BaptistWay: Seed sowing and secret truths

• The BaptistWay lesson for Jan. 24 focuses on Matthew 13:1-23.

This week’s lesson focuses on a well-known parable of Jesus. As we saw in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, Jesus is teaching the crowds and the disciples from a central position—earlier on a mountain and here on a boat.

Once again, he is sitting (13:1-2) and tells them “many things in parables” (13:3). Parables are teachings that utilize everyday situations to explain some facet of a more complex whole. Jesus uses them to describe the kingdom of God, and sometimes they even begin by stating, “The kingdom of heaven is like …” (Matthew 13:31).

Each synoptic Gospel—Matthew, Mark and Luke—has slightly different characteristics for its parables. For example, the parables in Mark’s Gospel are intended to perplex and confuse even the disciples. In Matthew, however, parables are less puzzling and more explanatory, although they are grouped together, which intensifies their force. In fact, aside from the parable in this passage, this chapter also contains parables about weeds and wheat (13:24-29), mustard seed (13:31-32), yeast (13:33), hidden treasure (13:44), fine pearls (13:45-46) and a net (13:47-50).

Parable of the Soils

The particular parable in focus usually is called the “Parable of the Seed” or the “Parable of the Sower.” However, this is a misnomer, since the seed and the sower are the constant elements of the parable; they remain the same. Thus, we might call it the “Parable of the Soils,” since the only differences that we see center on the various types of soil. Aside from the good soil (13:8), we have soil surrounded by thorns (13:7), shallow soil in rocky places (13:5) and virtually non-existent soil along the path (13:4). Each soil produces a separate effect for the seed, ranging from wholesale loss to abundant harvest.

Yet, parables have limits of interpretation, because they have a specific purpose. In other words, they can be stretched too far if we are not paying attention. Hence, Jesus begins by declaring, “Listen!” (13:3). We see these limits in the soils and in the farmer. In short, even though Jesus is using familiar elements to speak the parable, he is not giving a farming lesson. Thus, while the soil’s quality—especially as described in the parable—remains approximately the same in each place, we can become more or less receptive to the gospel. That is, we are not always the same type of soil. Moreover, Jesus’ farmer is sowing seed indiscriminately, carelessly throwing seed where he or she knows the chances of success are small. Because of this, when Jesus says, “Whoever has ears, let them hear” (13:9), we should be aware what we are hearing is not advice about crops.

Jesus’ disciples ask him why he speaks in this manner (13:10). They are not confused by Jesus’ words, but by his actions. Jesus tells them the parables should signal to the disciples they have received “the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven” (13:11). The crowds, then, lack the necessary sense perception to share in this knowledge. We should note, however, that by looking over the disciples’ shoulders here in this passage, we also are included among their number. That is, we have heard the parable, we hear the interpretation, and we have the same knowledge.

The seed

A key question for us as we read the parable is this: What is the seed? Later, Jesus will describe it as “the message about the kingdom” (13:19), but what is that exactly? Is it only the initial message of salvation? Or is it the whole vision of God’s working in the world? If it is the former, then we are left with the simple drive to share this message with those who have not heard, but we ourselves are more distant from the audience of that message since we already have received it. However, if it is the latter (which seems more likely), then we are called continually to embrace not only salvation, but also all of God’s ways in the world, which include the full restoration of justice, healing and hope for all creation. Therefore, emergence of the kingdom of God would be the abundant yield produced by the good soil (13:9, 23). Jesus tells us that this same kingdom has come near in himself. So, we see, as the parables point to the coming of God’s kingdom, they ultimately point to Christ.

Jesus tells the disciples (and us), “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear” (13:16). Much has been given to the disciples and to us. Yet, the parables demand more from us. They are invitations to be faithfully lived out. This means we should always seek to be fertile soil in receiving the fullness of God’s kingdom. To do so, we should try to emulate the “wastefulness” of this farmer. That is, we should scatter what we have been given, whether it is wealth, responsibility, status or power. We should do so without any expectation of quick return, since we remember the sower in this parable had to wait patiently for the full cultivation of the seed in the good soil. In fact, it would seem developing that sort of patience might also be a mark of the church that eagerly awaits God’s kingdom.