The Parable of the Sower--Matthew 13:1-23

1. Ethics (Sermon on the Mount)
2. Discipleship (Lordship, costs of following, interactions with Jews and Gentiles)
3. Mission (sending out the disciples)
4. The Kingdom (“the kingdom of heaven is like…..”)
5. Church and End Times (the Olivet discourse, the crucifixion, and resurrection)
6.   Understanding the parable
7.     The “great aside”
8.   Applications of the parable

 "At its simplest a parable is a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness, and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt of its precise application to tease it into active thought." - CH Dodd The Parables of the Kingdom, 1935

Some points about interpreting parables: 

1. They are made-up stories to illustrate a larger spiritual truth.  We interpret them as parables, not as historical narrative.
2. There is usually one point or very few points being made.  Stretching it beyond that leads to problems.

Luke 14:16-23:

“A man once gave a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’ But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going out to examine them. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, and I cannot come.’ So the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the master of the household was furious and said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ Then the slave said, ‘Sir, what you instructed has been done, and there is still room.’ So the master said to his slave, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads and urge people to come in, so that my house will be filled. For I tell you, not one of those individuals who were invited will taste my banquet!’”

 "Our text becomes especially fatal when we understand the first three soils as others (e.g., Israel or the unchurched) and the fourth soil as ourselves. The text works as it was intended to work only when it is used self-critically. For Matthew assumes that in the church there are people who are completely untouched by the gospel, even though they hear it all the time. Should we not wonder about ourselves if we hear this parable honestly?” n- Ulrich Luz 1938 - 2019

1. This parable should encourage us to see and listen to what God is doing in our lives.
2. This parable should encourage us to be patient with God, with others, and with ourselves, since much of the seed sown did not yield fruit.
3. This parable should encourage us to be responsible in responding to God’s word.
4. The Great Aside should remind us of the essential quality of humility that all Christians must possess.