Bible Study: Parable of the Sower

Read: Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15

Observations:

Characters: Jesus, Great crowd, disciples (imaginary characters- Sower); Indirect – prophets, righteous people.

Places: House, Sea (Galilee), beach, Boat (Imaginary places: path, rocky grounds, among thorns, good soil).

Time: The same day,

Props: Parable- boat, seeds, paths, birds, sun, grain, thorns, ears,

Repeated words: hear; seeds; word;

Questions:

1.     What are the physical positions of Jesus and that of the crowd?

Jesus sits while the the crowd stood.

2.     What are the types of grounds/soils and their growth and production to the seeds that fell upon them?

There are four types of ground/soil mentioned in the parable where the seeds fell;

• Along the path- the birds come and devoured them

• Rocky ground- where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose, they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.

• Among thorns- the thorns grew up and choked them.

• Good soil- it produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

  
  

Interpretation:

Background: [1]Jesus spoke according to the agricultural customs of His day. In those days, seed was scattered first and then it was plowed into the ground.

Questions:

1.     Why did Jesus use parables to teach?

Parables are generally used to simplify a teaching using a story as illustrations. However, for those who do not want to listen nor understand, parables make the message more difficult to understand. Therefore, Jesus used parable probably to filter listeners. We can see that many came to Jesus for the miracle and healings rather than listening the Word. He told them in stories so that those who came desiring to know the truth without prejudice mind would seek for the meaning and understand. Other listens like a simple story.

2.     Are there some people who are not supposed to understand God’s Word?

At first reading it seems like there are some people who are destined that they would not be able to understand the Word. However, after careful study we can see that those Jesus referred to as “them” are those who reject the gospel even before they listen because of their preconceived mind.

3.     Why did Jesus say, “He who has ears, let him hear?”

He said this to emphasize the need for spiritual attentiveness. He was calling people to go beyond just hearing His words—to truly understand and respond with faith. Only those open to God’s truth would grasp the deeper meaning of His parables.

4.     Describe Jesus’ interpretation of the parable:

Jesus compares the seeds with the Word of God/the gospel, and the soil/ground with the heart of man.

• What was sown along the path- when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. 

• What was sown on rocky ground - this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

• What was sown among thorns- this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

• What was sown on good soil- this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Application to reflect:

1. Which type of ground do you identify yourself closely with?

2. How can one become a good soil in order to bear fruit? Or What shall we/I do to understand the Word of God?

Group Bible Study Questions:

Approach Question: How many of us like gardening /keep flower at home? How does the soil affect the growth of the flower/plant?

1.     What does the physical position of the crowd and that of Jesus signify?

2.     What are types of soil where the seeds fell upon? Describe the reaction/response of the soil to the seeds?

3.     How does Jesus interpret the parables?

4.     Compare and contrast the types of soil in the parable and mention their significance.

5.     Which type of ground do you identify yourself closely with?

6.     How is understanding of the Word of God important with respect to bearing fruit?

7.     What shall we/I do to understand the Word of God?

Prepared by Laminlun Haokip, UESI Staff based in Kolkata

[1] Enduring Word- Commentary