Thematic Bible: Parable of the sower (at lake galilee)
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Jesus Christ » History of » Parable of the sower (at lake galilee)
The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea-side. and there was so great a croud of people got about him, that he was oblig'd to go into a bark, where he sat, while the people all stood on the shore. Then he talk'd to them much in parables, and said, a sower went out to sow. read more.
and in sowing, part of the grain fell in the high-way, and the fowls light and peck'd them up: another part fell upon stony places, where it had not much earth: and it soon sprung up, because the soil was shallow: so that as the sun arose it was scorched, and for want of root, withered away. another part fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked it. but another part falling upon good soil, became fruitful, some grains yielding an hundred, some sixty, and some thirty. he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said to him, why do you speak to them in parables? to whom he answered, because you are allowed to know the mysteries of the gospel-dispensation, but to them it is not allowed. for to him that uses what he has, shall be given, and he shall have abundantly: but from him that uses it not, shall be taken away, even what he hath. therefore speak I to them in parables: because they over-look what they see: and are inattentive to what they hear, neither will they comprehend. and in them is fulfilled that prophecy of Esaias, "by hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive. for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." but happy are you that your eyes have sight; and that your ears have their hearing. for I declare unto you, that many prophets and just men have desired to see what ye see, and have not seen it: and to hear what ye hear, and have not heard it. Hear then the meaning of this parable of the sower. when any one heareth the doctrine of the gospel, and considers it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away what was sown in his heart: he is the person meant by the high-way, where some of the seed was sown: but the stony ground, where other seed fell, denotes the man that heareth the word, and at first receives it with pleasure: but having no root in him he has only an occasional faith: for as soon as any oppression or persecution arises upon account of the gospel, he presently relapses. he that is meant by the thorny ground, where other seed fell, is one that heareth the word: which by cares of this life, and the deceitful love of riches, is soon stifled, and becomes unfruitful: but the ground that received the grain, represents those, who hear the word, and consider it, who all become fruitful, some in one degree, and some in another.
and in sowing, part of the grain fell in the high-way, and the fowls light and peck'd them up: another part fell upon stony places, where it had not much earth: and it soon sprung up, because the soil was shallow: so that as the sun arose it was scorched, and for want of root, withered away. another part fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked it. but another part falling upon good soil, became fruitful, some grains yielding an hundred, some sixty, and some thirty. he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said to him, why do you speak to them in parables? to whom he answered, because you are allowed to know the mysteries of the gospel-dispensation, but to them it is not allowed. for to him that uses what he has, shall be given, and he shall have abundantly: but from him that uses it not, shall be taken away, even what he hath. therefore speak I to them in parables: because they over-look what they see: and are inattentive to what they hear, neither will they comprehend. and in them is fulfilled that prophecy of Esaias, "by hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive. for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." but happy are you that your eyes have sight; and that your ears have their hearing. for I declare unto you, that many prophets and just men have desired to see what ye see, and have not seen it: and to hear what ye hear, and have not heard it. Hear then the meaning of this parable of the sower. when any one heareth the doctrine of the gospel, and considers it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away what was sown in his heart: he is the person meant by the high-way, where some of the seed was sown: but the stony ground, where other seed fell, denotes the man that heareth the word, and at first receives it with pleasure: but having no root in him he has only an occasional faith: for as soon as any oppression or persecution arises upon account of the gospel, he presently relapses. he that is meant by the thorny ground, where other seed fell, is one that heareth the word: which by cares of this life, and the deceitful love of riches, is soon stifled, and becomes unfruitful: but the ground that received the grain, represents those, who hear the word, and consider it, who all become fruitful, some in one degree, and some in another.
He began again to teach by the sea-side: but there was so great a crowd gathered about him, that he was oblig'd to go into a ship, where he sat down, and stay'd on board while the people stood on the shore. then he addressed himself to them in many parables, and thus began his instructions. give your attention to what I say, a sower went out to sow: as he sowed, read more.
some of the seed happened to fall by the wayside, which the birds light upon, and devoured. some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth, and it soon sprang up, for want of a sufficient depth of earth. but when the sun was up, it was scorched, and for want of root, withered away. some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choaked it, so that it yielded no fruit. but part of it fell on good ground, which sprang up, and grew so fruitful, that some grains produced thirty, others sixty, and some an hundred. he that hath ears to hear, said he, let him hear. And when he was in private, the twelve, and some of his disciples asked him the meaning of the parable. he answered, you are admitted into the secret of the gospel-dispensation: but to unbelievers every thing is couch'd in parables; because, tho' they see, they will not perceive, and tho' they hear they will not understand: as if they were afraid of parting with their vices, in order to be pardoned. but if, said he, you don't comprehend this easy parable, how can ye understand any of the rest? the sower is he that soweth the word. they who receiv'd seed by the wayside, are those in whom the word is sown, who no sooner have heard it, but satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. in like manner, they who receive seed on stony-ground, are such as upon hearing the word, do immediately receive it with joy. but having no root at the bottom, they are only occasional professors, for if they meet with any trouble or persecution upon account of the word, immediately they revolt. as for those, who receive seed as among thorns: they are such as hear the word. but the cares of this life, the deceitful love of riches, and a crowd of different passions, stifle the word, and it becomes unfruitful. they who receive seed as on good ground, are such as hear the word and entertain it, and bring forth fruit, some in one degree, and some in another. Again he said, is a lamp ever brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? or to be set on a stand? for there is nothing conceal'd but what shall be made manifest: nor was any thing kept secret, but in order to be divulged. if any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And consider, said he, how you hear; for in proportion as you weigh what is communicated to you, new light shall be given: for he that makes use of what he has shall have more, but he that does not, shall be stript of what he has.
some of the seed happened to fall by the wayside, which the birds light upon, and devoured. some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth, and it soon sprang up, for want of a sufficient depth of earth. but when the sun was up, it was scorched, and for want of root, withered away. some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choaked it, so that it yielded no fruit. but part of it fell on good ground, which sprang up, and grew so fruitful, that some grains produced thirty, others sixty, and some an hundred. he that hath ears to hear, said he, let him hear. And when he was in private, the twelve, and some of his disciples asked him the meaning of the parable. he answered, you are admitted into the secret of the gospel-dispensation: but to unbelievers every thing is couch'd in parables; because, tho' they see, they will not perceive, and tho' they hear they will not understand: as if they were afraid of parting with their vices, in order to be pardoned. but if, said he, you don't comprehend this easy parable, how can ye understand any of the rest? the sower is he that soweth the word. they who receiv'd seed by the wayside, are those in whom the word is sown, who no sooner have heard it, but satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. in like manner, they who receive seed on stony-ground, are such as upon hearing the word, do immediately receive it with joy. but having no root at the bottom, they are only occasional professors, for if they meet with any trouble or persecution upon account of the word, immediately they revolt. as for those, who receive seed as among thorns: they are such as hear the word. but the cares of this life, the deceitful love of riches, and a crowd of different passions, stifle the word, and it becomes unfruitful. they who receive seed as on good ground, are such as hear the word and entertain it, and bring forth fruit, some in one degree, and some in another. Again he said, is a lamp ever brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? or to be set on a stand? for there is nothing conceal'd but what shall be made manifest: nor was any thing kept secret, but in order to be divulged. if any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And consider, said he, how you hear; for in proportion as you weigh what is communicated to you, new light shall be given: for he that makes use of what he has shall have more, but he that does not, shall be stript of what he has.
A vast number of people being assembled, and crowding to him from all quarters, he thus address'd himself to them by way of parable. a husbandman went out to sow his corn: and as he was sowing, some fell upon the beaten road, which was crush'd under foot, or devoured by the birds. some fell upon very stony ground, which no sooner sprung up, but it wither'd away, for want of moisture: read more.
some fell among thorns; but the thorns over-grew it, and starv'd it. but some of the corn fell into good soil, and grew up, yielding a hundred grains for one. then raising his voice he concluded with these words, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. But his disciples having ask'd him the meaning of this parable; he answered, the secret circumstances of the divine dispensation may be clearly revealed to you, but to others only in parables, so that they don't observe what they see, nor comprehend what they hear. now the meaning of the parable is this: the seed sown signifies the word of God. by the beaten road is meant, they who only hear: the word, by the lurking wiles of the devil, being hinder'd from taking root in their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. by the stony ground is understood such persons as receive indeed the doctrines they hear, with joy: but for want of resolution, believe only occasionally, and desert when the trial comes. the ground over-run with thorns denotes such as have embraced the doctrine, but are so immerst in the business, enjoyments, and pleasures of life, as not to improve it to any real advantage. but by the good ground is meant such persons as have received the doctrine with simplicity and sincerity, abide by it, and practise it with perseverance. Now, no one lights a lamp to hide it under a vessel, or under a bed: but sets it on a stand, to give light to all the company. whatever is now obscure, shall hereafter be made clear; whatever is now conceal'd, shall then be publickly known. improve therefore what you hear: for he that improves what he has, shall have more; but he that does not, shall lose even that, which he thinks he possesses.
some fell among thorns; but the thorns over-grew it, and starv'd it. but some of the corn fell into good soil, and grew up, yielding a hundred grains for one. then raising his voice he concluded with these words, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. But his disciples having ask'd him the meaning of this parable; he answered, the secret circumstances of the divine dispensation may be clearly revealed to you, but to others only in parables, so that they don't observe what they see, nor comprehend what they hear. now the meaning of the parable is this: the seed sown signifies the word of God. by the beaten road is meant, they who only hear: the word, by the lurking wiles of the devil, being hinder'd from taking root in their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. by the stony ground is understood such persons as receive indeed the doctrines they hear, with joy: but for want of resolution, believe only occasionally, and desert when the trial comes. the ground over-run with thorns denotes such as have embraced the doctrine, but are so immerst in the business, enjoyments, and pleasures of life, as not to improve it to any real advantage. but by the good ground is meant such persons as have received the doctrine with simplicity and sincerity, abide by it, and practise it with perseverance. Now, no one lights a lamp to hide it under a vessel, or under a bed: but sets it on a stand, to give light to all the company. whatever is now obscure, shall hereafter be made clear; whatever is now conceal'd, shall then be publickly known. improve therefore what you hear: for he that improves what he has, shall have more; but he that does not, shall lose even that, which he thinks he possesses.