Christ the Example

The Lord Jesus identifies the sower in the parable of Matthew 13:37 as Himself, "the Son of Man." In Luke 8:11, He identifies the seed as "the Word of God." His ministry was one of sowing the Word, and He is the Supreme Example to follow for the sowing of the Good Seed today.

"Behold, a sower went forth to sow," the Lord begins in Matthew 13:3. There was purpose in His action. This was born of Communion, directed by Commission, motivated by Commitment, exercised in Compassion, and Continued in Confidence.

Communion

Jesus said, "I and My Father are One" (John 10:30). In this Oneness of communion with His Father, He went forth as the Servant of Jehovah to sow. "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John 5:19). Just so with the believer: he should go forth to sow in communion with, and dependence upon, the Lord Jesus who said, "Without Me, ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Commission

His mission as the Sower was at the commission of His Father. After His resurrection, He told His disciples, "As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you" (John 20:21). The believer is commissioned by the resurrected Lord to sow the Good Seed "among all nations" (Luke 24:47); with the promise, "Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters" (Isa. 32:20).

Commitment

When Jesus was urged to stay in Capernaum, He said, "I must preach the kingdom of God in other cities also" (Luke 4:43). He was fully committed to do His Father's bidding. Just so, the believer is committed to His Lord and Master to whom he belongs, waiting upon Him in the attitude expressed by the apostle Paul, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"

Compassion

When Jesus saw the needy multitudes, he was "moved with compassion" (Mark 6:34). This compassion moved Him to tears at the grave of Lazarus, and over the city of Jerusalem. In Psalm 126:6, we read, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." May the love of Christ constrain us to sow not only with prayer but with tears of genuine compassion for the souls of men.

Continued in Confidence

"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand" (Eccl. 11:6); "Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). Continuing "instant in season, out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2), with Confidence in the promise of the Lord—"My Word [the Good Seed] … shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please" (Isa. 55:11).

This sowing of the Word is by word of mouth, manner of living, and by circulating the printed page. Therefore, let us grasp the Seed of the Word with our hand, knowing it, rejoicing in it and realizing its power. Sow it by faith, following the Example of the Lord. Then wait to see, in His time, the increase God will give (1 Cor. 3:6).