February 1, 2026

The Mysteries of the Kingdom – The Parable of the Sower and the Seed

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Matthew 13:1-23
Service Type:

Introduction

  • We have been looking at the kingdom of God:
    1. Seeking first the kingdom of God
      • What has been our priority?
    2. Repent the kingdom of heaven is at hand
      • Have you repented of your sin?
      • As Christians do you continually repent?
    3. The Compassionate King
  • Today: the mysteries of the kingdom of God
    • "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given" (v11)
  • Looking at the parable of the sower – a human title
    • John MacArthur prefers to call it ‘the parable of the soils’ – explanation
    • The parable of the seed
    • The parable of the Sower and the seed
  • One main truth and other sub-truths
    • Preachers and those studying the Bible should not read things into the text
    • We should seek to understand the intention of the original author (through the Holy Spirit)
    • We must seek these truths
      • Jesus tells us the meaning of the parable: seed, sower, soils, a fruitful harvest

What is the seed?

  • Seeds are small
    • They germinate and grow into a great harvest
    • They become great plants – great oak trees come from small acorns
  • Jesus – some say He was a moral man, a good example, a religious leader – with an insignificant message, but no!
    • The seed is the word of the Kingdom (v19)
    • The message of God/the gospel (Luke 8:11)
  • Truth divine from heaven
    • Do you even get tired of the message?
    • Would you not save a drowning child?
  • Have you heard this word – do you have "ears to hear"

What about the sower?

  • The sower is the Son of Man – Jesus Christ
    • Jesus came through the preaching of the apostles
    • Jesus sows His word today through the servants of God – through us
  • The work of a sower – example/explanation
    • It is not an easy work
    • There was much effort involved
    • There was much disappointment
  • How much effort are we putting into sowing the seed?
    • God has called us to preach the gospel
      • How do we rest?
      • How do we work?
      • What about with our neighbours, in work, in school
      • Quote from Spurgeon

Why does some seed fail?

  • Three out of four seeds fail
    • This does not mean that 75% will fail, but:
      • We will face rejection
      • We will see those who readily embrace but turn away from the Lord
      • We will see those of many years who drop away
    • Yet there will be a harvest
  • Hardness in people/the condition of the human heart (v19)
    • People do not understand
    • The devil takes the message away – example
    • They have dull hearts, affected hearing, closed eyes – they have done this
      • The people of God have ears to hear and understand
  • No root (v20)
    • Some receive the word with joy – example
    • The word did not take root
      • Christ was never Lord of their life/they had not repented of their sin
      • People can attend church for years and still be ‘shallow’
        • Example of Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones’ wife
    • Be careful not to have a shallow faith that you fall over in times of trial
  • Thorny ground (22)
    • Example of Demas, Judas, Ananias and Sapphira, Simon the Magician
    • The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil

What brings the sower delight?

  • A great harvest – 30/60/100-fold
    • The sower scattered the seed but God did the work
    • This should encourage us
      • We do not rely on our own strength
      • We rely on God
      • Present truth but do not force agendas
      • Example of Hope House
      • We cannot keep people in the Church – present the gospel and sow the word
« Divine Sovereignty in the face of Human Conspiracy The Mysteries of the Kingdom – The Parable of the Wheat and Tares »