Parables -
Parables of the Soils
Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23
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Listening —Do you realize how few people really hear the inaudible? How few really see the invisible?
An Indian was walking in downtown New York City alongside a friend who was a resident of the city. Right in the center of Manhattan, the Indian seized his friend's arm and whispered, "Wait. I hear a cricket."
His friend said, "Come on! Cricket? Man, this is downtown New York."
He persisted, "No, seriously, I really do."
"It's impossible!" was the response. "You can't hear a cricket! Taxis going by. Horns honkin'. People screamin' at each other. Brakes screeching. Both sides of the street filled with people. Cash registers clanging away. Subways roaring beneath us. You can't possibly hear a cricket!"
The Indian insisted, "Wait a minute!" He led his friend along, slowly. They stopped, and the Indian walked down to the end of the block, went across the street, looked around, cocked his head to one side, but couldn't find it. He went across another street, and there in a large cement planter where a tree was growing, he dug into the mulch and found the cricket. "See!" he yelled, as he held the insect high above his head.
His friend walked across the street, marveling, "How in the world could it be that you heard a cricket in the middle of downtown busy Manhattan?"
The Indian said, "Well, my ears are different from yours. It simply depends on what you're listening to. Here, let me show you." And he reached in his pocket and pulled out a handful of change--a couple of quarters, three or four nickels, and some dimes and pennies. Then he said, "Now watch." He held the coins waist high and dropped them to the sidewalk. Every head within a block turned around and looked in the direction of the Indian.
It all depends on what you're listening for.
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
· Is it uncomfortable sharing our faith? For those who do, why don’t we feel comfortable sharing our faith today?
The Parable of the Sower – Matthew 13:3-9, 18-30
3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
18“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When 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. 20The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22The 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. 23But 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.”
The Parable of the Weeds
24Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
37He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.42They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
The Parable of the Growing Seed – Mark 4:26-29
26He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
1. Why is the image of a sower particularly appropriate for describing how the Word is spread?
2. What can Christians do to encourage each other to spread the kingdom?
3. Whose job is the Great Commission today?
4. What 4 types of soil does Jesus mention? What characterizes each? What happens to the seed in each kind of soil?
5. What does Jesus’ explanation of the parable (vv. 18-23) reveal about the seed? About the various soils? The fruit? The farmer?
6. Why is God’s divine plan for each Christian to use his individual, God-appointed gift to “plant the seed” superior to our usual practice of evangelizing in the church today?
7. What feelings do you experience when you know you have effectively planted a small seed of God?
8. What do you think would happen in the church if we truly believed and practiced this truth about evangelizing “It’s a team effort, not some macho-Christian heroic run around the end, and God is the quarterback?”
9. What do parables accomplish that simple and direct speech lacks?
10. Are we more likely to describe the negative about the Good News? What is God’s good news to you about salvation and evangelism?
11. After reading 13:24-30; 36-43, What can happen when Christians attempt to “pull the weeds” themselves?
12. Who, then, is responsible for harvesting? (Luke 16:22)
13. What can happen when Christians try to play the role of harvester?
14. Can you think of any reason why the Evil One would want to plant weeds (false wheat) in the church?
Reflective Questions — Live it today.
1. “Evangelism is any word or act that moves another person even slightly closer to God.” With this definition in mind, what can we do to evangelize?
2. How would you explain this parable to a bunch of city kids who don’t know anything about sowing a field? What modern analogy would you use?
3. Why do so many people misunderstand the Gospel?
4. What deep “roots” help to prevent a believer from falling away? What gives you roots?
5. What worries can choke your growth in Christ? How can you free your life from these “thorns”?
6. What crop does Jesus want believers to yield?
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