Parable of the Sower.

  17 For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not. [Our Lord here gives us a glance into the very hearts of the prophets, and reveals to us their desire to be witnesses of Messiah's ministry. But knowing they were not to see their visions realized, they contented themselves with trying to understand the full meaning of their visions, that they might anticipate the days which were to come-- 1 Peter 1:10-12 .]

  ^b 13 And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables? [This is a concession rather than a reproof. Parables could not be understood without a key; but a few examples of parables explained would furnish such a key.]

  ^a 18 Hear then ye the parable of the sower.

God.

  ^b 14 The sower soweth the word.

  15 And these {^c those} ^b by the way side, where the word is sown; ^a are they that have heard; ^b and when they have heard,; ^c then ^b straightway cometh Satan, ^c the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, ^b which hath been sown in them. ^c that they may not believe and be saved.

  ^a 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.

[The four soils are four hearts into which truth is sown. The first heart, represented by the wayside, is one which is too hardened for the Word to make any impression. It represents several classes of people, as: 1. Those whose hearts have been made insensible by the routine of meaningless rites and lifeless formalities. 2. Those who had deadened their sensibilities by perversity and indifference. 3. Those whose hearts were hardened by the constant march and countermarch of evil thoughts. God's word lies on the surface of such hearts, and Satan can use any insignificant or innocent passing thoughts as a bird to carry out of their minds anything which they may have heard. The preacher's voice has scarcely died away until some idle criticism of him or some careless bit of gossip about a neighbor causes them to forget the sermon.]

  ^b 14 The sower soweth the word.

  15 And these {^c those} ^b by the way side, where the word is sown; ^a are they that have heard; ^b and when they have heard,; ^c then ^b straightway cometh Satan, ^c the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, ^b which hath been sown in them. ^c that they may not believe and be saved.

  ^a 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.

  ^b 16 And these {^c those} ^b in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, {^c rock} ^b who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it {^c the word} with joy;

  ^b 17 and they {^c these} ^b have no root in themselves, but endure {^c who believe} for a while; ^b then, when affliction or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble. ^c and in time of temptation fall away.

  ^a 20 And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it;

  21 yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while;

of the word, straightway he stumbleth. [This shallow, rock-covered soil represents those who are deficient in tenacity of purpose. Those who receive the word, but whose impulsive, shallow nature does not retain it, and whose enthusiasm was as short-lived as it was vigorous. Any opposition, slight or severe, makes them partial or total apostates. As sunlight strengthens the healthy plant, but withers the sickly, ill-rooted one, so tribulation establishes real faith, but destroys its counterfeit.]

  ^b 17 and they {^c these} ^b have no root in themselves, but endure {^c who believe} for a while; ^b then, when affliction or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble. ^c and in time of temptation fall away.

  ^a 20 And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it;

  21 yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while;

  ^b 18 And others are they that are sown {^c which fell} among the thorns, these are they that have heard, ^b the word, ^c and as they go on their way

^b the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. ^c they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

  ^a 22 And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choked the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

[This third class represents those who begin well, but afterwards permit worldly cares to gain the mastery. These to-day outnumber all other classes, and perhaps they have always been so.]

^b the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. ^c they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

  ^a 22 And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choked the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

^b 20 And those are they that were sown upon {^c 15 And that in} the good ground; these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard {^b hear} ^c the word, hold it fast, ^b and accept it, and bear ^c and bring forth fruit with patience. ^b thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.

  ^a 23 And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

[Christianity requires three things: a sower, good seed or a pure gospel, and an honest hearer. All hearers are not equal in faithfulness. But we are not to take it that the diversity is limited to the three rates or proportions specified. Of the four hearts indicated, the first one hears, but heeds nothing; the second one external influences; the third heeds, but is choked by internal influences; the fourth heeds and holds fast until the harvest. Gallio exemplifies the first ( Acts 18:17 ). Peter and Mark for a time exemplified the second ( Mark 14:66-72 ; Acts 12:25 ; 13:13 ; 15:37-39 ). The rich ruler and Demas represent the third ( Matthew 19:22 ; 2 Timothy 4:10 ), as does also Judas Iscariot. Cornelius and the Beræans ( Acts 10:33 ; 17:11 ) show us examples of the fourth.]

  ^a 23 And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

^b 21 And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under a bed, and not to be put on the stand?

  ^c 16 No man, when he hath lighted a lamp, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but putteth it on a stand, that they which enter in may see the light.

[A passage similar to this is found at Matthew 5:15 .tfg.cgi?section=T#">Section

  ^c 16 No man, when he hath lighted a lamp, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but putteth it on a stand, that they which enter in may see the light.

  ^b 22 For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; {^c that shall not be made manifest;} ^b neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. {^c that shall not be known and come to light.}

  ^b 23 If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear.

[This passage is often taken to indicate the exposure of all things on the day of judgment. While all things shall be revealed at the judgment, this passage does not refer to that fact. Jesus did not come to put his light under a bushel; that is, to hide his teaching. All inner instruction and private information was but temporary. Our Lord's design was to reveal, not conceal. What was now concealed was only to keep back that in the end it might be more fully known. Jesus covered his light as one might shelter a candle with his hand until the flame has fully caught hold of the wick.]

  ^b 23 If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear.

  24 And he said unto them, ^c Take heed therefore how {^b what} ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you; and more shall be given unto you. ^c for whosoever

{^b he that} hath, to him shall be given: ^c and whosoever {^b he that} hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath. {^c which he thinketh he hath.}

[Most of this passage has been explained just above. See page 331. It warns us as to what we hear--things carnal or spiritual--and how we hear them, whether carefully or carelessly. As we measure attention unto the Lord, he measures back knowledge to us.]

{^b he that} hath, to him shall be given: ^c and whosoever {^b he that} hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath. {^c which he thinketh he hath.}