The parable of the sower is one of the parables of Jesus Christ contained in three evangelists : Matt. 13: 3-23 ; Mk. 4: 3-20 ; Lx 8: 5-15 .
It tells about seeds thrown in various conditions for seedlings. Some of the seeds died, while others gave birth:
 | When he left the house that day, Jesus sat by the sea. And a multitude gathered together unto him, so that he went into a boat and sat down; and all the people stood on the shore. And he taught them many parables, saying: Behold, the sower went out to sow; and when he sowed, another fell on the way, and the birds flew in and swore that; another fell into rocky places, where there was little land, and soon rose, because the earth was shallow. When the sun rose, it withered, and, as it had no root, withered; another fell into thorns, and thorns grew and drowned him; another fell to the good land and brought forth fruit: one hundred times, and the other sixty, the other thirty. ( Matthew 13: 1-8 ) |  |
Theological interpretation
For ancient Jews, the seed symbolized primarily the people of Israel , who were to transform the whole world and all the peoples of the earth. However, Christ emphasizes that not all seed will bear fruit. Moreover, the true meaning of this parable He discovered only later, and only to his closest apostles :
| ... to everyone who hears the word about the Kingdom and does not understand, the evil one comes and steals the seed from his heart - that is whom the seed from the road means. And sown in stony places means one who hears the word and immediately joyfully accepts it; but it does not have a root in itself and is impermanent: when grief or persecution comes for a word, it is immediately seduced. And sown in thorns means one who hears the word, but the care of this world and the seduction of wealth drowns out the word, and it is fruitless. Sown on good land means hears the word and understands, which is fruitful, so that one brings the fruit a hundred times, another sixty, and another thirty. ( Matt. 13: 19-23 ) |
The Messiah appears here not in the role of a brilliant revolutionary , but in the image of a zealous worker - the Sower , who very rarely receives gratitude (a reminder of the impending crucifixion of the Savior - His main mission on earth). Thus, the parable of the sower lays out the foundations of the spiritual life and spiritual agronomy of man, the importance of active and zealous faith for his salvation, comparable to the daily cares of a plowman who cares about the quality of the soil, plows, fertilizes and irrigates it, cleans from tares and stones, protects seeds from birds ...
St. Basil of Kinesham in Conversations on the Gospel of Mark writes:
We can add to the gospel explanation that the Sower is the Lord Himself, the seed is the Word of God, the field is the whole of humanity, the whole world, taking in its bowels the miraculous seed of the gospel word. Like a seed, the gospel word carries the beginning of life, a true, spiritual life ... [1]
Further, he gives examples of spiritual and psychological types of people, similar to soils that did not bear fruit from the seeds thrown into them:
- The saint likens roadside land to rough, animal beings: eat deliciously, drink sweetly, sleep a lot, dress well, and know nothing above that. In the same category, he classifies people whose essence of the psyche is the search for entertainment alone and idle curiosity. For them, it makes no difference to listen to watch a religious procession or English boxing. Finally, people on the “road” are scattered natures, in whom there is nothing basic, constant, central, “slaves of a minute whim.” They all have in common that the seed of the word of God does not penetrate into their souls at all.
- A rocky place where there was little land - people with a desire for goodness, and the word of God finds a lively and quick response in them, but it does not capture them so much that for the sake of realizing it in life they find enough strength and determination to work on themselves , fight obstacles and defeat hostile currents.
- Thorns are people who wanting to live according to the laws of God, but at the same time do not want to abandon the worldly fuss that engulfs them without a trace.
St. Theophylact Bulgarian :
Three categories of people who are not saved by this parable. The first includes those who are like a seed that fell on the way, that is, they did not accept the teachings at all, because just like a trodden and beaten road, they do not accept the seed, because it is tough, so hard-hearted people do not accept the teachings at all, because although they listen but without attention. To the other are those who are like a seed that fell on a stone, that is, those who, although they accepted the teaching, but then, by human weakness, were powerless before temptations. The third category is those who know the doctrine and, however, are suppressed by worldly concerns. So, three parts of those who are perishing, and one - of those who are being saved. [2]
Reflecting on the people who have borne fruit, he writes:
Three categories and those who accepted and preserved the seed: some bring forth the fruit in a hundred - these are people of perfect and high life; others, at sixty, are average; others, at thirty, which, although not many, still bring in their strength. So, some are virgins and hermits, others live together in a hostel, others in the world and in marriage. But the Lord accepts all of them as bearing fruit. And thanks be to His philanthropy! [3]