During the time of Jesus, farmers sowed seeds primarily by scattering them by hand. A farmer would carry the seeds in a large woven pouch or fold of their cloak, walking through the fields and throwing the seeds in a sweeping motion. The parable we just read is the first parable spoken by Jesus recorded in scripture. It uses the metaphor of a farmer scattering seed over different kinds of ground to illustrate

The two verses we just read come immediately after Jesus told his first parable recorded in scripture. They had never heard him speak to the people in this manner before and they were puzzled by it. A parable is both simple and complex, it’s meant to convey truth and conceal it. At this point in the Lord’s ministry there were many in the crowd who didn’t believe he was their Messiah as well as some that did. The more truth you hear, the more you are responsible for, so …

Last week began a series of messages all about the kingdom of God. Jesus made the statement “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”. What was lost was the kingdom of God or God’s reign on the earth. Through Adam’s fall, man was lost and Satan’s kingdom entered in the world. That’s why the world is full of darkness, confusion, perversion, and rebellion. When Jesus Christ entered the creation through the womb of a virgin, God inserted himself into our mess. At thirty years old he began his public ministry and the first message he ever preached was “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand”.