Jesus told the following parable or story about a farmer and the seeds that he planted:
“‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Matthew 13:3-9
What Does the Parable of the Sower and the Seed Mean?
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:18-23
What Is A Parable?
“The word ‘parable’ comes from the Greek parabole, which means a comparison or an illustration. Its most common use in the NT is for the illustrative stories that Jesus drew from nature and human life.
“The brilliance of Jesus’ parables is that they come directly from the everyday experiences of his listeners. This first parable uses the story of a farmer who went out to sow his seed (13:3). Jesus’ listeners are well aware of farming techniques, since most of these listeners take care of their own fields and gardens or work the fields of their landlords.
“Many commentators place primary emphasis on the sower in this parable. As such they interpret this primarily as a Christological parable, focusing on Jesus’ work of proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God. However, the sower appears only at the beginning of the parable. This figure sets in motion the parable, but then the focus shifts to the soils. The parable does accentuate Jesus’ arrival with the gospel message, but it also emphasizes significantly the contrast between good and bad soils and their response to the seed.
“1) Seed on paths (13:4). Seed was sown “broadcast” style by scattering it in all directions while walking up and down the field. Fields were apparently plowed both before the seed was sown and then again after, plowing across the original furrows to cover the seeds with soil. The desired depth of plowing under wheat seed was usually one to three inches, though it could be less where the topsoil was shallow. It was common for seeds to be scattered accidentally on the hard paths that surrounded the fields. Birds would swoop down and eat those seeds.
“(2) Seed on rocky places (13:5 – 6). Conditions for farming in many areas of Israel were not favorable. In many places the terrain was uneven and rocky, with only thin layers of soil covering the rock. Seed that landed on this shallow soil would begin to germinate more quickly than seed sown in deep soil, but it couldn’t put down deep roots and had to collect what little moisture lay in that parched thin layer of earth. The sprouting seed would soon wither and die in the hot sun (13:6; cf. James 1:11).
“(3) Seed among thorns (13:7). In the third scene, seed fell among thornbushes. The plants battled for nutrients from the soil, and the wild thorny plants were well adapted to rob whatever they needed from the soil. As the thorny plants grew up with other plants, they choked out the less hardy agricultural plants.
(4) Seed on good soil (13:8). In the fourth example, seed fell on “good soil.” As the seeds germinated and matured, they kept on yielding a range of a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. The straight meaning of the parable is that only seed sown on good earth yielded a crop. But the implication of the yield amount has been variously understood. Some see this as implying an extraordinary, superabundant, perhaps even miraculous, crop, suggesting that typical Palestinian harvests yielded only about five to ten times the quantity sown. Others understand the yield of thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold to signify a very good harvest, typical of a harvest blessed by God but not supernatural. The latter view is supported by reports such as Isaac’s harvest: “Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him” (Gen. 26:12). Thus, seed sown on good soil yielded to the maximum what it was created to produce, with varying amounts that reflected individual potential.
Spiritual ears (13:9). It may seem that Jesus is simply giving an agricultural seminar, until he utters the catchphrase, “He who has ears, let him hear” (13:9; cf. 11:15; 13:43). This alerts the audience that a deeper meaning is intended; the parables have a theological purpose in the plan of God. The following explanatory narrative will clarify who has ears (13:10 – 11), who will hear and understand (13:12 – 17), and what truth is communicated (13:18 – 23). This summons to hear means either (1) that not everyone has ears to hear or the ability to hear, or (2) that those who do, do not always use their ears or hear. When we see the statements in 13:10 – 17, the emphasis falls on the former: The parable is not for just anyone to hear, but rather is for those with spiritual ears who have the ability to hear the spiritual message embedded in the parable.