Sunday School Lessons (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23) The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower contains many essential truths kids need to learn. Use these Sunday School lessons and activities to help children understand what Jesus was teaching in Matthew 13:1-23. You will find free printable lessons from preschool to older elementary, a coloring page, craft ideas and two videos, all ready for your next class.

Our links below all lead directly to PDF downloads unless otherwise noted. Enjoy this free curriculum in your Sunday School this Sunday.

Parable of the Sower Lessons for Sunday School

Parable of the Sower Lesson (from Mission Bible Class)

See more teaching ideas on the Parable of the Sower (from Ministry-To-Children)

Crafts & Coloring Pages for the Parable of the Sower

Sunday School Craft Demonstration

Children’s Sermon Object Lesson

Matthew 13:1-9 The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. ² Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore. ³ And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. ⁵ Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. ⁹ He who has ears, let him hear.”
-Matthew 13:1-9 (BSB)

Matthew 13:18-23 Jesus Explains the Parable of the Soils

¹⁸ Consider, then, the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. ²² The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.”
-Matthew 13:18-23 (BSB)

Compare this scripture and other translations on Bible Gateway

What Does the Parable of the Sower Mean for Kids? (Matthew 13:1-23)

Jesus explained that the seed is the message about the kingdom, and the four kinds of soil are four ways people hear it. The good soil is the one who “hears the word and understands it” (Matthew 13:23, BSB).

1. The path. Someone hears the message but does not understand it, and the evil one “snatches away what was sown in his heart” (Matthew 13:19, BSB).
2. The rocky ground. Someone “at once receives it with joy,” but has no root and quickly falls away when trouble comes (Matthew 13:20-21, BSB).
3. The thorns. “The worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word” (Matthew 13:22, BSB).
4. The good soil. Someone hears the word, understands it, and “bears fruit” (Matthew 13:23, BSB).

The main message for children is to listen to God’s Word, understand it, and let it grow. Pick a lesson above for your age group, then use the children’s sermon video to share the parable as a simple object lesson.