Matthew 13:3

The seven parables of Matthew 13, called by our Lord, "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 13:11), taken together, describe the result of the presence of the Gospel in the world during the present age, that is, the time of seed sowing which began with our Lord's personal ministry, and ends with the "harvest" (Matthew 13:40). Briefly, the result is mingled tares and wheat, good fish and bad, in the sphere of Christian profession. It is Christendom.

sower

The figure marks a new beginning. To labour in God's vineyard Israel, (Isaiah 5:1) is one thing, to go forth sowing the seed of the word in a field which is the world, quite another (cf) (Matthew 10:5). One fourth of the seed takes permanent root, but the result is "wheat"; (Matthew 13:25); (1 Peter 1:23) or "children of the kingdom" (Matthew 13:38). This parable (Matthew 13:3); (Matthew 13:18) is treated throughout as foundational to the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. It is interpreted by our Lord Himself.