Catalyst for Growth: Observation and Inference in the Parable of the Sower

On this blog, I sometimes share lessons about inductive Bible study. Today, I would like to share some examples of observation and inference.

If you would like to start with an overview of inductive Bible study before reading today’s lesson, you can find that overview here: Inductive Bible Study: An Overview.

What Is Observation and Inference?

One of the keys to inductive Bible study is making observations of what the text says. You don’t bring in any outside understanding. You simply read the text and make note of what you observe. You also observe the surrounding text—what comes right before and after—to see how that relates to the passage you’re reading.

After observing what’s in the text, you then make inferences based on your observations. Inferences are conclusions you draw. But the inferences come straight from the observations, without bringing in any outside understanding.

Those inferences are part of the process of inductive Bible study. Inferences are the basis for identifying truth points, which leads to interpretation. More steps take place along the way from inference to truth points. But today, I want to zero in on moving from observation to inference.

Observing a Water Bowl

First, let’s look at a general example. My dog has a water bowl in the kitchen. I refill that bowl whenever it’s low on water. Let’s say I go into the kitchen right now. The water level is low. What observations could I make, and what could I infer?

Here is what I observe:

• The amount of water in the bowl is lower than before.
• No water has spilled around the bowl. The mat is dry and isn’t very absorbent.
• Evaporation couldn’t explain the amount of water missing in that short amount of time.
• The kitchen doesn’t have a fan blowing that might have blown the water away.
• My dog is the only large creature who has been in the kitchen.
• Perhaps a spider went in there, but a spider couldn’t drink that much water.

Those are my observations.

Inferences about a Water Bowl

What can I infer from those observations?

I can infer that my dog drank the amount of water that is missing.

Can I infer that my dog was thirsty? Possibly. Or maybe he was just bored. But thirsty seems a safe conclusion.

Can I infer that my dog likes the taste of the water? No. Maybe he does, but if he is thirsty, he will drink it anyway. Based on my observations, I can’t infer anything about the taste of the water.

Can I infer that the water temperature was warm or cold when my dog drank the water? No. I have no idea what the water temperature was at that time. That’s not something I can infer based on what I’ve observed.

Can I infer that my dog didn’t drop any crumbs into the water? No. While I don’t observe any crumbs now, I don’t know what he might have dropped into the water earlier and then eaten. Perhaps if I had scientific equipment, I could detect debris of crumbs in the water. But I don’t have such equipment to make my observation.

This example is meant to illustrate how inference is based on observation. What conclusions can you draw based on what you’ve observed? Those conclusions are your inferences, which become the basis for the truth points you will highlight later in the process.

You’ll note that part of my observation of the water bowl extended to the surrounding environment. I observed my dog is the only large creature who could have drunk the water. I observed the lack of a fan or sufficient evaporation.

When observing a biblical passage, you will look at what is in the text and then also take note of the surrounding passages and how those passages might shape the text. That’s all part of observation.

Observation and Inference in Matthew 13:3,19

Now let’s look at a biblical example: Matthew 13:1-52, often referred to as the parable of the sower. Go ahead and read the passage straight through. Then we will zoom in on verses 3 and 19. Go ahead and read those verses again closely.

In verse 3, we can observe that the seeds are sown intentionally. That’s a straight observation of what the text says. Notice we’re not bringing in additional information. We’re simply observing what’s in the text. The farmer does the action of going out to sow seed. The action is intentionally done by the farmer.

In verse 19, we can observe how the author connects the sowing of seeds with hearing the word of the kingdom. Again, that’s a straight observation based on what the text says. A direct connection is made between hearing of the kingdom and the seed that is sown.

So, those are two observations based on a close reading of the text itself.

How do we get from observation to inference?

Here is one inference I drew from these two verses:

God intentionally spreads the word of the kingdom of heaven.

If the parable equates the sowing of seeds with hearing about the kingdom, then the farmer sowing seeds represents God (Jesus) telling about the kingdom.

That’s something I can infer from my observation of the text without bringing in any outside understanding.

Here is another inference based on those two verses:

The word of the kingdom is a catalyst for growth.

Seeds are sown to grow things. If sowing seeds is connected to hearing about the kingdom, then hearing about the kingdom is intended to produce growth.

Again, that’s a conclusion I can make based strictly on my observation of the text, without bringing in any outside understanding.

Observation and Inference in Matthew 13:4-8

Let’s look at one more example. Go ahead and read verses 4-8 again closely. What observations can we make based on the text itself?

Here is one observation: The grain produced by the seeds in good soil is multiplied. We can observe that in the text itself in verse 8.

What inference can we make based on that observation? Here is one inference:

The word of the kingdom is designed to multiply what it produces.

Here is another observation we can make by closely reading verses 4-8:

Good soil is contrasted with a path where seeds are exposed to birds, rocky ground with shallow soil, and ground filled with thorns.

What inference can we make based on that observation? Here is one inference:

With the right heart conditions, the word of the kingdom is nurtured and will flourish. The wrong heart conditions will cause the word to be picked off, or unable to put down roots, or be tied up and unable to grow.

Do you see how you can draw that conclusion based on the observation mentioned above?

Your Turn

Now try to make another observation based on a close reading of another verse in Matthew 13:1-52. Your observations can include the verses preceding and following this passage as well, as those may be part of the context.

What is one observation you can make based on one of these verses?

Now, what can you infer from your observation? What conclusion can you draw?

The key to inductive Bible study is prayer and practice. Pray for God to help you, and keep practicing making observations and inferences.

To see more examples of observation and inference, you can look at these resources:

Why Did the Fishermen Leave Their Nets? Part 1

Why Did the Fishermen Leave Their Nets? Part 2

Jesus Is Moved with Compassion

You can also find examples of the full inductive Bible study process on my Bible Exploration page.

I’m praying you will have a fruitful experience with God through your time spent in inductive Bible study.