The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops.

The sower sows the word.

“Listen! A sower went out to sow. ¹ 

Noah, a man of the soil, ¹  began to plant a vineyard. ² 

“So listen to the parable of the sower:

So be patient, brothers and sisters, ¹  until the Lord’s return. ²  Think of how the farmer waits ³  for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient ⁴  for it until it receives the early and late rains.

Does a farmer just keep on plowing at planting time? ¹  Does he keep breaking up and harrowing his ground?

Instead he will say, ‘I am no prophet – indeed, I am a farmer, for a man has made me his indentured servant since my youth.’ ¹ 

I used you to smash shepherds and their flocks. I used you to smash farmers and their teams of oxen. I used you to smash governors and leaders.” ¹ 

He ¹  told them many things in parables, ²  saying: “Listen! ³  A sower went out to sow. ⁴ 

Then she gave birth ¹  to his brother Abel. ²  Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground. ³ 

He ¹  answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.

“A sower went out to sow ¹  his seed. ²  And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled on, and the wild birds ³  devoured it.

Yes, ¹  the Lord has this to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground, you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning; just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted, you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives. ² 

He presented them with another parable: ¹  “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field.

So the slaves ¹  of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’

The plowers plowed my back; they made their furrows long.

His God instructs him; he teaches him the principles of agriculture. ¹ 

“I am the true vine ¹  and my Father is the gardener. ² 

Now God ¹  who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow.