Jesus went out and large crowds gathered, so he got in a boat and sat to teach the crowd as it stood on shore.
(1) The Sower – A sower sowed seed on (a) the path – birds came and took it (b) rocky ground – they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep, but the sun scorched them because they had no root, they withered (c) among thorns – the thorns choked them (d) good ground – produced crop. Anyone who has ears should listen! The parables are the secrets of the kingdom of heaven given for them to know, but it has not been given to them to fulfill Scripture in Isaiah, that looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand. The eyes of the disciples are blessed because they see, and ears because they hear. The prophets and righteous longed to see what they see and hear what they hear. The seeds (a) on the path – this represents those who hear the word about the kingdom, but don’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart; (b) on the rocky ground – is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, but he has no root, when pressure or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately stumbles; (c) among thorns – the one who hears the word, but is seduced by this age and wealth, and he becomes unfruitful; (d) the good ground – the one who hears and understands the word, and bears fruit.
(2) The Wheat and Weeds – The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed, but while sleeping his enemy sowed weeds. The plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds appeared. He told his slaves not to gather the weeds so as not to uproot the wheat, but at harvest to gather the weeds and burn them. They were to gather the wheat in his barn. The One sowing is the Son of Man; the field is the world; the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one sown by the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Those guilty of lawlessness will be thrown into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom.
(3) The Mustard Seed – The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, it’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown it’s a tall tree.
(4) The Yeast – The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that spread through all the flour.
(5) The Hidden Treasure – The kingdom of heaven is like treasure buried in a field that a man found and reburied. Then, in his joy, he sells everything he has and buys the field.
(6) The Priceless Pearl – The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one that was priceless, he sold everything he had and bought it.
(7) The Net – The kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown in the sea. I collects all kinds of fish, they dragged it ashore and gathered the good fish into containers and threw the worthless ones out. This is what it will be like at the end of the age. Angels will separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(8) The Storehouse – Every student of Scripture instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and old.
Jesus was then rejected in His hometown. He did not do many works there, because of their unbelief.
The kingdom of heaven is worth giving up everything, and it may appear small and weak, but it is more powerful than any kingdom of this world. There are four soils and two ways to live. What kind of soil is your heart? What’s your reaction to the message of Bible in the gospel of Jesus Christ?