The Parable of the Sower of the Seed

Kingdom Principle: Seeds; Part I
Locate in Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15

Throughout scripture we find Jesus teaching in parables. Fortunately for us, when He was alone with His disciples, He spent time explaining these things. Much of what He taught were Kingdom principles. By looking at these parables and their explanation we gain insight into the workings of the Kingdom.

Perhaps the most important parable to understand is the parable of the sower. Jesus Himself confirmed this when the disciples asked its meaning, “Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” (Mark 4:13). In other words, this parable is a key that unlocks the others.

This is the Parable from Mark’s Account

“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:3-9).

The Amplified Bible puts it this way, “He who has ears to hear, let him be hearing [and let him consider, and comprehend]” (Mark 4:9 AMP). There is a truth so simple yet so profound in this parable that it is our job to hear, ponder, meditate and comprehend it.

Seeds are Kingdom Principles

Before we dive into the explanation of this parable we must understand this amazing truth, seeds are Kingdom principles. Jesus uses the illustration of a farmer planting seeds because it is something we are familiar with and we can relate to. However, the seed itself is a profound truth.

In fact, the world’s system operates on seeds. Without seeds everything would be barren and life would not exist. There would be no grass, no trees, no food and no people. God spoke the world into existence and with that, one of the first things He spoke into being was seeds. He produced seed-bearing vegetation, which gave the ability to continually reproduce (Genesis 1:11-12). This is incredibly important, God created everything with the ability to procreate through the law of seeds. In fact, mankind was not put on the earth until this was done, otherwise they would have starved and life would have ended with Adam and Eve.

When Jesus revealed the Kingdom principle of the seed to His disciples it wasn’t a new convention, this system was in place from the beginning. Jesus identified it and then explained to us how it worked so we can harness and use the principle of seeds in our own lives.

Seeds Have God’s Power in Them

Seeds have God’s power in them. Seeds can laid dormant for thousands of years and after mixing with soil and water will germinate and grow. This is because seeds are amazing! God ordained this law from the beginning and placed His power in them. It was so important that Jesus taught this to His disciples and commented that this principle was the secret to unlocking everything else (Mark 4:13).

We see this in operation in the natural all the time. Every year farmers plant crops expecting a harvest from the seeds they plant. In the same way, men and women procreate by seed. This principle works for believers and nonbelievers alike; because God set this in motion from the beginning. In the same way as in the natural, the Kingdom of God operates out of the principle of seeds. Which is why Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him be hearing [and let him consider, and comprehend]” (Mark 4:9 AMP). There is power in understanding this truth.

Comprehending the importance of seeds, getting our minds adjusted to thinking in this way will prepare us for the explanation of this parable and its application in our lives.

Join me for Part II; ‘Knowledge of Kingdom Secrets’.