Matthew 13.3-9, 18-23

A GENEROUS GOD

(Parable of the Sower)

(Matthew 13.3-9, 18-23)

The Parable of the Sower is probably the best known of all the parables which Jesus told. It is also one of the most difficult to understand.

ooOOOoo

Since the parable is so well known, you may think that it does not need any further explanation, not least because, unlike any other parable which Jesus told, the explanation is clearly given in the second part of the above Gospel reading.

The parable concerns a sower who sows seed into the barren Palestinian land, and the response of that seed to the ground into which it is sown.

One automatically identifies the sower with Jesus and the seed with the people's response to his preaching.

Now, it is important to remember that it was the custom of farmers in New Testament times, to sow seed by scattering the seed by hand over the ground, with the result that not all the seed would grow and flourish.

Firstly, there was the seed which fell on the hard trodden pathways, between the strips of land, where there was no soil in which to take root.

This obviously represents those whose minds are closed, and no matter what we may say, they will never hear. Their minds are already made up. They know it all. They stubbornly refuse to hear what Jesus is saying.

Secondly, there is the seed which fell on rocky ground where there was no depth of soil to enable the seed to take root.

This obviously represents those who are shallow thinkers and who fail to think things through. As soon as difficulties come along, which challenge their faith, they run away.

This is particularly true of those whose response is based upon emotion. Alas, emotion does not last for ever. And this is the danger of those forms of evangelism which appeal only to the heart. The sudden enthusiasm, which initially is like a burning fire, can easily become a smouldering ember when faced with difficulties.

I am reminded of a story about a Roman Catholic priest, a Methodist minister and a Church of England vicar, each of whom were having trouble with mice in their churches.

The Roman Catholic priest put down some mouse traps, but it did not solve the problem.

The Methodist minister bought a cat, like 10 Downing Street, but it did not solve the problem.

The Church of England clergyman invited the Bishop to come and confirm all the mice, and they were never seen again!

Now I am sure that that will not be true for those here who have been confirmed here, but alas it is true for many who often disappear once the initial enthusiasm of being confirmed begins to wane.

Thirdly, there is the seed which fell among the thorns which choked any possible growth.

This represents those who allow the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth and material possessions, to choke the word of God.

Alas, we all live busy lives, where the claims of Christianity must often compete with other claims upon our time. Often, such claims begin to choke our faith to death.

Finally, there is the seed which fell upon good soil. Here it was able to take root, and as a consequence, bear fruit.

Yes, there are in every congregation those whose minds are open; who are prepared to apply both their hearts and minds; who have sorted out their priorities in life and, as a consequence, allow their lives to be changed by God.

ooOOOoo

So far so good as regards the meaning of the parable.

However, I said at the beginning of this sermon that this was probably the most difficult parable to understand, so you are probably beginning to wonder what I was talking about!

Most New Testament scholars are agreed that what we have here, in the second part of the parable, is a sermon preached by the early church and not by Jesus.

In other words, our attention should be focused upon the sower and not upon the seed. After all, it is called the Parable of the Sower and not the parable of the Seed.

Again, most New Testament scholars are agreed that a parable seeks to make one point and one point only. They are not allegories.

So let us look again at the Parable of the Sower, as recorded in the first part of the above Gospel reading, and which probably reflects more accurately the original teaching of Jesus.

"Listen', says Jesus, ‘a sower went out to sow’. Unfortunately, some of the seed, as would be expected, fell on the pathways, other on rocky ground, other amongst thorns and a some upon good ground where it took root.

Now, I guess our immediate response is to say, 'What a stupid farmer wasting so much seed. Surely it would have been more sensible to scatter the seed only on the good soil, where it could take root and grow.'

But that, my friends, is in fact the good news of the parable.

The farmer did not just sow the seed on the good soil, but rather scattered it generously around, in the hope that some would take root and germinate.

In other words, God does not love only a few individuals, but generously scatters his love on all, even though some may not respond to his love.

God does not just focus his love upon the promising few, but also upon the unpromising many.

He knows that some people will respond to his love, whilst others will not. Nevertheless, he continues to scatter his love around, as a farmer scatters his seed around, on all.

It is such a God, which the Pharisees found so difficult to accept, which is why he told this parable, and it is such a God we too often find difficult to accept. We would much prefer Him to scatter his love upon us and not upon other people. But the God in whom we believe, is a generous God. He does not prejudge a person’s likely response. No more than he prejudged us, when he invited us to follow him.

God's love may often appear wasteful in our eyes, but it is not in his eyes, for which we should be for ever thankful.

ooOOOoo

The parable is therefore a warning to all who try to control or limit God's love in the world. It is also a challenge to all of us, who are made in the image of God, to ensure that we are equally generous in our love to others.

As St John in his Gospel reminds us, 'God so loved the world', not just you, not just me, not just those whom we like, but everyone.