Section 13:18–23

Jesus explained the parable of the man who sowed seeds

In this section, Jesus explained the meaning of the parable of the sower. As you translate this section, it is important to understand and remember the main elements in this parable and what they represent.

There are three main metaphors in this parable:

(a) The seed represents the message about the kingdom.

(b) The sowing of the seed represents telling the message to people.

(c) The four types of soil represents four types of people who hear the message.

The first type of soil is the soil along the path. This soil represents people whom Satan causes to forget the message of the kingdom. The second type of soil is the rocky soil. This soil represents people who initially accept the message, but when troubles or persecution happen to them, they quickly reject the message. The third type of soil is the thorny soil. This soil represents people who accept the message, but worries about daily living cause them to not do anything for God. Finally, the forth type of soil is the good soil. This soil represents people who hear and understand the message, and the message produces results in their lives.

In these verses, the Greek text sometimes keeps the metaphor and sometimes explains the meaning of the metaphor. For example 13:19c–d has: “the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” The words “snatches away what was sown” keep the metaphor of birds eating the grain that the farmer sowed. But the words “the evil one comes” explains the meaning of the metaphor of “birds” (13:4c).

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus explained the parable of the four soils
-or-
The Parable of the Sower Explained (New Revised Standard Version)

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 4:13–20 and Luke 8:11–15.

Paragraph 13:18–23

13:18

Consider, then, the parable of the sower: These words introduce Jesus’ explanation of the meaning of this parable. Be careful to translate this clause in a way that does not give the impression that Jesus was going to tell the parable again. He was going to explain the meaning of the parable.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Listen to what the story about the farmer means. (God’s Word)

-or-

So listen to the meaning of that story about the farmer. (New Century Version)

then: This word is a conjunction that can also mean “therefore.”

Here is another way to translate this conjunction:

So (New Jerusalem Bible)

the parable: For help in translating this word, see the note in 13:3a.

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