Jesus Christ most often taught using figurative language, which includes telling parables. He used every day circumstances, events, and things to teach higher spiritual realities. A parable could be a short pithy aphorism or a longer story, like the Parable of the Sower of Seed. As explained in the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, in a parable, there are literal surface level details coupled with symbolism. The “term ‘parable’ (“to throw alongside”) implies, the literal details represent something else, which is the essential method of symbolism.”[1] Therefore, a parable is a comparison between one thing and another. In the Parable of the Sower of Seed, there is a comparison between the natural world and the spiritual world.
In his book The IVP Bible Background Commentary, Professor Craig Keener explained that Jewish sages before and after Jesus often taught using parables to communicate their message.[2] In the New Testament, only Jesus taught using story parables,[3] which He specifically tailored to His audience. Many in Jesus’s audience were Galilean farmers.[4] Although there were a lot of little towns in Galilee, most the people worked the land.[5] Therefore, Jesus’s use of agrarian illustrations in the Parable of the Sower of Seed was perfectly tailored to His audience at that time.
At Mark 4:1-20, we read the Parable of the Sower of Seed.[6] The purpose of the parable is to provide insight about the Kingdom of God (Mark 4:11). At the time of His parable, a large crowd had assembled adjacent to the Sea of Galilee to hear Jesus speak (Mark 4:1). Speaking from a boat (Mark 4:1) provided excellent acoustics for Jesus to address a very large audience.[7]
In the parable, as the Sower scattered his seed (usually by hand or through holes in a sack),[8] some of the seed fell alongside the road, but the ground was too hard, and the birds came and ate the seed (Mark 4:4). Keener notes that the “road” was most likely a footpath in the field.[9] Other seed was thrown on rocky soil, which had no depth (Mark 4:5). The seed sprouted quickly, but its root had no depth (Mark 4:5). Unfortunately, the sun scorched and withered the plant. Keener explains, “Much of the land in Palestine has only a thin layer of soil over rock; if the sower had not plowed first, he would not be aware that he wasted seed on this soil until after the fact.”[10]
Further, some seed fell among weeds, and the weeds choked the good seed, and it yielded no crop (Mark 4:7). Keener notes that in an event such as this, the weeds or thistles were probably unseen by the farmer.[11] Instead of pulling out the weeds by the roots, the farmer had probably just burned or cut the field. The roots of the weeds were left behind, and the weeds or thistles later grew from the roots alongside and choked out the good seed.[12]
However, we also learn that some of the seed fell on good soil and the good soil yielded fruit. The fruit sprang up, increased, and yielded thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and as much as one hundredfold (Mark 4:8). Keener notes that thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold are all “tremendously good harvests from Galilean soil.”[13] The average yield in Palestine was tenfold, which means for every seed sown, ten seeds would likely be harvested.[14]
Jesus completed the story by saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:9). Most everyone has ears, but not everybody wants to seek understanding. Many are satisfied with life on a surface level. They are not interested in a deeper meaning. There is a hidden, spiritual world behind the material world that many never see. Keener noted that most sages told the audience the main point, and then the sage used the story to illustrate the sage’s points or main point.[15] Here, however, Jesus explained His teaching points afterwards and only to His disciples. Most of Jesus’s audience was left in ignorance unless they deliberately sought out greater understanding. If we want to understand the message of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, we must dig below the surface. We must seek the greater spiritual reality behind the surface reality. We are called to become disciples (students) of Christ.
As explained by Keener, the Old Testament provided many examples of some, like King Saul, who fell away, and some, like King David (though far from perfect), who persevered.[16] Disciples must listen carefully and seek greater understanding. As soon as they were alone with Jesus, His followers and the twelve asked Jesus to further explain His Parable of the Sower of the Seed (Mark 4:10). Jesus told His disciples that they would be taught the mysteries (mysterion) of the Kingdom of God, but those on the outside would hear and perceive only the surface reality. The Greek word mysterion is defined as hidden, secret, or inside information.[17]
Providing insight to the Parable of the Sower of Seed, Jesus explained that the seed was symbolic of the Word of God (Mark 4:14). Further, we must understand that the quality of the soil was symbolic of the receptivity of the human heart or soul. Humans have different degrees or levels of receptivity to the Word. Some are hard of heart like the road or path. Jesus explained that the birds were symbolic of the emissaries of Satan who come and eat the good seed (Mark 4:15). This phenomenon could actually describe both an unbeliever or a new or immature believer. Two things are happening. The individual has a hardened soul, and there are emissaries of Satan who try to dissuade the individual from faith.
Then there is seed sown on rocky places (Mark 4:16-17). However, the hard rock subsurface is hidden below the surface of dirt. Therefore, initially, these hearts receive the word with joy. There is a faith response. Yet, they have no firm root, and they eventually fall away. Jesus explained that they fall away because of things like affliction (thlipsis) or persecution. The Greek word thlipsis includes things like “tribulation, stress, pressure, and oppression.”[18] Most every growing Christian will sense some level of opposition and antagonism from the world. To seek the Kingdom of God is contrary to the Zeitgeist (the false spirit of the age). The Parable of the Sower of Seed is teaching us that we must have perseverance over many years.
Next, Jesus explained the meaning of the seed (the word) spread among the thorns. The good seed is in competition with the bad seed. The Word from God is good, but the word from Satan, his emissaries, or our sinful inclination is evil. Jesus explained that the thorns included “the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things” (Mark 4:19). In Luke’s recording of this parable, he added the “pleasures of life” (Luke 8:14). Jesus explained that the bad seed choked the good seed, which caused the good seed to become unfruitful. Misplaced priorities choke out the Word of God, and the believer has no spiritual fruitfulness.
However, something entirely different occurs when the Word of God is sown in good soil (meaning in a humble and receptive heart) (Mark 4:20). Under those circumstances, the Word becomes tremendously fruitful, thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and some even a hundredfold. Such believers hear the Word and accept (paradechomai) it (Mark 4:20). The Greek word paradechomai means “to receive, accept, and to take to one’s self.”[19] So, what does fruitfulness in a believer look like? In other words, what does fruitfulness in the Kingdom of God look like? At Galatians 5:22, the Apostle Paul taught that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control.” This is another of Paul’s descriptions of life in the Kingdom of God (Gal. 5:22). Here, Paul added a few more descriptors to our previously discussed “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). Both verses are explicitly describing Kingdom Living or Life in the Kingdom of God, which is Eternal Life or God’s own life shared with His people.
In summary, the Parable of the Sower of Seed makes a comparison between the natural agrarian world and the spiritual, unseen world. There is a real need for growth to maturity and fruitfulness. However, there is opposition, and there is a need for endurance, perseverance, and right priorities. Ultimately, the quantity of fruitfulness reveals the quality of the soil or soul. The good soul is receptive to the Word of God. God seeks to move us, and we must receive or accept His movement.
The featured image on this page is titled “Sermon on the Mount” by Carl Henrich Bloch. Available on public domain. Courtesy of www.carlbloch.org.
[1] “Parable.” Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, edited by Leland Ryken, et al, InterVarsity Press, 1998.
[2] Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Second Ed. InterVarsity Press, 2014, pp. 78-9.
[3] Keener, p. 79.
[4] Keener, p. 79.
[5] Keener, p. 200.
[6] This parable can also be read in Luke, Chapter 8, and in Matthew, Chapter 13.
[7] Keener, p. 137.
[8] Keener, p. 79.
[9] Keener, p. 137.
[10] Keener, p. 79.
[11] Keener, p. 79.
[12] Keener, p. 79.
[13] Keener, p. 79.
[14] Keener, p. 79.
[15] Keener, pp. 79, 137-8.
[16] Keener, p. 79.
[17] “G3466 – mystērion – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 18 Jan, 2022. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3466/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.
[18] “G2347 – thlipsis – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 18 Jan, 2022. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2347/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.
[19] “G3858 – paradechomai – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 18 Jan, 2022. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3858/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.