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THE SOWER

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 10, 1876

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 48, No. 7.

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THE SOWER.

By John G. Matteson

BY ELD. JOHN G. MATTESON.
Text: “The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up: some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth; and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up, and choked them; but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” Matt. 13:1–8.
It is a common idea in our day that religious worship consists merely of certain ceremonies and forms, which are confined to a certain time and a certain house. Yet Christ preached the word in the temple, in the synagogue, in the house, on the sea side, in the desert, and on the mountain. He was instant, in season and out of season, in regular meetings and in all other places, on the Sabbath, and on all other days. To worship God means simply to do his will at all times, and in all places.
On the occasion here spoken of Jesus sat in a ship, and the audience stood on the shore.
“And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.” Verses 3, 4.
This parable was taken from a well-known act in every-day life. In Judea the roads were not fenced up as they are here. A road was nothing but a path across the field. This path was trodden down by man and beast until it was hard and unfitted to receive the seed. There was no soil to cover it; thus it soon became food for the birds. This is the first kind of soil among the six kinds described by our Saviour. Perhaps it possessed as good qualities as the good ground, but from want of suitable preparation, it was entirely unfit to receive the seed, and thus it brought forth no fruit.
“Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.” Verses 5, 6.
This part of the field, as here described, was filled with stone. The soil itself might be very good, but it was so stony that there was no room for the seed, nor moisture for it. The seed sprung up and received life—it went farther than that which fell by the way side—yet the tender life was not nourished, for which reason it soon faded away. The heat of the sun, which should have sustained life, became, under these circumstances, a source of death. And it produced no fruit.
“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them.” Verse 7.
The third kind of soil was full of thorns, and they grew faster than the seed. At last they gained the victory, and choked the seed entirely, so that it brought forth no fruit. Had the thorns been taken out of the way, then they would not have choked the seed. But for some reason or other, this soil had not been well prepared, and it was therefore unfruitful.
“But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Verses 8, 9.
All people have ears, but all will not open their ears to hear. “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.” Verses 15, 16. There are, alas! too many who choose to close their eyes against the precious truth of God. May the Lord help you, dear reader, to choose the better part, that the words of our Saviour in the sixteenth verse may be applied to you, and his blessing rest upon you.
Our Lord describes three kinds of fruitful ground. These three kinds of soil do not possess the same degree of fertility, yet they are all called good ground, because they bring forth fruit—some more, and some less.
The Saviour then explains the parable of the sower to his disciples in very plain words: “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way-side.” Verses 18, 19.
Mark writes: “The sower soweth the word.” Chap. 4:14. And Luke: “The seed is the word of God.” Luke 8:11. He that proclaims the “word of the kingdom” or the “word of God” to his fellow-men is, therefore, the sower. Two things belong especially to the preaching of the word: First, the commandment and will, doctrine and example, of our Lord must be presented, and not merely human commandments, traditions, and ceremonies. Secondly, the word of God must be applied in the proper place, time, and manner; the self-righteous and careless must be warned and rebuked, the weak and desponding, comforted and encouraged; and that portion of the word which belongs especially to our time and generation must be faithfully presented.
There are but comparatively few preachers who do this. And when it happens that such an one comes to some place to preach “the word of the kingdom,” it immediately becomes a great question with the people whether it is best to attend or not. Many are so prejudiced that they will not hear at all. They despise the word. This class is not mentioned by our Saviour in this parable. He speaks of those who have courage to go. Yet some of these do not understand that which is spoken, although they hear. They have no taste for eternal and heavenly things, and cannot appreciate the value of truth and immortality. The world and sin have so long trampled down the soil of the heart that the moral and religious nature is hardened, and the word makes no impression at all. Yet the wicked one is all ready to do what he can; for he knows that it is present truth that is proclaimed. Therefore, he tries immediately to snatch away the word, even from these hardened minds, and perhaps he will even try to excite them to hinder the work of God by low conversation and evil works.
“But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” Verses 20, 21.
Here is another class of people. They not only hear the word, but receive it immediately with joy. They see plainly that the truth is harmonious and rests on a good foundation. They are even anxious to learn something from Christ, and desire at last to obtain eternal life. The word makes a good, but not a very deep, impression upon them. The work is superficial. They still love the world and its lusts more than they love God and the truth. There is no thorough change of heart. The carnal mind is still like stony ground in which the incorruptible seed in vain seeks for nourishment. And that tribulation and persecution on account of the word, which should serve to ripen the seed and develop the spiritual life, scorches it instead of imparting new life and vigor. They are quickly offended when they have to bear crosses and endure tribulation on account of the truth. They leave the narrow road, because it is too straight for them, and afterward glide quietly down the stream of unbelief and carelessness unto destruction.
“He also that received seed among thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” Verse 22.
Mark says, “The cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” And Luke, “When they have heard, they go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”
The class of people here spoken of hear the word, and it receives life in the heart; for if it had no life, it could not be choked. The incorruptible seed of the word germinates. It grows, and the plant is seen. But the seed of the world, and of the pleasures of this life, grows also, and becomes stronger than the good seed. The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one against the other. A struggle arises in the soul between good and evil. The interest that was manifested at first decreases. The anxious, unbelieving query arises, “What shall we eat? what shall we drink? and wherewithal shall we be clothed?” This is exactly what the Gentiles inquire about; for they have no living faith or real confidence in our Heavenly Father. They do not seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
Some are so filled up with such untimely cares for this life that there is no room for the word of God, nor time for prayer, nor taste for spiritual and eternal things. Others covet riches and study more how to increase their amount of property, than how to honor God and advance his cause and truth in the earth. Others yield to the lusts of other things, which, entering in, cause the word to become unfruitful.
The world is not well-disposed toward the children of God. They are not situated here as though they were planted in a friendly garden, but in a barren desert, where they are continually exposed to corruption, and can thrive only by diligent and patient care. Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. If the thorns of worldliness are not exterminated, they will increase and choke the heavenly plant, so that it never can bring forth fruit.
“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Verse 23.
Luke says, “But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15.
The word of God can only thrive in the good ground. But the soil of the heart will never be good until men learn to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts. God has promised those who come out from the unbelief and idolatry of this world that he will be their father, and they shall be his sons and daughters. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1.
When the spirit thus overcomes the flesh, and the word of God is received into an honest and good heart, which brings forth fruit with patience, then the seed springs and grows up. The earth brings forth fruit, first the blade, then the ear, and after that the full corn in the ear. Mark 4:28. And when the fruit is perfected, then comes the harvest, when the ripe bundles shall be gathered home to the heavenly garner. Then every faithful servant shall rejoice forever with the Lord, both he that brought an hundredfold, and they that brought sixty and thirty.