Sermon Tone Analysis
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*Intro* – D. L. Moody was the visiting pastor in a church one day where many people habitually left before the end of the sermon.
When he got up to preach he announced, “I am going to speak to two classes of people this morning; first to the sinners and then to the saints.”
He addressed the “sinners” for awhile, and then said they were free to go.
Amazingly, everyone stayed to the end.
At least once, they heard the Word.
Our text is asking a question – have you heard the Word?
Paul says in II Cor 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.
Test yourselves.”
This passage helps do that – the key being how we hear – used 7 times in these verses.
V. 4, “And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable.”
Most of Jesus’ listeners were superficial.
He tells a parable for 2 reasons – to invite them in if they will; to weed them out if they won’t.
This parable cuts through the façade and challenges people to hear with a soft heart.
The question is, Have we heard the Word – and if not, why not?
A parable is a physical picture of a spiritual truth.
Parables are very useful.
But they can mislead rather than clarify if not interpreted correctly.
So I want to share with you 4 principles for interpreting parables to help in your study.
Principle 1 – A parable illustrates one central truth.
Sometimes people look for meaning in every branch of a parable tree!
We call this making a parable “stand on all fours.”
For example, suppose I say, “Jim Kennedy runs like a gazelle.”
What do I mean?
Someone might say, “You mean Jim runs fast; he runs on all fours; and he runs with his tail sticking out in back!” You’ve made an analogy stand “on all fours” – missing my intent.
My analogy has one meaning “Jim runs very fast!” Someone may say, “Wait.
I’ve seen Jim run.
He’s more like a turtle.”
So -- he runs with a shell on his back?
With his head tucked between his shoulders?
On all fours?
Of course, not.
You mean he runs slowly.
Perhaps that’s more truthful.
I don’t know.
I haven’t actually seen him run!
But you get the point.
A parable is teaches one central truth.
Principle 2 – Look for an interpretation by the presenter.
Jesus often interprets His own parable – like here; we’d be foolish to bypass His help!
Principle 3 – Look at the context.
This is always a valid principle of interpretation.
But when we see what is happening before and after a parable, and who the audience is and what the incident would have meant to that audience, it will dramatically increase our chances of getting it right.
Principle 4 – Compare with other Scripture.
Are we consistent with other Scripture?
Some symbols, like fire, sheep and water are used often.
Compare other usages.
Jesus’ example of the vine in John 15 is greatly clarified against the background of Israel being called the vine in the OT.
Multiple gospels.
So, what of this parable?
The word “hear” is used repeatedly.
It divides into four parts.
Each part has seed and each has soil.
So, what does each represent?
Jesus defines seed for us in v. 11, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”
The seed is God’s Word being shared.
No wonder “hearing” is important.
The sower in v. 5 refers to Jesus.
He’s the one dispensing the Word of God.
By application this could be anyone sharing the gospel.
So what about the soil?
V. 12 helps, “The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”
Here we see that soil stands for people’s hearts – further clarified in v. 15.
So, seed is the same in all 4 parts.
But soil differs.
Jesus is teaching the effect of the Word, which is constant, depends on the condition of the heart which differs and drives how one hears.
4 types of hearts are identified.
Some reject His words outright.
Others are wildly enthusiastic until it becomes demanding.
Others go along until something new catches their fancy.
Only a few truly “get the message.”
The key is how the heart hears the Word.
Thus, v. 8, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
He is looking for open, receptive hearts.
That will determine their eternal destiny.
Matt 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
The Word is unchanging.
But its reception depends on the type of heart.
Each of us here this morning falls into one of these categories.
So, what kind of soil are you?
Let’s look at the first today.
*I.Wayside Soil – (The Rejecter)*
V. 5, “A sower went out to sow his seed.
And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.”
A 1st century farmer would tie a seed bag around his waist and walk his field, casting seed as he went.
Every seed bore the potential for life.
Its fate depended on the soil.
Whether life springs up depends on the soil (heart).
The fate of the first seed is in v. 12, “12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”
Walkways were packed hard from continued use.
Seed that fell on that soil would never sprout.
Birds would swoop down and devour it as it lay on the hard soil.
So it is when the Word lands on a hard heart.
Satan easily steals it away.
The Word cannot penetrate.
It’s rejected.
Charles Swindoll had lunch one day with an unsaved doctor friend.
He drew a picture of a circle labeled God with the word “holy” written beneath it.
On the other side was another circle labeled “man” with the word “unholy” written under it.
Next he drew a bridge between God and man with a cross and the name “Christ” written on the horizontal bar of the cross.
Simple gospel.
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