The Parable of the Sower
Study note
Jesus' most foundational parable describes four types of soil receiving the same seed, representing different responses to the word of the kingdom. The path, rocky ground, thorny ground, and good soil illustrate how spiritual receptivity varies dramatically among hearers. The call to 'whoever has ears to hear, let him hear' emphasizes personal responsibility in responding to God's message.
1 Later that same day, Jesus left the house and went down to the lakeshore to sit. The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 So many people gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there. The whole crowd stood on the shore. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 He taught them many lessons using stories. He started with this one: "A farmer headed out to plant seeds in his field." And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 "As he scattered the seeds, some landed on the hard path. Birds swooped down and gobbled them up." And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 "Other seeds landed on thin soil with rock underneath. Those seeds popped up fast because the dirt was not very deep." Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 "But when the hot sun beat down, the little plants got scorched. They had no real roots, so they shriveled up and died." And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 "Some other seeds landed right in the middle of thorn bushes. The thorns grew tall and strangled the young plants." And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 "But some seeds landed on rich, good soil. Those seeds produced a great harvest — some plants grew a hundred times what was planted, some sixty times, and some thirty times." But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 "If you have ears, then listen to what I am saying." Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The Purpose of Parables
Study note
When the disciples ask why Jesus speaks in parables, he reveals a surprising purpose: parables simultaneously reveal truth to the seeking and conceal it from the hard-hearted. Quoting Isaiah's prophecy about spiritual deafness, Jesus explains that the people's self-imposed blindness fulfills Scripture. The disciples are blessed because they see and hear what prophets and righteous people longed to witness.
10 His followers came over and asked, "Why do you use stories like that when you teach the crowds?" And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 Jesus replied, "You have been given the ability to understand the hidden truths about God's kingdom. But they have not been given that." He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 "The person who already has understanding will receive even more and end up with plenty. But the person who has no understanding will lose even the little bit they have." For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 "Therefore I use stories when I talk to them. They look but do not truly see. They listen but do not hear or understand." Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 "This is what the prophet Esaias described when he said: 'You will listen again and again but never get it. You will look over and over but never truly see what is there.'" And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 "Because the hearts of these people have become thick and hard. Their ears are plugged up, and they have squeezed their eyes shut. If they didn't do that, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and come back to me so I could heal them." For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 "But your eyes are fortunate because they truly see, and your ears are fortunate because they truly hear." But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 "I want you to know that many prophets and godly people throughout history wanted so badly to see and hear what you are seeing and hearing right now. But they never got to." For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
The Sower Explained
Study note
Jesus interprets each soil type: the path represents those whose understanding is snatched away by the evil one; rocky ground represents shallow enthusiasm that fades under pressure; thorny ground represents those choked by worldly worries and wealth; and good soil represents those who understand and produce abundant fruit. This interpretation provides a searching diagnostic tool for examining one's own response to God's word.
18 "Now let me explain what the farmer and the seeds story means." Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 "The seed that falls on the hard path stands for the person who hears God's message but does not take it in. The evil one swoops in and grabs it right out of their heart." When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 "The seed on the rocky ground stands for the person who hears the message. They get excited about it right away." But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 "But there is no real depth to them. Their faith does not go deep. So when problems or pushback come because of the message, they bail out almost immediately." Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 "The seed among the thorns stands for the person who hears the message, but everyday stress and the appeal of getting rich crowd it out. The message never produces anything in their life." He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 "But the seed on the rich soil stands for the person who hears the message, truly takes it in, and grows because of it. That person produces an amazing harvest — some a hundred times, some sixty, some thirty times what was planted." But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
The Wheat and the Weeds
Study note
The parable of the wheat and weeds addresses the troubling reality of evil coexisting with good in the world and in the community of faith. The landowner's command to let both grow together until harvest reveals God's patience and his plan for final separation. This parable counsels patience with imperfection while assuring that ultimate justice will be done at the appointed time.
24 Jesus shared another story with them: "Think of God's kingdom like this: A farmer planted good seeds in his field." Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 "But one night while everyone was sleeping, his enemy sneaked in and scattered weed seeds all through the wheat. Then the enemy slipped away." But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 "As the wheat grew and began forming grain, the weeds also popped up right alongside it." But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 "The farm workers came to the owner and said, 'Boss, you planted good seed out there, right? So where did all these weeds come from?'" So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 "The owner answered, 'Someone who hates me did this.' The workers asked, 'Should we go rip the weeds out right now?'" He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 "The owner said, 'No — if you start pulling weeds, you will accidentally rip out wheat plants at the same time.'" But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 "'let them grow side by side until harvest time. When the harvest arrives, I will tell the workers: Pull up the weeds first, bundle them together, and burn them. Then gather the wheat and bring it into my storage barn.'" Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Mustard Seed and Leaven
Study note
Two brief parables illustrate the surprising growth pattern of God's kingdom. The mustard seed, smallest of seeds, grows into a large tree -- showing how the kingdom begins imperceptibly but becomes unmistakably large. The leaven works invisibly through an entire batch of dough -- illustrating the kingdom's quiet, pervasive, transforming influence. Matthew notes that speaking in parables itself fulfills prophecy.
31 Jesus told them one more story. "God's kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed. Someone plants it in their garden." Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32 "It starts out as the smallest seed there is. But once it is fully grown, it becomes the biggest plant in the garden — more like a tree — and birds come and build nests in its branches." Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
33 He gave them one more comparison: "God's kingdom is like a bit of yeast that a woman mixed into a big batch of flour. Before long, the yeast spread all through the dough and made every part of it rise." Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
34 Jesus used stories to teach the crowd every one of these lessons. He would not teach them without a story. All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
35 This fulfilled the prophet's words: "I will open my mouth and speak in stories. I will reveal things that have been kept secret since the world was first created." That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
The Wheat and Weeds Explained
Study note
Privately, Jesus explains the wheat and weeds parable to his disciples. The Son of man sows good seed (the children of the kingdom), the enemy sows weeds (the children of the wicked one), and the harvest is the end of the world when angels will separate the righteous from the wicked. The righteous will 'shine like the sun' in their Father's kingdom, a promise of ultimate vindication and glory.
36 Then Jesus left the crowd behind and went back inside the house. His followers gathered around him and said, "Can you break down the weed story for us?" Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He said, "This is what it means: The farmer who plants the good seed represents the Son of man." He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 "The field represents the whole world. The good seeds represent people who belong to God's kingdom. The weeds represent people who belong to the devil." The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 "The enemy who scattered the weed seeds represents the devil. The harvest represents the end of the world. The workers who gather the harvest represent the angels." The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 "Just like the weeds get collected and burned up, the same thing will happen when this world comes to an end." As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 "The Son of man will send out his angels. They will pull out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and everyone who does evil." The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 "They will toss all of them into a blazing furnace, where there will be crying and grinding of teeth." And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 "Then the people who are right with God will glow as bright as the sun inside their Father's kingdom. If you have ears, listen to this." Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The Parables of Hidden Treasure, Pearl, and Net
Study note
Three rapid-fire parables emphasize the incomparable value of the kingdom: a hidden treasure and a pearl of great price show that the kingdom is worth sacrificing everything to obtain, while the dragnet parable reiterates the coming separation at the end of the age. Jesus concludes by comparing every scribe instructed about the kingdom to a householder who brings out treasures both old and new.
44 "God's kingdom is also like a treasure that somebody hid in a field. One day, a man stumbled across it. He was so thrilled that he covered it back up, rushed home, sold everything he owned, and used the money to buy that field." Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45 "Or think about it this way: God's kingdom is like a pearl dealer who spent his whole life looking for the finest pearls." Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 "The day he finally found the one perfect pearl, he went and sold everything he had so he could buy it." Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
47 "Here is another picture. God's kingdom is like a big fishing net thrown into the sea. It caught all kinds of fish." Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 "Once the net was full, the fishermen hauled it up on the beach. They sat down and sorted through the catch — the good fish went into baskets, and the bad ones got thrown away." Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 "That is exactly what the end of the world will be like. Angels will arrive and sort the wicked people away from the good people." So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 "The wicked will be tossed into a blazing furnace, where there will be crying and grinding of teeth." And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51 Jesus asked them, "Did you understand all of these stories?" They answered, "Yes, Lord." Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
52 Then he said, "A teacher who truly grasps God's kingdom is like a home owner. He can reach into his storage room. He pulls out things both old and new." Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
Study note
Returning to his hometown, Jesus teaches in the synagogue but is met with astonishment that turns to offense. The people who know his family -- the carpenter's son, Mary's child, the brother of James, Joses, Simon, and Judas -- cannot reconcile his ordinary origins with his extraordinary wisdom and mighty works. Jesus observes that a prophet is not without honour except in his own country, and their unbelief limits what he does among them.
53 After Jesus wrapped up all these stories, he left that area. And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
54 He went back to his hometown and started teaching at the synagogue there. The people were amazed. They kept asking, "How did this guy get all this wisdom? How is he able to do these incredible things?" And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 "Come on — isn't this the carpenter's kid? Don't we all know his mother, Mary? And his brothers — James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?" Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 "Don't his sisters all live right here in town? So where on earth did he get all of this?" And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57 They could not get past their doubts about him. Jesus told them, "A prophet gets respect everywhere except in his own hometown and his own family." And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 Because the people there refused to believe in him, he did not do many miracles in that place. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.