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The parable of the sower (Mk 4:1-20)
This parable is also found in Matt 13:1-23 & Luke 8:4-15. First of all, what is a parable? A parable is not a true story but an allegory from an invented story or illustration from a natural phenomenon to confer some message, be it a lesson or a doctrine. Jesus always uses parables to illustrate the message about the kingdom of God. Jesus explained to the disciples why he used the parables in 4:10-12. In 4:11, Jesus disclosed that the primary purpose of using the parable is to reveal “the mystery of the kingdom of God”. However, the mystery is for the believers to understand, not for the non-believers. But then why would Jesus utter the parables to the public all the time, since the non-believers would not understand?
Remember that the non-believers do not believe in the gospel due to the fact that they do not accept by faith. But that doesn’t mean that we do not need to preach the gospel to them. Anyhow, only those who accept by faith will reap the benefit of it. Parables are actually gospel messages about the kingdom of God, only that they are presented in a different manner. Anyone who has faith in Jesus is supposed to grasp the spiritual meaning behind the parables. Those who reject Jesus are still kept in the dark about God’s kingdom and the matter of it. Jesus explained this point in Matt 13:13-15. He said, “Therefore speak I to them in parables”, but “hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Why? “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed.” For those who are willing to accept his gospel message, they will have opposite effect: “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; your ears, for they hear.” (Matt 13:16)
The same parable is given, but believers can understand whereas those who refuse to believe do not understand. Why? This is actually the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, who is named by Jesus as “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13), “will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Therefore, as the apostle Paul preached the gospel to the Jews and the Gentiles, he received totally different responses and commented, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (I Cor 1:18)
But how about Jesus’ disciples? They don’t even understand his parable of the sower. That’s why when they questioned Jesus the meaning of the parable, he was quite surprised (v13). Their failure to understand the parable reflected their state of faith. The disciples were still in the very premature stage of believing in Jesus Christ. Indeed, they still lacked the faith to be classified as believers at that moment. Once they truly believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and ponder over again the parables Jesus said, they will get the truth about the kingdom of God by the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
In any case, what makes the disciples different from the public after hearing the parable is their interest in knowing the meaning of the parable. At least it indicates that they have a heart to understand more about the gospel message. In Mark 4:33-34, we are told that Jesus continued to speak parables to the public. However, he only explained the parables to the disciples to make sure they understand “when they were alone”. Good news continues to be preached to everyone, but only those who are interested to know more will be guided to understand the meaning of the gospel to their personal lives.
In John 3, the recording of Nicodemus’ visit by night to discuss the issue about eternal life, Jesus finally said in John 3:12, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” He said previously in John 3:3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” You have to be a born-again Christian in order for God’s message to take effect in your heart and in your life. However, real understanding implies reaction followed by real action. This is in fact the focus of this parable.
(responses of the hearers)
There are four cases mentioned in this parable: seeds fell by road side, fell on stony ground, fell among thorns, and fell on good soil. (v5-8) The explanation is given in 4:14-20. Literally, seed is the gospel message; sower is the preacher; the locations where the seeds fell and the corresponding outcomes represent the different kinds of response of the hearers and their final state. Now let us focus on the four kinds of response given by those who hear of the gospel.
1. No Word. (v15)
Seeds falling by the roadside describe those people who reject the gospel right away. Notice what 4:15 says, “Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.” They have no interest to continue to hear the gospel at all.
2. No root. (v16-17)
Seeds falling on stony ground describe those hearers who have some positive response—“immediately receive it with gladness” (v16). Sadly, there is “no root” of the gospel seeds sown in their hearts. (v17) The gospel can retain in their hearts only for a short period of time until affliction comes. Then they give up the chance to keep on
understanding the meaning of the gospel to their lives. Notice that it is affliction out of the gospel that causes them to give up believing in the gospel—“when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.” (v17) This is similar to the parable of the two foundations mentioned in Matt 7:24-27. Those who do not keep on seeking God’s word are like building their houses on the sand. The foundation is easily destroyed by the wind and flood. There are those who choose to believe in the gospel in times of affliction because they keep on hearing God’s word and take it to heart seriously.
3. No fruit. (v18-19)
Seeds falling among thorns describe those who have heard the gospel but do not take the required action as necessary. They hesitate to follow God’s way because their primary concern is “cares of this world”, “riches”, “lusts” etc. (v19). The root is stopped from growing to a solid foundation and hence no fruit is yielded. Notice that they are not facing afflictions but only choose to pursue the worldly path instead of God’s path when the choice is given them. Jesus said to the hearers in Matt 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
4. Fruits of different fold. (v20)
Seeds falling on good soil describe those who not only believe God’s word but act upon His word. Their roots lay on solid foundation and naturally produce many spiritual fruits. When they keep on following God’s word, they will yield more fruits. In Galatians 5:22-23 is listed some form of the fruit of the Spirit found in true believers: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”
Not only does the parable illustrate the different responses of the hearers, it can be used as a mirror to reflect our state of faith. Even for the believers, we can react differently to God’s word and His calling. In many cases, our spiritual life may be choked among thorns and stops growing due to “the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things.” We have to watch for that unfruitful situation. On the other hand, we can work our ways to bear multiple folds of good fruits. The thing is whether we really desire to bear fruits of thirty fold, sixty fold, or even hundred fold. Jesus encourages the believers in Matt 11:12, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” (「從施洗約翰的時候到如今，天國是努力進入的，努力的人就得著了。」) Not that we obtain salvation by human effort, but as Christians we should work hard to imitate Christ, bearing as many spiritual fruits as possible.