Sower
Source:
Summary:
The Parable of the Sower was given by Jesus Christ to his disciples, and the multitude gathered around them, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The parable uses the metaphor of a sower scattering seeds (σπόρος, זֶרַע) in different types of soil to illustrate how people respond to the gospel message. The field represents the world, the sower represents Christ and his servants, and the different soil types represent the conditions of people's hearts and their receptiveness to the word (λόγος, דָּבָר, אֹמֶר, and מִלָּה).
The four types of soil mentioned in the parable are the wayside (ὁδόν, דֶּרֶך, less frequently for אֹרַח), stony places (πετρώδης, אֶבֶן, סֶלַע), ground with thorns (ἀκάνθα, various), and good ground (καλὴν τὴν γῆν). These different soil types can be interpreted in several ways; below are some traditional interpretations.
The wayside represents a hardened path that prevents the seed from taking root (ῥίζα, שֶׁרֶשׁ); this might be used to symbolize those who hear the word but do not appreciate, understand, or simply reject it.
The stony places represent those who receive the word with joy but do not have deep (βάθος) roots; this analogy symbolizes those whose faith or knowledge may not have depth enough to withstand the challenges they encounter or those who may face substantial stumbling blocks.
The ground with thorns represents those who receive the word but might be choked by worldly cares, circumstances, and distractions, possibly representing those who prioritize temporal or material factors over spiritual growth and progress.
The good ground represents those who hear the word, understand it, and produce fruit (καρπός, פְּרִי), symbolizing those who have a receptive heart and strive to bear spiritual fruit.
In the context of Christ's day, the parable addressed the social issues of religious and cultural opposition to the gospel message, persecution, and the need for perseverance in faith. It also conveyed the importance of having a receptive heart to the message and the role of the Apostles in spreading the gospel.
In a modern context, the Parable of the Sower remains relevant as it highlights people's different responses to the gospel message, and their rediness to receive it. It emphasizes the need for a receptive heart, deep roots, and spiritual discipline to grow and bear fruit in faith. The parable also highlights the role of missionary work and discipleship in spreading the gospel message, caring for others, and cultivating an environment for spiritual growth.
Additional Words, Phrases, & Translations to Note:
Kingdom of Heaven (βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν,
-refered to in Hebrew texts as: מַלְכוּת הַשָׁמַיִם
“ears to hear ... the mysteries (μυστήριον רָזָא, and סוד).” Matt 13:11 (INT), Mark 4:11 (INT) , Luke 8:10 (INT)
Matt 13:15 (INT)
"fulfilled ἀναπληροῦται, מָלֵא מְקוֹם"
"heart is waxed gross ἐπαχύνθη" (past tense form of παχύνω, "to become thick, dull, calloused, hard")
"their ears dull of hearing, τοῖς ὠσὶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν"
"their eyes they have closed, τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν"
"They should see, ἴδωσιν"
"with their hearts (καρδίᾳ, לֵב and לֵבָב), should understand (συνῶσιν, בִּין, and הִשְׂכִּיל) and should be converteted (ἐπιστρέψωσιν, הָפַך, סָבַב and פָּנָה, שׁוּב)
"I should heal them (ἰάσωμαι)"
Structurally and phoenetically speaking, the use of (ἰάσωμαι) is quite interesting. The stem of this word is ἰός, and it means "poison." To make this stem a verb, the reflexive -ῶμαι suffix is added, indicating an action that is both performed and reciprocated back to the person perfoming the task. This suggests that in healing others, Christ, who was the one performing the action of healing, is taking on the the poison himself. Phoentically, the initial ἰά that begins this word is a homophone of the Hebrew Ya, which is an acronym of Jehovah. This may have been an intentional word play used by the Savior to help people understand the significance of his role as both the God of the Old Testament and the Messiah.
Additional Resources:
The Parable of the Sower by Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Come, Follow Me Commentary: The New Testament (Second Edition) by Lynne Wilson
