Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 13:3-7

"And he spake to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow; and as he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them: and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them:" — Matthew 13:3-7 (ASV)

(3a) Jesus told the crowd “many things in parables.” For a brief description of “parable,” see introductory comment on Mk 4.

Regarding this chapter, if v.52 is seen as a parable, then the discourse can be broken down into two parts of four parables each (vv.3–33, 44–52). The first four are addressed to the crowds, the last four to the disciples. Of the first four parables, the first stands apart from the other three with a different introduction, separated by discussion about the purpose of the parables (vv.10–17) and the interpretation of the parable (vv.18–23). The other three have similar beginnings. The second half begins with three parables with the same opening and is separated from the fourth, which has a different beginning and an explanation, followed by the question and answer about the disciples’ understanding of parables. Between these two sets of four are vv.34–43, which explore the function of parables and expound one of them. This structure is called “chiastic.”

(3b–7) The focus of this parable is not the sower but the soils. The farmer scatters the seed, which falls in various places. Paths run through and around the unfenced fields, which are too hard to receive the seed; it is eaten by birds. “Rocky places” are those in which the limestone bedrock lies close to the surface; there is little depth of soil. As the rainy season ends and the sun’s heat increases, the shallow soil heats up quickly. The seeds sprout and promise to be the best of the crop. But the unrelenting summer heat demands that plants send deep roots down for water, and the bedrock prevents this, so they wither. Like grass on rooftops, the young plants wither before they can grow (Psalms 129:6). Other seed falls into hedges of thorns that deprive the plants of needed sun and nourishment.