And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus began speaking in parables, not just as a way to make spiritual truths more interesting, but as a deliberate method to both reveal and conceal. This story of the sower is the first, setting the stage for how the message of the Kingdom would be received differently by different listeners.
And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus begins a significant teaching session by the Sea of Galilee, addressing a large crowd from a boat to accommodate them. He introduces a new method of instruction, speaking in parables – stories that use familiar imagery to reveal deeper spiritual truths. This marks a shift in his public ministry, as the parable of the Sower launches a series of teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven, some intended for the masses and others for his disciples.
Ever felt like Jesus was speaking directly to you, even when He was talking to a crowd? That's the power of a parable. But why did He use them?
Jesus’ parables weren't just stories; they were carefully crafted comparisons designed to reveal spiritual truths in a relatable way.
Jesus starts His teaching with a simple image: a farmer. But this isn't just about agriculture; it's a profound picture of spiritual work.
The parable of the sower, beginning with this simple act, paints a vivid picture of how God's message impacts different people.
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Understand the original words
parabolē · Greek Noun
A short, illustrative story or comparison, often using everyday images to convey profound spiritual or kingdom truths, which reveal truth to those with faith and conceal it from the hard-hearted.
speirōn · Greek Noun
One who distributes seed for planting; in biblical metaphor, this represents the proclaimer of the Word of God or the Son of Man Himself.
This passage describes the creation of plants that produce seed according to their kind, establishing the fundamental principle of sowing and reaping that Jesus uses as the basis for his parable.
Deuteronomy 32:2This verse speaks of a teaching that will fall like rain and distill like dew, showing that God's word, like seed, is intended to bring forth fruit and nourish his people.
Isaiah 55:10-11This prophecy directly compares God's word to seed that goes out and does not return empty, but accomplishes what he intends, paralleling the purpose and power of the sower's seed in Jesus' parable.
Jeremiah 4:3This prophetic command to break up fallow ground highlights the need for preparation and receptivity for the seed of God's word to take root and be fruitful, a key theme in the parable.
1 Corinthians 3:6-9Paul uses the imagery of sowing and watering to describe his and Apollos' ministry, showing how God gives the growth, directly connecting the sower's work to the spread of the Gospel and its impact.
barnesMatthew 13:3: "And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;"
In parables - The word "parable" is derived from a Greek word signifying "to compare together," 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, oft…
vincentMatthew 13:3: "And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;"
Parables (παραβολαῖς)From παρά, beside, and βάλλω, to throw. A parable is a form of teaching in which one thing is thrown beside another. Hence its radical idea is comparison. Sir John Cheke renders biword, and the same idea is conveyed by the German Beispiel, a pattern or example ; bei, beside, and the old high German spel, discourse or narration.The word is used with a wide range in s…
Jesus began speaking in parables, not just as a way to make spiritual truths more interesting, but as a deliberate method to both reveal and conceal. This story of the sower is the first, setting the stage for how the message of the Kingdom would be received differently by different listeners.
Jesus begins a significant teaching session by the Sea of Galilee, addressing a large crowd from a boat to accommodate them. He introduces a new method of instruction, speaking in parables – stories that use familiar imagery to reveal deeper spiritual truths. This marks a shift in his public ministry, as the parable of the Sower launches a series of teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven, some intended for the masses and others for his disciples.
Jesus begins a significant teaching session by the Sea of Galilee, addressing a large crowd from a boat to accommodate them. He introduces a new method of instruction, speaking in parables – stories that use familiar imagery to reveal deeper spiritual truths. This marks a shift in his public ministry, as the parable of the Sower launches a series of teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven, some intended for the masses and others for his disciples.
"And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow." — Jesus began speaking in parables, not just as a way to make spiritual truths more interesting, but as a deliberate method to both reveal and conceal. This story of the sower is the first, setting the…
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Last reviewed October 2026