The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20)

 

The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20)

Among the phrases Jesus repeated often is this one: "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear." God is the Beginning (Alpha) and the End (Omega), and He is eternal (Revelation 1:8, 21:6, 22:13; 2 Corinthians 9:8). In God, there is no lack; He is abundant (Psalm 23:1; Philippians 4:19). Therefore, those who belong to God continue to be fruitful and bear overflowing fruit (John 15:5).

In Mark 4:1-20, Jesus tells the parable of the sower and explains its meaning. Those who hear the word, accept it, and obey it produce a crop—thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times what was sown. Life without fruit is a waste and leads to destruction. Therefore, bearing fruit is essential. Fruits are the evidence of faith.

The Parable of the Sower

1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” 9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Mark 4:1-9)

A parable conveys a deep intended meaning through an easy-to-understand story from everyday life. Jesus taught the secrets of the kingdom of heaven through many parables. For example, He said that it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. This illustrates the truth that God’s redeeming grace in Christ comes to those who realize they are spiritually ill—trapped in sin.

Jesus sat in a boat and taught the crowds gathered at the shore. Among His teachings, the parable of the sower reveals the secret of bearing fruit in the kingdom of heaven through a story about farming. In this parable, the only ground where the seed produces fruit is the good soil; the path, the rocky ground, and the thorny ground fail to produce a crop.

The seed sown in all four types of soil is identical. However, depending on the soil, it either bears fruit or it doesn't. Fruit is vital. It is a blessing and the evidence of faith. For a believer, this fruit is the fruit of the Spirit, and it is stored in heaven where it cannot be seen (Matthew 5:12, 6:4; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; James 1:12). The fruit that believers enjoy includes love, joy, peace, and patience (Galatians 5:22-23).

However, failure to bear proper fruit leads to trouble and distress, and ultimately, eternal judgment (Romans 2:8; Matthew 7:19-20). Though chosen as one of the Twelve, Judas Iscariot rejected Christ and bore bitter fruit instead of good fruit. God chose Israel and hoped they would yield good grapes, but they yielded only wild grapes (Isaiah 5:4). Instead of the fruit of justice and righteousness, they produced the bad fruit of oppression and exploitation (Isaiah 5:7).

In His great patience, God desires everyone to repent, turn back, and bear good fruit (1 John 1:9; Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9). Fruit is produced by remaining in Christ, who is the vine (John 15:1-16). All good fruit comes from heaven, not from the earth. Because there is nothing good in human nature, we cannot produce good fruit on our own (Genesis 6:5; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 7:21). Therefore, to bear fruit, we must remain in Jesus Christ, who is goodness itself.

The Purpose of the Parables

10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” (Mark 4:10-12)

The disciples asked why He spoke in parables and what they meant. Like the disciples, those who want to know the meaning—those who believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ—are given the secrets of the kingdom of God. This "secret" is the way of salvation. We understand it only because the Lord reveals it; no one can figure it out on their own. It cannot be understood through wealth, talent, or achievement. Parables are teachings that reveal these secrets. Those who hear and understand are given the kingdom of God.

However, to "those on the outside"—those who do not believe or follow—the parables remain just stories, and the meaning is lost on them. For instance, if a farmer hears this story and dismisses it as something he already knows without seeking the hidden secret, he cannot know the kingdom. This fulfills the prophecy: they see but do not perceive, hear but do not understand, and thus do not turn to receive forgiveness (Isaiah 6:9-10). While parables reveal the kingdom, outsiders remain ignorant because of their hardened unbelief. Because of this lack of faith, they do not reach forgiveness or salvation.

In fact, the Jews of that time saw the miracles performed by Jesus, the Son of God, with their own eyes but did not recognize Him. They heard His divine voice but did not understand. Even in the Old Testament, they heard the words of the prophets but failed to perceive the truth (Isaiah 6:9-10; 2 Chronicles 36:15-16; Acts 13:27). Instead, they preferred the "sweet" lies of false prophets (Jeremiah 23:16, 21; Ezekiel 2:3-7; Isaiah 30:9-11).

The Sower Sows the Word

13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The sower sows the word.” (Mark 4:13-14)

The parable of the sower serves as the foundation for interpreting all other parables. The sower sows the word. The sower is the Son of Man (Matthew 13:37). The word is the truth of God and the key to the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. God’s Word, from Genesis to Revelation, is God-breathed and is "useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

God sows His word of truth into people. This begins with hearing. How do we hear God’s word? We can read it or meditate on it. But that’s not all. God reveals His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—to humanity through what has been made (Romans 1:19-20). Even for those who haven’t encountered the written word, the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, and their consciences bear witness (Romans 2:14-15).

Seed Sown Along the Path

"Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them." (Mark 4:15)

A heart like the path represents a hard and stubborn lack of faith. It is a heart that refuses to believe in God and rejects the Christ He sent. When they hear the word, Satan comes immediately and steals what was sown. Because this kind of heart doesn't react to the word at all, it produces no fruit. In this parable, the birds represent Satan. This doesn't mean birds are Satan, but that they serve as a symbol for him in this context. Satan refuses to obey God; instead, he opposes Him and tries to exalt himself (Isaiah 14:13). A hard heart that hears the word but does not respond is following Satan.

Seed Sown on Rocky Places

16 "Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away." (Mark 4:16-17)

A heart like rocky ground responds to the word with joy. It is moved by the truth and receives grace. It agrees with God’s word, and joy fills that heart. However, the problem is that the ground is full of rocks, so the seed cannot take root. For those who obey God’s truth, trouble and persecution follow (John 15:19), just as the world hated and persecuted Jesus (John 15:18).

They receive the word with joy and last for a bit, but they fall away and bear no fruit when faced with hardship. They stumble because they complain about their troubles. Yet, trials and pain are common to everyone (1 Corinthians 10:13). Until the moment we die, thirst and longing continue. The difficulties we face in life are evidence of God’s holy love—tools of discipline intended to help us take root and bear fruit.

Seed Sown Among Thorns

18 "Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:18-19)

A thorny heart hears the word, but worries and greed choke it out. Worry is something everyone is good at without even trying; we are all "pros" at worrying. Anxiety settles in beside us like an unwelcome friend, caused by the uncertainty of the future, the gap between our desires and reality, and the habit of comparing ourselves to others.

Worry doesn't stop there; it brings anxiety, restlessness, complaining, and stress. It is completely unhelpful. These worldly worries swallow up the word before it has a chance to grow. Therefore, God does not rebuke us for our needs but tells us to ask Him, the God who gives generously (James 1:5).

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Furthermore, everyone likes money. Money is a necessity and is not wrong in itself. However, "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). Relying on money happens because of a lack of trust in God (1 Timothy 6:17-19; Matthew 6:24). God is the Lord of salvation who provides everything in abundance. We came into this world naked and will leave it naked (Job 1:21). Our Creator knows what we need and provides it (Matthew 6:33).

Seed Sown on Good Soil

"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:20)

Seed that falls on good soil produces fruit—at least thirty, sixty, or a hundred times more. A good heart hears and accepts the word. It understands God’s truth and obeys. To those who hear and obey, God continues to give the grace to understand the secrets of the kingdom (Matthew 13:12).

What is obedience? The Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of obedience. He was obedient to the point of death on a cross to fulfill the Father's will. God’s will was to redeem humanity from sin through the blood of His Son. Jesus set aside His equality with God, took on human form, and became incarnate (Philippians 2:6-8). He then offered Himself as the Passover Lamb.

Then, God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said, and seated Him on the highest throne in heaven (Philippians 2:9-11). Now, whoever believes in God’s Son will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The path to bearing fruit—thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold—is open to us. That path is to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him down the road of the cross, the road of suffering, forgiveness, and love. Of course, there are challenges and pain. Though Jesus was sinless, He carried a cross of accusation, suffering, shame, and pain. This is the secret of the kingdom of heaven.

No one is "born" with good soil. Instead, everyone became children of God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:2). Anyone who hears the Lord's word, repents, and turns back to Him becomes "good soil." When you turn your heart back to the Lord, you will bear abundant fruit. We cannot help but praise and thank our Father, the God of grace and mercy. Amen!

January 11, 2026

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.