The Parable of the Seed and the Soil in Matthew 13
Jesus often taught using parables, a common teaching method in Eastern cultures, particularly among the Jews [9]. Matthew 13 records several of these parables, including the Parable of the Sower, the Parable of the Weeds (or Tares), the Parable of the Mustard Seed, and the Parable of the Leaven [7, 9].
The Parable of the Sower, found in Matthew 13:3-23, begins with Jesus stating, "A man went out to put seed in the earth" [1]. This parable illustrates different responses to "the word of God" [10]. The seed represents the word, and the various types of soil represent different kinds of hearers [10]. Some seed falls on the path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil [10]. Only the seed on good soil produces a crop, yielding a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold [3]. This parable highlights that hearing the word and understanding it are crucial for bearing fruit [3].
Following the Parable of the Sower, Jesus presents the Parable of the Weeds in Matthew 13:24-30, stating, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field" [5]. In this parable, an enemy sows weeds (darnel) among the good seed [8]. The field represents the world, the good seed are the "children of the Kingdom," and the weeds are the "children of the evil one" [4]. The owner instructs his servants to let both grow together until the harvest, lest they uproot the wheat along with the weeds [8, 11]. The harvest signifies the end, when the weeds will be gathered and burned, and the wheat collected into the barn [11]. This parable suggests that within the visible church, both true believers and those who are not will coexist until a final separation [11].
Another parable in Matthew 13 is that of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32), where Jesus says, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field" [2, 12]. Though small, the mustard seed grows into a large plant, providing shelter for birds [6]. This parable emphasizes the growth of the Kingdom of Heaven from humble beginnings to a significant presence [6].
Sources
- Matthew “Matthew 13:3 (BBE) — And he gave them teaching in the form of a story, saying, A man went out to put seed in the earth;”
- Matthew “He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; -- Matthew 13:31”
- Matthew “Matthew 13:23 (BSB) — But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.””
- Matthew “the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. -- Matthew 13:38”
- Matthew “Matthew 13:24 (BSB) — Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Mustard — is mentioned in (Matthew 13:31; 17:20; Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19; 17:6) It is generally agreed that the mustard tree of Scripture is the black mustard (Sinapis nigru). The objection commonly made against any sinapis being the plant of the parable is that the reed grew into "a tree," in which the fowls of the air are said to come and lodge. As to this objection, it is urged with great truth that the expression is figurative and Oriental, and that in a proverbial simile no literal accuracy is to be expected. It is an error, for which the language of Scripture is n”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Parables — Remarkable Parables of the Old Testament -- Jdj 9:8-15; 2Sa 12:1-4; 14:5-7. Parables of christ Wise and foolish builders. -- Mt 7:24-27. Children of the bride chamber. -- Mt 9:15. New cloth and old garment. -- Mt 9:16. New wine and old bottles. -- Mt 9:17. Unclean spirit. -- Mt 12:43. Sower. -- Mt 13:3-23; Lu 8:5-15. Tares. -- Mt 13:24-30,36-43. Mustard-seed. -- Mt 13:31,32; Lu 13:19. Leaven. -- Mt 13:33. Treasure hid in a field. -- Mt 13:44. Pearl of great price. -- Mt 13:45,46. Net cast into the sea. -- Mt 13:47-50. Meats defiling not. -- Mt 15:10-15. Un”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Tares — There can be little doubt that the zizania of the parable, (Matthew 13:25) denotes the weed called "darnel" (Lolium temulentum). The darnel before it comes into ear is very similar in appearance to wheat; hence the command that the zizania should be left to the harvest, lest while men plucked up the tares "they should root up also the wheat with them." Dr. Stanley, however, speaks of women and children picking up from the wheat in the cornfields of Samaria the tall green stalks, still called by the Arabs zuwan . "These stalks," he continues, "if sown designedl”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 13:3: And he spake many things unto them in parables,.... For the parables of the sower, and the different sorts of ground the seed fell in, of the wheat and tares, of the grain of mustard seed, of the leaven in three measures of meal, of the treasure hid in a field, of the pearl of great price, of the net cast into the sea, and of the householder, were all delivered at this time. This way of speaking by parables was much in use among the eastern nations, and particularly the Jews. R. Meir was very famous among them for this way of teaching: they say (a), "that when R. M”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 13:36: Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field, &c.--In the parable of the Sower, "the seed is the word of God" (Luk 8:11). But here that word has been received into the heart, and has converted him that received it into a new creature, a "child of the kingdom," according to that saying of James (Jam 1:18), "Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures." It is worthy of notice th”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 13:30: Let both grow together--that is, in the visible Church. until the harvest--till the one have ripened for full salvation, the other for destruction. (See on Mat 13:39). and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers--(See on Mat 13:39). Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them--"in the fire" (Mat 13:40). but gather the wheat into my barn--Christ, as the Judge, will separate the two classes (as in Mat 25:32). It will be observed that the tares are burned before the wheat is housed; in the exposition of the”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 13:31: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field;”