It is easy to miss something right in front of us when we are looking for something else. Many people missed Jesus, because they were looking for a different kind of kingdom than the one Jesus came to establish. Specifically, they were expecting immediate judgment on sinners, but Jesus surprised everyone by associating with sinners and then dying for them. Following the Parable of the Sower are three other parables in Matthew 13:24-43. Together they emphasize that judgment is coming, but not yet. First the Kingdom of God must fill the whole earth.
It is good to have more than one person ready to verify facts, especially when they are well-informed and honest. In the case of...
Four short parables point to the surpassing value of the kingdom of God and the need to find it now.
In Stephen's speech before the Jewish Council, he gave a master class on the meaning of Old Testament history, which culminated in Jesus.