A parable of Jesus told in all three Synoptic Gospels in which a sower scatters seed that falls on a footpath, on rocky ground, among thorns and on good soil; only the seed on good soil produces a harvest. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus explains the parable privately to his disciples afterward, reading the four soils as four different responses to his own teaching.
Facts
Identity
Position in the CanonChapter 13 of 28 in the Gospel of Matthew. 1 Canonical ReferenceMatthew 13:1-23, with parallel accounts at Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15 1 Attributions
Synoptic Gospel Controversy
Point in DisputeScholars of the Synoptic Problem are divided on whether Mark's version is the earliest, independently reworked by Matthew and Luke, or whether the shared allegorical explanation attached to all three points to a common written or oral source lying behind them. 2 Canonicity (class) Literary form (class) Meaning
ThemeThe same message received differently depending on the condition of the hearer, offered as an explanation for why Jesus' teaching takes root in some listeners and not in others. 2 Text
Literary FormParable with an attached private allegorical explanation, unusual among Jesus' parables in receiving one spelled out in the text itself. 2 Connections
Associated With
Jesus, Figures Source The New Testament, Gospel of MatthewAnonymous
Attributed To
Source Gospel of Matthew (Wikipedia)
Belongs to Tradition
Source The New Testament, Gospel of MatthewAnonymous
Contained In
Source The New Testament, Gospel of MatthewAnonymous
Sources
1. The New Testament, Gospel of Matthew
Anonymous
2. The Case Against Q: Studies in Marcan Priority and the Synoptic Problem
Mark Goodacre, Trinity Press International, 2002Mark 4:1-20 and synoptic parallelsQuote, Mark 4:1-20 and synoptic parallels
The Case Against Q: a parable, a short didactic narrative told by Jesus.
Gospel of Matthew (Wikipedia)
Attributed To: Matthew, Authorship sectionQuote, Attributed To: Matthew, Authorship section
it was attributed to Matthew very early and was highly popular in the early church
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