The teaching of Jesus is characterized by the parable. He teaches with concrete images, not abstractions, common situations, not convoluted hypotheticals. The first extended parable in this gospel is that of the sower, and, as we shall see, it is the key to the subsequent parables. Again, the setting of His teaching is by the sea (v. 1), and He teaches the crowd many things from His seat in a small boat (v. 2)
In Palestine at this time, sowing preceded plowing; seed was sown and then plowed under. A sower went out to sow his seed (v. 3), and he gets six different results — three negative, and three positive. The seed that fell on the hard ground by the wayside was eaten by the birds of the air (v. 4). The seed that fell on stony ground looked good initially, but was scorched by the sun because it had no root (vv. 5-6). The seed that fell among thorns was choked out by them (v. 7). In all three cases, there was no fruit. The seed that fell on good ground, in contrast, bore good fruit at three different levels — thirty, sixty, and a hundred-fold (v. 8). Those who can hear what He is saying, should (v. 9).
Why parables? When the multitude was dispersed, Christ’s smaller entourage (including the twelve) asked Him about the parable. First, to you, the faithful, Christ says, knowledge of the mystery of the kingdom of God has been given (v. 11). For those outside, the same parables told to different people has very different results, just as the seed in the parable got different results (v. 11). Here is the word of Isaiah — parables were given to illumine some and darken others (v. 12). The reason some should be darkened is that otherwise they would turn from their sins and be forgiven (v. 12). This is a quotation from Isaiah 6:9-10. The ministry of Isaiah was a type of the ministry of Christ. How long will parables darken? Until the land is destroyed, and the remnant spared.
What is the key to all the parables? The parable of the sower is one of Christ’s best known parables. It occupies its position here as the first extended parable for good reason. It is the key to all the others. What is Christ doing? He is sowing the word while teaching this parable. This parable is self-referential. And Christ interprets this parable; in seeing how Christ interpreted His own parable, we learn some of the principles which will guide us as we interpret the others. Finally, Jesus tells us this is the key — in verse 13, Christ says that if they do not get this parable, they cannot get the others.
So then Jesus interprets His parable for those who have ears to hear. The sower sows the word (v. 14). Those who have hard hearts hear the word, many of them many times over. But the birds of the air represent Satan here. They take the word away. Remember the context, and the rejection of Christ by the scribes from Jerusalem. Why did they do this? The birds ate the seed (v. 15). Then there are shallow hearts; some make a spectacular showing, at least initially. But the quick response is precisely because of the shallowness of their hearts. Easily started, they are easily stopped. They chase after revivals and reformations with gladness (v. 16). But affliction or persecution offends them (v. 17). Third, we find cluttered hearts. Other seed falls among the distracted. They are distracted, not by riches, but the deceitfulness of riches. Not the world, but the cares of the world. Assorted lusts demand equal growing time, and they choke out the word, and fruitlessness is the result (v. 19). The fourth response is the response of fruitfulness. First is thirty-fold; all believers bear some fruit. Not all are equally fruitful, but Christ calls all three good ground. Some accomplish more, sixty-fold, by the grace of God. Remember, that these three are all those who hear the word, and receive it (v. 20). A few more produce one hundred-fold. Still others are great in the kingdom of God. They bear fruit beyond all expectation. But of course the glory for all this goes to God.