Jesus, in this parable of the sower, is setting this great doctrine that we really are alive for one purpose.  That is to allow Christlikeness to be built in us so that, ultimately, we will create 100‑fold.  I won’t get off into the 30, 60 and 100 at this particular time.  Let’s keep that in the back of our minds so that we’re understanding.  I’m studying God’s Word.  I’m preparing my heart to receive God’s Word for the purpose of producing more for the kingdom.  If that’s not the motive, we’ve got the wrong motive and much of our learning, then, is in vain.  All we can do is consume it on ourselves, pat ourselves on the back and say, “What a good boy am I.”

So, He goes off in the parable, here, and He starts to break it down.  In verse 14, after having given them the parable, He begins to give them the understanding.  He said, now the sower, this guy throwing seed, “the sower soweth the word”; amen?  “The sower soweth the word.”  As we understand this parable, then, we have this man who is a sower and he’s out sowing seed, casting his seed.  Then He tells us that “as he sowed, some seed fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.  And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root it withered away.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.  And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that as it sprang up, and increased and brought some thirty, some sixty, and some hundred…He that has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The doctrine of Jesus.  As He begins to break it down and explain what’s going on, we understand, then, very readily, what that seed is.  There’s no speculation.  Based upon this statement we don’t need to spend hours trying to understand the truth of this.  Don’t waste your time.  When the Word clearly interprets the Word, it’s truth; amen?  Jesus said.  You think you’re going to find any student, any scholar, that will bring you a greater understanding of the Word than the Word?  So, we understand very clearly.  People will try to bring all kinds of metaphorical applications or the perspective of man when he comes in.  We find that symbolism begins to be used here to seek the truth.  Literally, what we’re seeing here is the Word of God being used metaphorically, literal metaphor.  They can work side by side and we can look at these different aspects.  In this particular incident, we see in this parable that it’s being used to bring about literal truth of the condition that’s lacking in men’s hearts.  “Thy Word is truth.”

In this parable, truth, the Word, is being represented by this seed.  Why is that important?  Because the seed never changes.  The seed is always perfect, and good, and productive.  Hebrews says that this seed, the Word of God, is alive and powerful.  We know this seed, the Word of God, is the energy behind our regeneration and that that is able to purify our souls, the Scripture says.  So, Jesus is coming and bringing about this understanding.  The Sower sows the Word.  Now what is this wayside that we’re to understand here?  Some fell upon the wayside, but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.  Let’s learn a great truth right here.  As you’re spending time to know God with greater vitality, you’re seeking, your heart is pursuing truth.  When you seek Me with all of your heart, what’s the Scripture say?  You’re going to find Me.