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The Parable of The Sower

• Matthew• Mark• Luke• Thomas

MarkA seed in verses 4,5 and 7

4:4 o “The one”

4:5 allo “another”

4:8 alla “others”

Matthew based on Markrevised

Lukebased on Markshorter

Synoptic Gospels

Three parts:The parable

Disciples ask the meaning

Interpretation

The Seeds

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Seed # 1Mark

One seed along the path; Birds devoured it

MatthewSome seeds along the path;

Birds devoured them

LukeOne seed along the path;

It was trodden under foot,And birds devoured it

Thomas(None comparable is mentioned)

Seed # 2Mark

One seed on the rocky ground; Lacked depth of soil, Sprang up, withered away

MatthewOther seeds on the rocky ground; lacked depth

of soil, sprang up, withered away

LukeAnother on the rock; it withered away

because it lacked moisture

ThomasSome on rock did not take root and did not

produce ears

Seed # 3Mark

One seed in the thorns;it was choked by thorns

MatthewOther seeds in the thorns;

They were chocked by thorns.

LukeAnother in the thorns;

It was choked by thorns,

ThomasOthers in thorns; they chocked the seeds

and worms ate them

Seed # 4Mark

Other seeds in good soil; they brought forth grain; growing up, increasing,

and bearing.

MatthewOther seeds in good soil; they brought forth grain

LukeAnother in good soil;

It grew and produced fruit.

ThomasOthers in good soil;

It produced good fruit.

The Yield

YieldMark

30 fold, 60 fold, 100 fold

Matthew100 fold, 60 fold, 30 fold

Luke100 fold

Thomas60 per measure and 120 per measure

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Thomas 9

Is Thomas 9 derived from a tradition independent of the Synoptics?

Thomas 9Is Thomas 9 derived from a tradition

independent of the Synoptics?

Possible – even likelyThere are some similarities in the Coptic

versions of Thomas and MarkBUT

Many differences that it is attributed to an independent tradition

Thomas 9

Seed = light or enlightenmentStrewn about

NOT received by ordinary people

Good soil = GnosticWho alone can bring forth good fruit

Synoptic Gospels

Interpretation given

There are actually SIX texts to deal with:

Three versions of the parableThree versions of the interpretation

Synoptic Gospels

• Mark and Matthew – The seed does not appear but is implied

• What does the seed represent?

Synoptic Gospels

• Mark and Matthew – The seed does not appear but is implied

• What does the seed represent?• The Word of God?• Does it symbolize the people?

• 2 Esdras• 8:41 seed = people• 9: 31 seed = the law

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2 Esdras 8:41

For just as the farmer sows many seeds in the ground and plants a multitude of seedlings, and yet not all that have been sown will come up in due season, and not all that were planted will take root; so also those who have been sown in the world will not all be saved.

2 Esdras 4: 30 - 32

For a grain of evil seed was sown in Adam’s heart from the beginning, and how much ungodliness it has produced until now –and will produce until the time of threshing comes!...When heads of grain without number are sown, how great a threshing floor they will fill!

Synoptic Gospels

• What is the significance of the singular and plural?

• Is the seed or the soil exemplary?Interpretation

Interpretationcomparison #1

MarkSome people are like

terrain along a path where seeds are stolen by birds; they are robbed of the word by Satan

InterpretationComparison #1

MatthewOne type of person is

like a seed sown along a path, stolen by a bird; that one does not understand the word and is a victim of the evil one

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InterpretationComparison #1

LukeSome persons are like

terrain along a path where seeds are stolen by birds; they are robbed of the word by the devil.

InterpretationComparison #1

AnalogyMark:

People and terrainMatthew:

A type of person and a seed

Luke:People and terrain

InterpretationComparison #2

MarkSome people are like

plants on rocky ground that lack roots; they fall away during tribulation or persecution.

InterpretationComparison #2

MatthewAnother type of person

is like a seed sown on rocky ground; that one hears the word, receives it with joy, but falls away due to tribulation or persecution.

InterpretationComparison #2

LukeSome persons are like

plants on a rock that lack roots; they fall away during testing.

InterpretationComparison #2

Analogy

Mark:People and plants

Matthew:A type of person and a seed

Luke:People and plants

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InterpretationComparison #3

MarkSome people are like a

field with thorns in it; they are lovers of the world, and cares, delights and desires choke the word, and it is unfruitful.

InterpretationComparison #3

MatthewAnother type of person is

like a seed sown in thorns; that one hears the word, but cares and delights choke it, and it is unfruitful.

InterpretationComparison #3

LukeSome people are like a

seed sown among thorns; they hear the word but are choked by cares, riches, and pleasures of life.

InterpretationComparison #3

Analogy

Mark:People and a field

Matthew:A type of person and a seed

Luke:People and a seed

InterpretationComparison # 4

MarkSome people are like good

soil; they hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit.

InterpretationComparison # 4

MatthewAnother type of person is

like a seed sown in good soil; that one hears the word, understands it, and bears fruit.

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InterpretationComparison # 4

LukeSome people are like a

seed sown in good soil; they hear and hold fast the word and bear fruit.

InterpretationComparison # 4

Analogy

Mark:People and good soil

Matthew:A type of person and a seed

Luke:People and a seed

Did Matthew have someone in particular in mind?

Joachim Jeremias

• Remarkable realism• Ancient Palestinian like• Sowing before plowing• “on the path” is the correct translation

The conclusion is that the sower is not a wasteful person but follows ancient custom

Joachim Jeremias

Problems:• The conclusion would be that after plowing

there would be an abundant harvest from all the seeds

• The sower would not throw seeds deliberately on the path to be plowed later

• The translation of para thn odon as “on the path” instead of “along the path is forced.

Yield

Typical or Overwhelming?

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Yield

Typical or Overwhelming?• The yield is abundant• Related to story of Isaac Genesis 26:12

• A sign of blessing and wealth

Yield

Typical or Overwhelming?• The yield is abundant• Related to story of Isaac Genesis 26:12

• A sign of blessing and wealth

• 30, 60 or 100• Who cares?

The point is between the sower sowing and the abundant yield from a few seeds

Possible meaning ?Hultgren

The parable is linked to the ministry of Jesus and his disciples, and it provides encouragement to the disciples for sowing (=proclamation) in spite of obvious rejection of the messsage

Possible meaning?Hultgren

It anticipates the coming of the kingdom of God in spite of small beginnings.

Despite the pathway, the rocky ground and

the thorns -there will be an abundant harvest.

Despite the pathway, the rocky ground and

the thorns -there will be an abundant harvest.

SOPREACH IT BOTHERS

AND SISTERS

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PARABLE

Attributed to the historical Jesus

INTERPRETATION

Jesus

or

Early Christians• Common Greek• Express Christian

concerns• Presses the question

of readiness to hear the word and let it transform

MARK

MARK

• Early in Mark’s Gospel• Galilean ministry• Spoken to a large crowd beside the Sea of

Galilee• Only parable introduced with the

imperative “Listen”• Old Testament – commands “to hear”

MARK• Sower is nondescript• Attention shifts to seeds and outcome of harvest• Single seed – The Word of God• To pwtrwdhj rocky ground – thin soil• 4:8 seeds – plural – good soil – highly

productive• Ears – listen – Ezekiel (Common statement with

Matthew and Luke)• A free floating statement attached to various teachings• Does not belong to the parable itself

MARK

Jesus, God’s envoy, proclaims word.Message unfruitful in many casesBUT – produces an abundanceEncouragement for the churchChurch – faithful in proclamation“In spite of how ineffectual the word is in so

many cases, it does produce in surprising, abundant ways” – Hultgren p. 191

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MarkInterpretation

• Allegorical• Switch to plurals (bunch of seeds)• Lack of precision

• Comparison between what happens to seeds and what happens to persons but not equivalencies.

MarkInterpretation

• Parable – focus on sowing seeds and outcome

• Encouragement

• Interpretation – from the receiving end• The circumstances that caused the seeds to fail or

produce• Theological analysis of its recipients

MATTHEW

Matthew

• Names parable – The Parable of the Sower (one other parable is named – The Parable of the Weeds in the Field)

• First of seven in the Parable Discourse• Parable and Interpretation integrated

• Clearer connections than Mark

Matthew

• Uses plurals • Interpretation shifts to recipient• In the interpretation there are

equivalencies - to a particular type of person

Matthewsunihmi - to understand

9x in Matthew (twice quotes from Isaiah)6x in Chapter 13The disciples are asked whether they

understand the seven parable of Matthew 13

The parables are told for the sake of understanding

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Matthewo ponhroj – the evil one

distinctive of Matthew

Again:parable – focus on sowing the seedsinterpretation – focus on the recipient who

hears the wordParable to interpretation – more smoothly

Matthew

“It is not a matter of understanding all the mysteries of the faith, but of contemplating what it means to be a disciple of Jesus –what he teaches, asks, points toward for one’s daily life. That is what leads to true discipleship and life in its most fulfilling sense.” – Hultgren p.196

LUKE

Luke

• Shortest• Within the larger framework of Jesus’

ministry conducted primarily in Galilee• By this time Jesus has run into

considerable opposition • Single seed – even in 8:8 in the good soil• Explicitly sowed “his seed” – ton sporonautou

Luke

• Only one to use katepathqh – “it was trampled under foot”

• Fell on rock – epi thn petran• Lack of moisture (vs. lack of soil, no depth

of soil, scorching heat, no root)• Withered away – echranqh

(vs. ekaumatisqh)

Luke

• Interpretation – seed is the word of God

• Logic is difficult• Seed switches to plural• Those in 8:12 becomes the recipients

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Luke

• Luke uses o diaboloj – the devil for Mark’s “Satan”

• The result of the devil stealing the word from the hears of the people is that they cannot believe and be saved

Luke

afistantai translated “fall away” (RSV, NIV, NRSV)

Better is “to desert” (NEB) or “become apostate

Combined with en kairw peirasmou “in a time of testing” is the language of the church for becoming apostate due to testing of the church

Luke

• 8:15 Luke uses upomonh – “patient endurance” – only used one other time in the Gospel

• Paul uses this to express Christian endurance related to hope.

Luke

• Much like Mark’s BUT• More abrupt contrast• Interpretation uses vocabulary of the church• Accent on the word being possessed in the heart

The attention is the cluster of Christian themes within the interpretation rather than the parable itself.

Luke

• Essentially two ways• One way leads to destruction by the devil

Luke

• Essentially two ways• One way leads to destruction by the devil• The other way leads to faith and salvation

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Luke

“The human factor in the entire transaction is the proclamation of the word of God. That leads one back to the imagery at the outset of the parable.” – Hultgren p. 199