The Parable of the Sower

A Matter Of
... Eternal
    ... Life and Death

"And
when much people
were gathered together,
and
were come to him
[Jesus]
out of every city,
he spake by a parable:
'A sower went out
to sow his seed:'..."
-Luke 8:4+

When a large group of people ... which had gathered together from many cities

... came out to meet Jesus ... He began to teach them about the mysteries of the Kingdom of God ... through a parable ... a symbolic story referred to as:

    "The Parable

               of

         the Sower."

The Parable begins with a sower ... a farmer sowing seed ... and this seed is going to fall on four different types of ground:

1..way side

2..rock

3..thorns

4..good ground

*1st Type of Ground:

  = "the way side"

"A sower went out 

to sow his seed:  

and as he sowed, 

some fell by 

the way side; 

-Luke 8:5a

The first type of ground is called "the way side:"

[G3598]

= travelled .. way

= road .. roadway 

This way side is not referring to the side of the road ... or edge of the road ... where plants often grow ... but the Greek .. G3598 .. specifies that it is a roadway 

... or ... well travelled road ... that we could perhaps even compare to the "broad way" of the world

... that leads to destruction ... which Jesus mentions also in Matt. 7:13.

Destruction at the way side  = 2 Types:

(1)"...and it was trodden down,"

Because this was a well travelled road ... the seed was trampled ... destroyed. 

Because of the amount of traffic on the road ... there wasn't any safe place for it to grow. 

(2) "...and the fowls of the air devoured it..."

-Luke 5b

"Fowls" are "birds"... and birds often symbolize evil spirits.

The devil is an expert at stealing ... in this case stealing seed.

He comes to "kill ... steal ... and destroy." (John 10:10).

The devil is also referred to as one that is known for "devouring."

Thus ... Peter warns us:

"Be sober, be vigilant; because 

your adversary 

the devil, 

as a roaring lion, 

walketh about, 

seeking whom 

he may devour:"
-1 Pet.5:8

Therefore ... the devil ... the "prince and power of the air"... like the "fowls of the air"... destroys the seed ... Word of God by devouring it.

How does the devil devour the Word of God?

Is not the Word of God "devoured"... by taking it away from the people:

... banning it ... ... prohibiting it from being preached or read? 

... by chewing it up 

... fragmenting it

... by taking it out of context ... from the pulpit

... or through adding 

... and promoting the opinions and writings of men

... as being equal to the Word? 

...or redefining it

... by introducing new words into new versions ... that change the original meaning of it?

WARNING: 

There is a curse upon anyone that tampers with the Holy Word of God:

"For I testify 

unto every man 

that heareth 

the words 

of the prophecy 

of this book, 

If any man 

shall add 

unto these things, 

God shall add 

unto him 

the plagues 

that are written 

in this book:

And if any man 

shall take away 

from the words 

of the book 

of this prophecy, 

God shall take away 

his part out of 

the book of life, 

and out of 

the holy city, 

and 

from the things 

which are written 

in this book." 

-Rev.22:18-19

*2nd Type of Ground:

  = Rock

"And 

some fell 

upon a rock; ..."

-Luke 6a

Some seed fell upon a rock ... or fell upon a place that was so hard ... that it was unable to absorb water.

Destruction on the rock:

"... and as soon 

as it was sprung up, 

it withered away, 

because 

it lacked moisture ..."

-Luke 6b

Without water ... it could not survive ... so this seed died.

*3rd Type of Ground: 

  = Thorns

"... And some fell 

among thorns; ..." 

-Luke 8:7a

Thorns created an environment ... in which the seed could not grow ... so it was choked and died.

Destruction by Thorns:

"... and the thorns 

sprang up with it,

and 

choked it ..."

-Luke 8:7b

When the seed sprouted ... the thorns came up with it ... sharing the same environment ... squeezing and oppressing it. 

... Without freedom to grow ... it died.

*4th Type of Seed: 

  = on Good Ground

"... And other fell 

on good ground, ..."

-Luke 8:8a

However ... the 4th type of seed ... falls on good ground.

This Time: 

... Not Destruction 

... but Production 

... of Fruit:

"... and 

sprang up, 

and 

bare fruit 

an hundredfold ..."

-Luke 8:8b

However ... the last seed survives ... and thrives

... because it falls on good ground ... takes root ... grows ... matures ... and produces fruit.

Now Jesus warns us to take heed 

... to pay attention to something that is very important:

"... And 

when he had 

said these things, 

he cried, 

He that hath 

ears to hear, 

let him hear..."

-Luke 8:8c

Therefore ... the disciples ask Jesus to interpret this parable:

"... And 

his disciples 

asked him, saying, 

What might 

this parable be?..."

-Luke 8:9

Parables are not God's method of providing understanding

... but are for the purpose of hiding 

understanding

... even when the parable is expounded.

"... And he said,

Unto you 

it is given to know 

the mysteries of 

the kingdom of God: 

but 

to others 

in parables; 

that seeing 

they might not see, 

and 

hearing 

they might not understand ..."

-Luke 8:10

Jesus tells the disciples that only those who genuinely belong to Him will be given understanding of the parables.

... Only the genuine believers will be able to receive the truth hidden in the parables

... So Jesus interprets for the disciples ... just like the Holy Spirit interprets the Word for genuine believers today:

"...Now the parable 

is this: 

The seed is 

the word of God..."

-Luke 8:11

The first thing that is vital to understand is that the seed is the Word of God ... which comes from God's Holy Book ... the Bible ... as it is read or spoken.

Seed = Word of God

Receiving the gift of eternal life is really a very simple process

... nevertheless ... it is at the same time ... a very serious matter of spiritual life and death

 ... which actually depends on what happens to the seed/Word of God.

We are saved from sin and subsequent death that is a result of our sin

... saved only by faith ... and the faith to be saved comes from the Word of God:

"For by grace 

are ye saved 

through faith; 

and 

that not of yourselves: 

it is the gift of God:
Not of works, 

lest any man 

should boast."
-Eph.2:8-9

"So then 

faith 

cometh by hearing, 

and 

hearing 

by the word of God."
-Rom.10:17

Word of God:

... generates 

... creates 

... brings about 

the faith to be saved.

Now ... Jesus interprets the first three types of ground and explains how this seed ... Word of God ... is destroyed:

"Those 

by the way side 

[on the well-traveled roads of the world]

are they 

that hear; 

then cometh the devil, 

and 

taketh away 

the word 

out of their hearts, 

lest they should 

believe and be saved."

-Luke 8:12

The broad way to destruction is a very busy road.

The precious seed of the Word ... even though it has made its way into the heart

... has failed to take root in this place/heart filled with worldly distractions

... making genuine belief and salvation impossible.

... In this environment ... it is easily overlooked ... trampled under foot ... not appreciated for its value

... therefore ... becomes a vulnerable target for the devil to destroy.  

In order for the Word to survive ... it must not have any competition

... It must have entire preeminence in the heart.

"They on the rock 

are they, 

which, 

when they hear, 

receive the word 

with joy; 

and 

these have no root, 

which for a while believe, 

and 

in time of temptation fall away."

-Luke 8:13

Now some seeds fall upon the rock ... and some hearts even receive the seed/Word with joy

... But the rock is a very hard surface ... perhaps ...  under the surface ... a very hard heart

... unable to absorb any additional Word ... provided by the water of the Word

... so remains there for a while ... but without this additional water of the Word ... is unable to take root

... becomes defenseless against temptation

... withers and dies.

 "And that
which fell
among thorns

are they,
which, when they
have heard,
go forth,
and
are choked
with cares
and riches
and pleasures
of this life,
and
bring no fruit
to perfection."
-Luke 8:14

Cares ... riches ... and pleasures of this life are like thorns that create an environment where the seed/Word is choked ... oppressed by things of the world

... unable to grow ... produce anything of value ... or survive ...

Next ... Jesus describes the fourth type of ground and why this seed/Word of God survives and prospers:

"But that
on the good ground
are they,
which
in an honest
and
good heart,
having heard
the word, 
keep it,
and
bring forth fruit
with patience"
-Luke 8:15

Somehow ... by the grace of God ... some seed/Word falls on good ground

... that has somehow ... by the grace of God ... yielded to pre-cultivation by God

... resulting in a good heart ... that has been enabled to be honest

... about its own sinful condition ... and need of the Savior.

Because of this ... the seed of the Word of God ... is able to endure and freely grow

... being nourished further by the Word of God ... until it has matured ... and is therefore able to produce fruit ... in due season ... and claim God's promise that ... through His grace we are saved

... and ... because of His continued grace working in us. . .

(when salvation is genuine)

... we are guaranteed: 

(1) to ultimately overcome ... through the power of His Spirit ... working in us

(2) so our position in the Book of Life is secured. 

Here are these specific promises from His Word:      

Eph.2:8-10 

V.8

"For by grace 

are ye saved 

through faith;

[faith by the 

Word of God]

and 

that not 

of yourselves: 

it is the gift of God:

V.9

Not of [our own] works, lest any man 

should boast.

V.10

For we are 

his workmanship,

[it is God's hand/Spirit working in us ... as He keeps us yielded to Him]  

created in Christ Jesus 

[we are His project ... brought into existence ... because we are in Jesus] 

unto good works

[for the purpose of carrying out specific works ... His Spirit inspires ... and enables us to do]

which God hath 

before ordained

[prepared in advance ... to give us]

that we should 

walk in them."

[since we are enabled to fulfill His will ... we have no excuse ... not to fulfill His will

... because He faithfully provides all we need]

Phil.1:6
"Being confident of 

this very thing, 

that he which 

hath begun 

a good work 

in you 

will perform it

[actually accomplish it]

until the day 

of Jesus Christ:"

[preparing us to be ready ... for the day ... Jesus appears]

Rev.3:5:
"He that overcometh, 

the same 

shall be clothed 

in white raiment; 

and 

I will not 

blot out his named 

out of 

the book of life, 

but I will 

confess his name 

before my Father, 

and 

before his angels."

All truth will eventually be revealed.

"No man,
when he hath
lighted a candle,
covereth it
with a vessel,
or putteth it
under a bed;
but setteth it
on a candlestick,
that they which
enter in
may see the light.

For nothing
is secret,
that shall not
be made manifest; neither
any thing hid,
that shall not
be known
and
come abroad."
-Luke 8:16-17

The seed is the Word of God ... and this parable of the seed ... is an illustration of how the Word of God produces a genuine ... born-again ... Christian.

This parable is not teaching ... that anyone can lose their salvation ... but is explaining why some may profess to know Christ ... or know who Christ is

... but have not been growing ... overcoming sin ... or producing any other evidence ... that a real conversion has actually taken place

... because they have failed to submit to the Word of God and preeminence of Christ as Lord of their life.

Instead ... they stubbornly cling to the throne of their own life ... as the god of their life

... fulfilling their own desires ... remaining unyielded to God's will ... not following His Word and Spirit.

We have discovered from this parable that ... good works alone ... are not sufficient evidence

... to verify a real conversion has taken place ... since unbelievers are able to also do good works and appear to be "servants of God"

...religiously "serving God" ... when they do not really know Him at all.

Jesus warned:

Matt.7:
v.21
"Not every one that
saith unto me,
Lord, Lord,
shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the

[specific Holy Spirit led/according to the Word of God]

will of my Father
which is in heaven.

v.22
Many will say to me
in that day,
Lord, Lord,
have we not
prophesied
in thy name?
and
in thy name
have cast out devils?
and
in thy name
done many
wonderful works?

v.23
And then
will I profess
unto them,
I never knew you:
depart from me,
ye that work iniquity."

The Scriptures warn ... that in the end ... there will be many false prophets ... teaching lies

... and many distractions ... as previously mentioned ... regarding the first three types of ground ... into which the seed/Word ... attempts ... and even appears to ... take root

... but for one reason or another ... fails

... and dies out.

Because of this ... many will believe they are Christians and going in the rapture

... but will be left behind because they really do not know Him ... have not really followed His Word

... so were unable to overcome the grip the world ... the flesh ... and the devil ... had on them.

Then there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth."

"Take heed therefore
how ye hear:
for whosoever hath,
to him shall be given;
whosoever hath not, 

from him
shall be taken
even that which he
seemeth
to have."

Luke 8:18

**To be sure you have a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ

... scroll to the top of the page

... and click on the gift wrapped in gold ... on the left.  

. . .The wrath of God is real

. . .and Hell is real.

. . .Please do not gamble with your precious eternal life. ♡