The Background:The Parable of the Sower is a parable of Jesus according to all of the Synoptic Gospels (at Mark 4:1-20, Matthew 13:1-23, and Luke 8:1-15) as well as in the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas (Thomas 9). In the parable, a sower dropped seed on the path, on rocky ground, and among thorns, and the seed was lost; but when seed fell on good earth, it grew, yielding thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.
Parable Text from the Gospel of Mark (KJV)
"Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, some a hundred. He said unto them, He that has ears to hear, let him hear."
The Scenarios:
• The sower sows the word
• The seeds falling on the road represent those who hear the word but dismiss it straight away - the synoptics state that the wicked one (Matthew's wording)/Satan (Mark's wording) is what takes the word away.
• The seeds falling on the rocks represent those who hear the word, but only accept it shallowly - the synoptics state that these sorts of people reject the word as soon as it causes them affliction or persecution.
• The seeds falling on thorns represent those who hear the word, and take it to heart, but allow worldly concerns, such as money, to choke it.
• The seeds falling on good soil represents those who hear the word, and truly understand it, causing it to bear fruit in their lives.
The Sermon:We try to compare the way of the world with the way of God. There's no point doing that because they are incomparable. They are very different. Without understanding we can’t understand God. Understanding is essential. A good illustration of this is when I first got married. My mother who speaks in a heavily accented and indigenous version of the Yoruba language couldn’t communicate effectively with my wife. When my mother would ask my wife to do something, my wife would do something else, because she couldn’t understand what my mother was saying to her, so for a while I had to play interpreter between my wife and my mother till they understood each other.
If you don’t understand someone, you can’t carry out their instructions. Proverbs 18:2 states, “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but delights in airing his own opinions.” Romans 21:10 states, “But now apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. Without understanding the enemy will steal your dreams, therefore as stated in Proverbs 4:23, "Guard your heart; for out of it are the issues of life."
There are so many distractions in life. Don’t have time for time wasters. 1st Timothy 6:20 states, “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge."” Idle babble will steal the word away from your heart. For example, if you believe God for something such as curing an illness you have and you meet a person who says, “My sister believed, but she died.” Leave immediately, because they are sowing a seed in you that will kill your dream.
Matthew 13:20 states, “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.” Sometimes I preach the word and people become excited and scream and shout, but they may not be able to absorb the message because they are just too excited. Recently, I was preaching at a church in London, but the congregation was quiet, which isn’t what I am used to. I asked them if anything was wrong and if they were okay, and they responded that they were fine, which to me seemed unusual. After the service, when I asked their pastor why his congregation was so quiet, he said they were absorbing the message. When I returned to my church and as I was preaching someone acted overly excited and jumped up, I almost told the person to sit down and absorb the message. The only way to be rooted in God is to study his word. Be in close contact with God’s word because when the wind blows, it will shake you, but you will not be uprooted.
At times you can be tested by God like he did with Job, or you can be tested by the enemy, the devil. When Job was being tested, things got so bad that his wife asked him to curse God and die. That was probably so she could remarry. In her mind, here’s a man with no job or money, so she probably thought to herself, I might as well get rid of this man and remarry. Otherwise she would have said, let us die. When you hear the word, be ready to be tested on the word. You will be tested for the devil to see if you will stand after your testimony.
The word fell among thorns refers to the cares of the world which choke out the word of God. For example, party mongers will go to attend parties in New York, from Brooklyn to the Bronx. When it’s too cold there, they’re partying in Houston. They go all over to party. Some people care too much about what people say about them. It’s always, he said, she said, I don’t like what they said about me. Others are too preoccupied thinking, what will I eat and drink? How will I provide for my family? Those are some of the cares of the world that prevent the word of God from taking root in people’s lives.
Even right now as I’m preaching many people’s minds are not here. With tomorrow being Monday, some of are already thinking of what to do next. However, as we grow in Christ we must reorder our priorities. Some want to build several houses, but we can only sleep in one room at a time. Some want children, and they have them, but then they must provide for them. So they leave their 7 year old child locked up alone in the house, while they go to work to provide for the child, which isn’t right. I have learned to live everyday like it’s my last because when I die, I die. Even as the pastor, if I die, services will go even the very next day.
God has been changing my perspective since this August when I read a book I was given by the author who is a woman I have known for several years. Where I grew up, men don’t cry. Even as a child, if I was beaten and I cried all the way home, my mother would punish me and send me back to stand up for myself. However, when I began reading the book this lady gave me, I cried. For 20 years, this woman had every disease you can think of, but you couldn’t see it written all over her face or in her demeanor. This woman comes to church faithfully, is always beaming with life and greets everyone warmly. As I read the book, I texted her saying “Your story is really messing with my emotions.” After reading the book, I told my wife, that she has no problems. When you hear about some people’s problems, you will be thankful and know you have none in comparison.
The deceitfulness of riches chokes out the word of God. 1st Timothy 6:6 states, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment.” That doesn’t mean we should be weak or lazy, but we should be content with what we have. Riches are deceitful. Don’t choose a spouse because of their wealth. My mother always says, “What is not enough today, will be more than enough tomorrow.” Realize that money has wings and can fly away at any time which means someone who is rich now can be poor. Encourage your spouse to do well, but don’t pressure him or her by comparing your family to the Joneses. If you know the Joneses real situation you will be thankful for your situation. They Joneses may even already be bankrupt.
Psalm 62:10 states, “Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.” It’s God that gives grace and the power to get wealth. I’ll share a joke with you. A rich man told his wife, “When I die, bury me with all my money. When he died and was being buried, as the casket was being closed his wife said, “Wait, here’s a check for all the money you have. When you get to heaven, cash it.” That’s a story that illustrates the saying, “A cunning man dies, and cunning person buries him.”
Don’t set your heart on riches. Being a pastor, I meet with a lot of rich people who have major problems such as their kids being on drugs or they have health problems such as high blood pressure. These rich people have a lot of money but it can't solve their problem. For many people money is a problem. When we ask them to give, they frown because they worry about money they don't have or they want to have, but I have come to realize that I came into the world with zero and I will leave with zero.
Proverbs 11: 28 states, “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” Sometimes you look at rich people and you want to be like them, but if you look into the skeletons in their closets, you won’t. When you trust in riches, you’re in trouble. 1st Timothy 6:17 states, “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”
However, people sometimes misinterpret this scripture. Even in the church we ask for too much money. I believe there’s dignity in labor. I was a factory worker at night working for $10 per hour and a pastor during the day for a while. Now, there are professional beggars in some churches. People should be willing to work. Even if you don’t have employment authorization, there are day laborers who are in the same position who will rush into your car if you go to New Hampshire Avenue. My mother used to say, “They are looking for laborers to carry items somewhere. You don’t have a job and you’re not running there. It’s you they are looking for there.”
All the things of the world, such as clothes are vanity. All what my children wear now; we’ve worn in the past. Name it, stretch jeans, and shoes? There’s nothing new, it’s just recycling. Some seeds fall on good ground, they yield thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. People will see God’s character in us through our speech and behavior because the bible says in Mathew 7:16 and 7:20, “By their fruits you shall know them.”
It’s time to put away vain things and focus on God. When David wanted to fight Goliath, Saul dressed him in his tunic. He put his coat of armor and bronze helmet on him, but he was uncomfortable in them, so he took them off and used the stones and sling he was used to using and he was victorious. God will use your skills and talents to make you victorious. Don’t envy others. Take the time to know God. Knowing God will always work for you. Why focus on things that won’t work for you? Make time for learning the word of God. There’s absolutely nothing you need in life that is not in God. God will satisfy you.
Spend time with God. Attend bible study on Thursdays at 7pm at Jesus House Baltimore located at 7710 Windsor Mill Road, Baltimore, MD 21244
Stay blessed!
As preached by Pastor Tola Odutola of Jesus House Baltimore
Edited by Susan E. Majekodunmi
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