Jesus is known for teaching in parables. Throughout history, many teachers have used parables to make a point or teach morality. However, the Lord’s parables were unique, they were firmly based in reality, and played an important role in His ministry, not just to teach, but to discern. The parable of the sower in Luke 8 is one of the longest and most well-known parables that Jesus taught.
We find that when the crowd gathered, Jesus switched to parables. As the Teacher, Jesus used parables to paint a vibrant and colorful picture of the Kingdom of God. Through the parables, we gain insight and clarity into the Kingdom of God through the connection made to the tangible real-life experiences that everyone would be familiar with. Also when Jesus spoke in parables, he desired response from the crowd, either acceptance or rejection.
Three kinds of parables
- The true parable: based on daily life that everyone understands. (Luke 8:4-8 farming)
- The story parable: explains an experience. (Luke 15:11-32 the prodigal son)
- The illustration: tells of what should be avoided or followed by example. (Luke 10:37 Good Samaritan)
Some might argue based on Mark 4:33-34 that Jesus used parables to hide truths. However, if we consider the heart of Jesus, how His purpose in leaving heaven and coming to earth was to seek the lost and save sinners, it makes sense that parables are the best means of communicating the invisible kingdom of God to the common man. Jesus preached repentance and the kingdom of God continually (Luke 4:43). Jesus clearly wanted everyone to hear the gospel and be saved. So the way Jesus used parables was not to conceal, to entertain, or to leave open for interpretation, but to explain and clarify.
It is true, Jesus used parables to both reveal and conceal. To the believer, the parables are open and produce a hunger for more truth for they teach us about God’s kingdom. To the non-believer, they have no response, and the truth is hidden from them. In the same way, the straightforward gospel is hidden and rejected by the non-believer, the parables are also hidden because they know nothing of the Kingdom of God. The non-believer has no desire to repent so how will they know and accept the truths in the parables? It’s not that the parables themselves are hidden but because their unrepentant heart has no ability or desire to know the truth.
Going back to the scene of the parable. It says “When a large crowd was coming together”. They were coming from all over. Jesus’ popularity had risen to feverish heights (Mt 4:25, Mk 1:33, LK 5:1). He was so popular because He was healing every disease, performing miracles, feeding them, and preaching like no one else ever preached. They almost took him by force to make him King (John 6:15)
However, Jesus’ popularity took a nosedive when he started preaching in Luke 6:35 about being the Bread of Life. This is the fickle nature of the crowd. Based on the fluctuating size of Jesus’ followers, we must ask how many of them are saved. A lot or a little? The disciples asked the same thing (Luke 13:22-24). Jesus says the door is narrow and many will try to enter but won’t be able to. This should sober everyone. The Lord tells us to strive to enter through the narrow gate. This means diligently pursuing holiness and obedience. Our striving does not justify us, justification is by the blood of Jesus, but those who enter the narrow gate, through the blood of Jesus, must pursue holiness. This is in direct opposition to the comfortable way of salvation that is popular with the crowd. So Jesus spoke parables to the few who were truly saved, not to the crowds who were gathered.
The sower went out to sow (Luke 8:5). Jesus is the sower. He is not a sower but The Sower. The sower sowed on four soils. These four soils are actual soils that farmers faced in their fields. All the people, especially the farmers would know exactly how these four soils behaved. Especially the good soil, every farmer would know the joy and satisfaction of the seed-bearing a fruitful harvest.
While speaking in parables (Luke 8:8), Jesus would call out. Jesus calls out to you. Listen to Him. He doesn’t just inform you but calls out to you. His final goal is not to teach but to save. Hear His calling. If you have ears to hear, then by faith receive the truth of the gospel and believe.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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