Saturday in Easter Week
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
Legacy Standard Bible
Matthew 13:3
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalDevotionals:
- EveryParallel Translations
Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “Consider the sower who went out to sow.
And hee spake many things vnto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went foorth to sow.
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.
And He told them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow;
Then Jesus used stories to teach them many things. He said: "A farmer went out to plant his seed.
He told them many things in parables, saying, "Listen carefully: a sower went out to sow [seed in his field];
Then he spake many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sowe.
And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow;
And He told them many things in parables, saying, "A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Then he taught them many things by using stories. He said: A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field.
He told them many things in parables: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.
And he spoke to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went out to sow:
Then Jesus used stories to teach them many things. He told them this story: "A farmer went out to sow seed.
And he spoke many things to them in parables, and said, Behold the sower went out to sow;
He used parables to tell them many things. "Once there was a man who went out to sow grain.
And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow,
And He spoke to them many things in parables, saying: Behold, the sower went out to sow.
And he spake to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow;
And he gave them teaching in the form of a story, saying, A man went out to put seed in the earth;
He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, a farmer went forth to sow.
Then he began to tell them many things in parables. He said, "Listen! A sower went out to sow.Luke 8:5;">[xr]
And he discoursed largely to them in parables, and said: Behold, there went forth a sower to sow;
An he discoursed with them much, by similitudes. And he said, Behold, a sower went forth to sow.
And he spake many thynges to them in parables, saying: Beholde, the sower went foorth to sowe.
And he spake to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow;
He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, the farmer went forth to sow.
And he spake many things to them in parables, saying, Behold a sower went forth to sow.
He then spoke many things to them in figurative language. "The sower goes out," He said, "to sow.
And he spac to hem many thingis in parablis, and seide, Lo! he that sowith, yede out to sowe his seed.
And he spoke to them many things in parables, saying, Look, the sower went forth to sow;
And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
He told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow.
Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow.
He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.
Jesus taught them many things by using picture-stories. He said, "A man went out to plant seeds.
And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow.
And he spake unto them many things, in parables, saying: Lo! the sower went forth to sow, -
And he spoke to them many things in parables, saying: Behold the sower went forth to sow.
And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.
And he spake many thynges to the in similitudes sayinge: Beholde ye sower wet forth to sowe.
and he spake to them many things in similes, saying: `Lo, the sower went forth to sow,
And he spake many thinges vnto the in symilitudes, sayenge: Beholde, The sower wente forth to sowe:
Then he talk'd to them much in parables, and said, a sower went out to sow.
he started tellin' stories like this one. "There was a big ranch that had their own farmin' operation.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
in: Matthew 13:10-13, Matthew 13:34, Matthew 13:35, Matthew 13:53, Matthew 22:1, Matthew 24:32, Judges 9:8-20, 2 Samuel 12:1-7, Psalms 49:4, Psalms 78:2, Isaiah 5:1-7, Ezekiel 17:2, Ezekiel 20:49, Ezekiel 24:3-14, Micah 2:4, Habakkuk 2:6, Mark 3:23, Mark 4:2, Mark 4:13, Mark 4:33, Mark 12:1, Mark 12:12, Luke 8:10, Luke 12:41, Luke 15:3-7, John 16:25, *marg.
parables: A parable, × ×ס××××× [Strong's G3850], from × ××¡× [Strong's G3844], near, and ××××ש [Strong's G906], I cast, or put, has been justly defined to be a comparison or similitude, in which one thing is compared with another, especially spiritual things with natural, by which means those spiritual things are better understood, and make a deeper impression on a honest and attentive mind. In a parable, a resemblance in the principal incidents is all that is required; smaller matters being considered as a sort of drapery. Maimonides, in Moreh Nevochim, gives an excellent rule on this head: "Fix it as a principle to attach yourself to the grand object of the parable, without attempting to make a particular application of all the circumstances and terms which it comprehends."
a sower: Mark 4:2-9, Luke 8:5-8
Reciprocal: Isaiah 61:11 - as the earth Mark 4:26 - as 1 Corinthians 3:9 - ye are God's
Cross-References
And Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land.
So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.
Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left."
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And he spake many things unto them in parables,.... For the parables of the sower, and the different sorts of ground the seed fell in, of the wheat and tares, of the grain of mustard seed, of the leaven in three measures of meal, of the treasure hid in a field, of the pearl of great price, of the net cast into the sea, and of the householder, were all delivered at this time. This way of speaking by parables was much in use among the eastern nations, and particularly the Jews. R. Meir was very famous among them for this way of teaching: they say a,
"that when R. Meir died, ×××× ××ש×× ×ש×××, "they that were skilled in, and used parables, ceased".''
The commentators b on this passage say,
"that he preached a third part tradition, and a third part mystical discourse, ×ת×××ª× ×ת××, "and a third part parables":''
which method of discoursing was judged both pleasant and profitable, and what served to raise the attention of the hearer, and to fix what was delivered the more firmly in their minds: what was our Lord's reason for using them, may be seen in Matthew 13:13. He begins with the parable of the sower. The design of which is to set forth the nature of the word of God, the work and business of the ministers of it, the different success of the preaching of it, and the fruitfulness of it; and to show when it is truly received, and the various degrees of fruit it produces; that the efficacy of it depends on the grace of God, which makes the heart good, and fit to receive it; and how few they be which hear the word to any spiritual advantage and benefit; and how far persons may go in hearing, and yet fall short of the grace of God; and therefore no dependence is to be had on the external hearing of the word.
Behold, a sower went forth to sow; Luke adds, "his seed"; as does also Munster's Hebrew Gospel here; and Mark introduces the parable thus, "hearken, behold!" it being a matter of great importance and concern, which is expressed by this parable, it deserves the most diligent attention. By "the sower" is meant "the son of man", as may be learnt from the explanation of another parable, Matthew 13:37 which is Jesus Christ himself, who is often so called on account of his human nature; and may the rather be thought to be intended here, since the seed he sowed is called "his seed"; meaning the Gospel, of which he is the author, publisher, sum and substance; and since he is, by way of eminency, called ο ÏÏειÏÏν, "the sower"; which must be understood of him as a prophet, or preacher of the word, who was eminently sent of God, and richly qualified for such an office, and was most diligent in it, and yet his success was but small. Indeed, every minister of the Gospel may be called a sower, who bears precious seed, sows spiritual things, and though in tears, he shall not return empty, but shall reap in joy, and bring his sheaves with him. This sower "went forth" from his own house to his field; which, as applied to Christ, may intend his incarnation, his coming into this world by the assumption of human nature, his appearance in the public ministry, in the land of Judea, and his going forth still in his ministers, and by his Spirit, in the preaching of the Gospel; and, as applied to the preachers of the word, may be explained of their commission, of their being sent, and of their going forth into the field of the world, preaching the Gospel every where. The end of the sower's going forth is to "sow his seed": by "his seed" is meant the word, the word of God; see Mark 4:14 so called, because of the choiceness and excellency of it in itself, that grain which is reserved for seed being usually the best of the kind; and because of its smallness, it being mean and contemptible in the eyes of those, who know not the nature of it; and because of the generative virtue it has, though not without a divine influence. Nor does it bring forth fruit, unless it is sown in the heart, as seed in the earth; where its operation is secret, its growth and increase gradual, and its fruitfulness different. By "sowing", is meant preaching; which, as sowing, requires knowledge and skill, and an open and liberal hand; keeping back nothing that is profitable, a declaring the same doctrine in one place as another; and designs a constant ministration of it, notwithstanding all discouragements, and a patient waiting for success.
a Misn. Sota, c. 9. sect. 15. b Jarchi & Bartenora in ib. e Talmud. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 38. 2.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
In parables - The word âparableâ is derived from a Greek word signifying âto compare together,â and denotes a similitude taken from a natural object to illustrate a spiritual or moral subject. It is a narrative of some fictitious or real event, in order to illustrate more clearly some truth that the speaker wished to communicate. In early ages it was much used. Pagan writers, as Aesop, often employed it. In the time of Christ it was in common use. The prophets had used it, and Christ employed it often in teaching his disciples. It is not necessary to suppose that the narratives were strictly true. The main thing - âthe inculcation of spiritual truthâ - was gained equally, whether it was true or was only a supposed case. Nor was there any dishonesty in this. It was well understood no person was deceived. The speaker was not âunderstoodâ to affirm the thing âliterally narrated,â but only to fix the attention more firmly on the moral truth that he presented. The âdesignâ of speaking in parables was the following:
- To convey truth in a more interesting manner to the mind, adding to the truth conveyed the beauty of a lovely image or narrative.
- To teach spiritual truth so as to arrest the attention of ignorant people, making an appeal to them through the âsenses.â
- To convey some offensive truth, some pointed personal rebuke. in such a way as to bring it âhomeâ to the conscience. Of this kind was the parable which Nathan delivered to David 2 Samuel 12:1-7, and many of our Saviourâs parables addressed to the Jews.
- To âconcealâ from one part of his audience truths which he intended others should understand. Thus Christ often, by this means, delivered truths to his disciples in the presence of the Jews, which he well knew the Jews would not understand; truths pertaining to them particularly, and which he was under no obligations to explain to the Jews. See Mark 4:33; Matthew 13:13-16.
Our Saviourâs parables are distinguished above all others for clearness, purity, chasteness, importance of instruction, and simplicity. They are taken mostly from the affairs of common life, and intelligible, therefore, to all people. They contain much of âhimselfâ - his doctrine, life, design in coming, and claims, and are therefore of importance to all people; and they are told in a style of simplicity intelligible to the child, yet instructive to people of every rank and age. In his parables, as in all his instructions, he excelled all people in the purity, importance, and sublimity of his doctrine.
Matthew 13:3
A sower went forth to sow - The image here is taken from an employment known to all people, and therefore intelligible to all.
Nor can there be a more striking illustration of preaching the gospel than placing the seed in the ground, to spring up hereafter and bear fruit.
Sower - One who sows or scatters seed - a farmer. It is not improbable that one was near the Saviour when he spoke this parable.
Matthew 13:4
Some seeds fell by the way-side - That is, the hard âpathâ or headland, which the plow had not touched, and where there was no opportunity for it to sink into the earth.
Matthew 13:5
Stony places - Where there was little earth, but where it was hard and rocky, so that the roots could not strike down into the earth for sufficient moisture to support the plant.
When the sun became hot they of course withered away. They sprang up the sooner because there was little earth to cover them.
Forthwith - Immediately. Not that they sprouted and grew any quicker or faster than the others, but they were not so long in reaching the surface. Having little root, they soon withered away.
Matthew 13:7
Among thorns - That is, in a part of the field where the thorns and shrubs had been imperfectly cleared away and not destroyed.
They grew with the grain, crowded it, shaded it, exhausted the earth, and thus choked it.
Matthew 13:8
Into good ground - The fertile and rich soil.
In sowing, by far the largest proportion of seed will fall into the good soil; but Christ did not intend to teach that these proportions would be exactly the same among those who heard the gospel. Parables are designed to teach some âgeneralâ truth, and the circumstances should not be pressed too much in explaining them.
An hundred-fold ... - That is, a hundred, sixty, or thirty âgrainsâ for each one that was sowed an increase by no means uncommon. Some grains of wheat will produce twelve or fifteen hundred grains. The usual proportion on a field sown, however, is not more than twenty, fifty, or sixty bushels for one.
Matthew 13:9
Who hath ears ... - This is a proverbial expression, implying that it was every manâs duty to pay attention to what was spoken, Matthew 11:15.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 13:3. He spake many things unto them in parables — Parable, from ÏαÏα, near, and βαλλÏ, I cast, or put. A comparison or similitude, in which one thing is compared with another, especially spiritual things with natural, by which means these spiritual things are better understood, and make a deeper impression on an attentive mind. Or, a parable is a representation of any matter accommodated, in the way of similitude, to the real subject, in order to delineate it with the greater force and perspicuity. See more on this subject at the conclusion of this chapter. No scheme, says Dr. Lightfoot, of Jewish rhetoric was more familiarly used than that of parables; which, perhaps, creeping in from thence among the heathens, ended in fables.
It is said in the tract Sotah, chap. 9. "From the time that Rabbi Meri died, those that spake in parables ceased." Not that this figure of rhetoric perished in the nation from that time; but because he surpassed all others in these flowers, as the gloss there from the tract Sanhedrin speaks. "A third part of his discourses was tradition; a third part allegory; and a third part parable." The Jewish books every where abound with these figures, the nation inclining by a kind of natural genius to this kind of rhetoric. Their very religion might be called parabolical, folded up within the covering of ceremonies; and their oratory in their sermons was like to it. But is it not indeed a wonder, that they who were so much given to and delighted in parables, and so dexterous in unfolding them, should stick in the outward shell of ceremonies, and should not have brought out the parabolical and spiritual sense of them? Our Saviour, who always spoke with the common people, uses the same kind of speech, and very often the same preface which they used, To what is it likened? See Lightfoot in loco. Though we find the basis of many of our Lord's parables in the Jewish writings, yet not one of them comes through his hands without being astonishingly improved. In this respect also, Surely never man spoke like this man.
Under the parable of the sower, our Lord intimates,
1. That of all the multitudes then attending his ministry, few would bring forth fruit to perfection. And
2. That this would be a general case in preaching the Gospel among men.
