (PEOPLE) ARE SAVED!  WHICH ONE IS IT?

ALL Christians bear fruit – but we bear different types of fruit and different amounts of fruit.

The more seed we throw, the more likely we are to hit “good soil”.  

What can you do this week to throw some seeds of truth? ______________________________________________

How much courage do you have to throw seed?  You can throw the seed and ask God to plow the soil.  You can’t plow the soil, only God plows soil.  So….Pray that God will bring you across prepared soil (people who are ready to respond). 

You can also ask God to plow your heart so you can receive the transforming saving message of the gospel that Christ died for your sins and rose again that you might have eternal life and by believing in Him you can enter into His Kingdom.

Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Sower highlights four different responses to the gospel. The seed is “the word of the kingdom.” The hard ground represents someone who is hardened by sin; he hears but does not understand the Word, and Satan plucks the message away, keeping the heart dull and preventing the Word from making an impression. The stony ground pictures a man who professes delight with the Word; however, his heart is not changed, and when trouble arises, his so-called faith quickly disappears. The thorny ground depicts one who seems to receive the Word, but whose heart is full of riches, pleasures, and lusts; the things of this world take his time and attention away from the Word, and he ends up having no time for it. The good ground portrays the one who hears, understands, and receives the Word—and then allows the Word to accomplish its result in his life. The man represented by the “good ground” is the only one of the four who is truly saved, because salvation’s proof is fruit (Matthew 3:7-8; 7:15-20). J.MacArthur Study bible

Storyboards: - eleven total

#1 – draw 3 parts

Sower

Seed

soil

#2 – draw 4 hearts

Unresponsive

Implusive

busy/distracted

prepared

#3 – seeds on side of road ….eaten by birds

#4 – seeds landing on rocks or stony ground

#5 – seeds landing between thorns/weeds

#6 – seeds landing on good soil and bearing fruit