Parable of the Sower Matthew 13:1-9, 18-2

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Gospel reading for Sunday July 10th 2011

This is probably one of the best known parables. Many would claim that it is also one of the best understood, because of the explanation that Jesus himself gives to His disciples (see the second part of the reading.)

But let's start with the premise that this parable is NOT about us, but rather about the way God acts and works. If we start out by viewing it through the "it's all about God lens" we may well be in for a surprise.

Some thoughts ...

This parable is one of the very early parables that Jesus told - possibly the first of the recognizable parables. It has been described as the WATERSHED parable - the point in Jesus ministry where he starts to seriously address his teaching agenda. Others say that it should be called the parable of the soils ... but that possibly leads us to focus more on us rather than the way God works.

The extravagance, bordering on recklessness of the Sower is worth noting. No farmer in his right mind would "waste" so much seed by literally spreading it everywhere, including the most unlikely places for growth and return.

Jesus explains that the Sower is God and the seed is the WORD. More than one perceptive commentator has picked up the link with the WORD and Jesus that is unfolded at the beginning of John's Gospel. So the seed that God has distributed is not simply the good news but rather JESUS himself. The world is fully covered, leaving no gaps ... Jesus is present EVERYWHERE in the world.

Jesus delivers his first lesson on the KINGDOM. Viewed then through the lens of HOW GOD WORKS we see Jesus starting to tell the Jewish people that His Kingdom is available to all (the WORD is spread in abundance over all types of soils). Hidden between the lines here is also the idea that just because you are a Jew - don't automatically think you are OK with God.

The sower in the parable dares to plant the seed in every nook and cranny, even in places where germination may not seem likely. (Jesus is present all over the world.)

(There is a fascinating connection to the Parable of the Mustard seed that follows later in the chapter. In Luke's version we note that a man planted the seed in his garden. It was actually illegal to cultivate the mustard plant in home gardens!! ... but that's a story for another day.)

There is something outstandingly profound arising out of this view of the parable of the Sower. As we go about our humble efforts to connect people to Jesus ... let's be buoyed by the realization that whatever the situation, whatever the context, Jesus is already there before we start to deliver, before we utter a word, before we arrive on the scene.

That's only a starting point for The Parable of Sower ... but what an environment to start our sowing ... with Jesus already present on and in the scene.

May our seed sowing efforts from this term result in an outstanding harvest!

Nev