The Sower
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The parable of The Sower is sometimes called the parable of The Four Soils. We have looked at each soil in the past two posts and have seen how it represents the heart's level of response, reception and commitment upon hearing the Word of God. We know that Jesus explained that the seeds represent "the word of God" (Luke 8:11) or "word of the kingdom." (Matthew 13:19)
The Sower, however is not identified explicitly. We are simply told "A sower went out to sow his seed..." (Luke 8:5) Imagine Jesus - out in a boat, close to the great multitude of people who had gathered on the shore to hear him, calling out over the water to teach them about the kingdom of God. Indeed, he was scattering the seeds of the Word of God on many types of soil that day. He embodied the sower in the parable. Imagine the different people who came to hear him. Many came because they were curious, because they had heard Jesus healed people and were looking to see or hear something amazing. Others came because they were hungry for truth and wanted to know more about Jesus' message about the kingdom of God. Then they heard the parable of The Sower - about a farmer who scatters seeds on many types of ground and only the seeds that fall on the good soil grow to a bountiful harvest. This was not shocking - it was common knowledge. To many, this was like being taught Farming 101, and they walked away without further investigation, likely scoffing or disappointed they hadn't seen a miracle. To some, this pricked their hearts, and they wanted to know more. The Bible tells us that there were others Jesus explained the parable to beside the twelve disciples. These were people who were not content to go home - they sought Jesus out to understand the parable - they were searching for truth.
While Jesus is an example of the sower, he does not identify himself as the sower. This is likely because the sower is any person who scatters the seeds of the Word of God, the Gospel message and the kingdom of God. Paul said in a letter to the Corinthians "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." (1 Cor. 3:6) Paul was speaking of the body of believers there at Corinth, and likened himself and fellow laborer Apollos to farmers. In fact, all believers are called to be like the sower. We are told in 1 Peter 3:15 "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you the reason of the hope that is in you" and Jesus gave us the great commission to "Go... and teach all nations." (Matthew 28:19)
Jesus also explained that the sower scattered seeds on different types of soil without exclusion. This demonstrates God's love, grace and Gospel message extended to all people, regardless of heart condition or outcome. Many people hearing this parable wondered why the farmer was being so wasteful - to scatter so much good seed on poor soil was unthinkable and foolish. Yet, Jesus illustrates that although the soils are vastly different from one another; all are deemed worthy to receive the seed, regardless of perceived potential or worth.
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