13:18-23 The interpretation of the first parable
―(18) Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. (19) 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) But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is
he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; (21) 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) 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 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‖.
Why do equally honest, intelligent and diligent Bible scholars do not understand the Bible alike? Three
observations are in order:
one's apparent honesty may be a deception (Matt 7:15);
intelligence is not important to an understanding of the Bible and can be a hindrance (1 Cor 1:18-21);
diligence in study without the desire to do what we learn is useless (John 7:17).
But Y‘shua answered this question in the Parable of the Sower. This parable answers the question, Why do
some understand the Gospel and some do not?
At the time Y‘shua taught this lesson in the Galilee, He was followed by such large crowds that he got into a
boat on the Sea of Galilee so he could address them all (Matt 13:1-2; Mark 4:1; Luke 8:4). But trouble had
already begun to develop, and it would deepen. Though Y‘shua‘s words and works proved Him to be from
YHWH, the Jewish leaders had already stubbornly rejected Him by foolishly attributing His miracles to Satan
(Matt 12:22-24). Soon after this, even some of His disciples quit following Him (John 6:66). Y‘shua‘s disciples
needed to be prepared for the fact that many would reject Him and His Word, that persecution would come
upon His disciples; and that even some of them would turn back from following Him. We need to be prepared
for the same realities.
Y‘shua spoke of a sower going out to sow, a simple scene with which His hearers were very familiar
(Matt 13:3; Mark 4:3; Luke 8:5). As the sower scattered the seeds of grain by hand on the ground, some
seeds were blown by the wind on the footpath between the fields. Here the soil was so hardened by
pounding feet that no seed could penetrate it. The sandals of passers-by crushed the grain and hungry birds
quickly gobbled it up so that it bore no fruit (Matt 13:4; Mark 4:4; Luke 8:5).
Other grain fell upon thin soil over bedrock. This soil was warmed quickly by the spring sun, so the grain
quickly germinated and sprouted. But the summer sun scorched the plants which could not send down roots
for moisture because of the rock beneath, and the plants withered and died without producing any grain
(Matt 13:5-6; Mark 4:5-6; Luke 8:6).
Some seeds fell where the soil was encumbered with thorns. As the good seed and the weeds grew
together, the hardier weeds used up the richness and moisture of the earth and blocked out the sunlight; and
the stalks of grain were choked out and died (Matt 13:7; Mark 4:7; Luke 8:7).
But some seed fell upon good earth and yielded abundantly (Matt 13:8; Mark 4:8; Luke 8:8).
The lesson of this parable is so important, that all who are capable of understanding must do so (Matt 13:9;
Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8).
Later, when Y‘shua was alone with His disciples, they asked Him two things: why He spoke in parables and
the explanation of this parable (Matt 13:10; Mark 4:10; Luke 8:9). Y‘shua first explained His purpose for
speaking in parables.
He was teaching ―the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 13:11; "kingdom of God"; Mark 4:11; Luke
8:10). A ―mystery" is simply a "hidden purpose or counsel‖. (Thayer 420). It is not necessarily difficult to
understand. It's simply secret from general knowledge until revealed or made known. The ―kingdom of
heaven" is YHWH's rule, particularly in the hearts of His people (cf. Dan 4:3, 25-26, 34-35; Luke 17:20-21).
This parable makes known how YHWH exercises His rule among men so that some are lost and some are
saved. For those who heed, this profound concept will cease from being a mystery and become a revelation.