Parable of the Sower
W. Borrows, M. A. Luke 8:4-15 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spoke by a parable:… I. THE SEED ITSELF. The seed is the Word of God — the word of prophecy; the word of promise; the word of sound doctrine; the word of strong exhortation, and solemn warning, and high encouragement, which is given by inspiration of God. 1. A quickening seed. It brings the dead in sin to spiritual life. It is also productive of much consolation to those who are quickened thereby. 2. A holy seed. 3. An incorruptible seed. 4. A seed of fruitfulness in every good word and work to do God's will. 5. An abiding seed. II. THE DIFFERENT RECEPTIONS OF THIS SEED, AND THE CONSEQUENT DIFFERENT RESULTS. III. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. 1. An important caution to all hearers to take heed how they hear, and to remember their awful responsibility. 2. Much matter of humiliation to the whole Church. There never has been, and never can or will be, any profitable hearing of the Word, unless the Holy Spirit change the heart and prepare the soil for the reception of the Divine seed. 3. Much matter of encouragement to every weak believer. If the work of the Holy Spirit is begun on the heart, the Word of truth may be heard with profit; and it has been heard with profit by all who are separated from the world, and transformed by the renewing of their mind. 4. Finally, the parable sets forth matter of important instruction to the individuals on the way to Zion, relative to the subject-matter of preaching that shall be profitable for them to hear. (W. Borrows, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: WEB: When a great multitude came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable.