Parables, Parable of the Weeds, Explanation
Matthew 13:37 He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Matthew 13:37 The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
The one seeding the good seed is the son of the man.
Jesus is the transmitter of the message, not its source.
Jesus explained the Parable of the Sower to the whole crowd, but this parable is only explained to the Apostles. In both cases, however, it was the apostles that asked about it. However, the identity of the Sower is the first thing Jesus identifies, but he doesn't identify the sower in explaining the Parable of the Sower. In that explanation, he only explained the difference from the "good seed" and the other seeds.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "he" is not the common pronoun usually translated as "he."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "sowrth" is not an active verb but a participle, "sowing."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "man" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "sowrth" is not an active verb but a participle, "sowing."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "man" is not shown in the English translation.
He -- (CW) The word translated as "he" is the Greek definite article, which when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. It was added because the previous verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
soweth - -- (WF) The Greek word translated as "soweth" means specifically to "sow seeds" and "to scatter" as in sowing seeds. It is, however, from the same root word as the Greek word for "seeds" so "seeding" is closer to its meaning. It is not an active verb, as translated but an participle, acting like a noun.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
good - The word translated as "good" referring to the "fruit" means "beautiful," "noble," or "of good quality." It is different than the verb above. See this article on "good" and this one on "evil."
seed - “Seed” is from a Greek noun for plant “seed,” animal “sperm,” and “origin,” “offspring," and “descent.” He has already defined this word as a symbol for the "message" of the "realm of the skies."
is - The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
Son -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child" or "descendant." The phrase "the son of man" is the common way Jesus refers to himself. It is discussed in detail in this article. Its sense may be "the child of the man."
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession, but it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
man - The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
The one -- The word translated as "the one" is the Greek definite article, which when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
who-- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "who" in the Greek source. It was added because the previous verb was translated as active rather than a participle.
sowed - -- (WF) The Greek word translated as "sowed" means specifically to "sow seeds" and "to scatter" as in sowing seeds. It is, however, from the same root word as the Greek word for "seeds" so "seeding" is closer to its meaning. It is not an active verb, as translated but an participle, acting like a noun.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
good - The word translated as "good" referring to the "fruit" means "beautiful," "noble," or "of good quality." It is different than the verb above. See this article on "good" and this one on "evil."
seed - “Seed” is from a Greek noun for plant “seed,” animal “sperm,” and “origin,” “offspring," and “descent.” He has already defined this word as a symbol for the "message" of the "realm of the skies."
is - The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
Son -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child" or "descendant." The phrase "the son of man" is the common way Jesus refers to himself. It is discussed in detail in this article. Its sense may be "the child of the man."
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession, but it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
man - The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
Ὁ (article sg masc nom) "He" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which, when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
σπείρων ( part sg pres act masc nom) "Soweth" is from speirô, which is a verb, that means "to sow seed," "to scatter like seed," and "to beget offspring.
τὸ (article sg neut acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
καλὸν (adj sg neut acc) The "good" is from kalos, which means "beautiful," "good," "of fine quality," "noble," and "honorable." It is most often translated as "good" juxtaposed with "evil" in the New Testament, but the two ideas are closer to "wonderful" and "worthless," "noble" and "base."
σπέρμα (noun sg neut acc) “Seed” is from sperma, which means both “seed” of plants and the “sperm” of animals. It also means “origin,” “offspring,” and “descent.” Children are the offspring of seed.
ἐστὶν (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is from eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible."
ὁ (article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
υἱὸς (noun sg masc nom) "The Son" is from huios, which means a "son," and more generally, a "child." -- The word translated as "son" more generally means "child."
τοῦ (article sg masc gen) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἀνθρώπου.(noun sg masc gen) "Of man" is from anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.
The word translated as "seeds" also means "offspring."
Matthew 13:24 The kingdom of heaven is likened...
John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed
More about related verses in this article: The End of the World?
After their meal,several students began discussing weeds and what they stood for. Bad seeds were clearly a bad message or idea, but what results from those bad seeds. The Master listened to their dispute without commenting. They all understood that the Master usually didn’t volunteer any information, but it did chuckle now and then at their ideas.
Finally, Brother James begged him, “Teach us plainly this analogy of the weeds in the field.”
The Master laughed and agreed.
“Who is the one sowing?” asked Johnny Boy.
“The one seeding the good seed,” the Master said cheerfully indicatnig himself, “is the son of the man.”