Christ Jesus told this parable in Matthew 13: 3-23; Mark 4: 3-25; Luke 8: 5-18. In summary, the grains fell on four soils, along the path; on rocky ground; upon thorns; and on good soil. With God’s guidance by the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus by grace, we will discuss the last of the soils mentioned in the parable. We pray to the Lord to give us a listening ear and a receptive heart for his word to take seed in our lives.
The good soil
According to Jesus Christ in Matthew 13: 23 this soil is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty. By Jesus Christ’s explanation, it is clear that not all who hear the word of God understand it. Job 12: 13 says with God are wisdom and might, he has counsel and understanding.
Understanding scripture
Luke 24: 45 says then he (Jesus) opened their minds to understand the scriptures. In Acts 8: 30 Philip asked the Ethiopian eunuch, do you understand what you are reading? And he said, how can I, unless someone guides me? Jesus affirmed God’s role in Matthew 11: 25; Luke 10: 21 that I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes. It is God who gives understanding of his word, not by man.
Jesus expounded Job 12: 13 in Matthew 13: 11; Mark 4: 11; Luke 8: 18 saying to you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. He said in Matthew 13: 13-14, this is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. With them indeed it is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: you shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. See also, Luke 8: 10.
In order to receive understanding from God, we must prepare our hearts as Jesus explained in the parable. Matthew 13: 15 says for this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with the heart, and turn for me to heal them. 1 Corinthians 2: 14 says the unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. A good soil of the heart understands and keeps God’s word.
Bearing fruit and yield
To refresh our memory, the fruits in Galatians 5: 22-26 are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, crucified flesh with its passions and desires, living and walking by the Spirit, no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, and no envy of one another. The opposite of fruits of the flesh described in Galatians 5: 19-21 may show fruits of the Spirit.
Some fruits are also mentioned in the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20: 1 – 17. Philippians 4:8 says as whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, and anything of excellence, worthy of praise ,and worthy of God’s glory. Matthew 5: 13-14 says anything that preserves us as salt and light of the earth.
The fruits must not be confused with the soil from which the fruits are produced. In Matthew 13: 23 Jesus described the nature of good soil. Good soil is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty. Jesus’ explanation also means fruit bearing is subject to hearing and understanding God’s word. We must first hear the word; then understand it from God; then bear fruit by the Holy Spirit.
Preserving a good soil
Some soils (hearts) are naturally good while others must be improved, tilled or cultivated. So Philippians 2:12 says work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Our yield will depend on our efforts to manage our soils through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If we fail to attend to a good soil, it will grow with weeds fit for nothing. In the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13: 24-26 while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. A good soil must be guarded jealously by the Holy Spirit. We must do the following in order to guard the soil of our hearts:
(1) We must be vigilant. Matthew 13: 39 says the enemy who sowed the weeds is the devil. Therefore, 1 Peter 5:8 says be sober and vigilant for your adversary; the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. We must make time and efforts led by the Holy Spirit to enrich our hearts for the expected yield for Christ Jesus.
(2) We must be humble and obedient and tremble at the voice of Christ Jesus. Isaiah 57: 15 says for thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Also, Isaiah 66: 2 says all these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the Lord. But this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.
(3) We need a heart that waits on Christ Jesus. Psalms 37: 7 says be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; fret not yourselves over him who prospers in his way, over a man who carries out evil devices! Waiting on God will preserve our hearts. Psalms 25: 21 says my integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for thee. So, Psalms 33: 20 says our souls wait for the Lord, he is our help and shield. Waiting on God renews us always. Isaiah 40:31 says, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. We shall escape the scorching sun.
(4) We need divine wisdom, godly knowledge and understanding to be effective for Christ Jesus. Worldly wisdom cannot solve our challenges. 1 Corinthians 1: 20 says has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 1 Corinthians 3:19 says for the wisdom of this world is folly with God. 1 Corinthians 1:25 also says for the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Colossians 2: 3 says in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. With godly wisdom we can have knowledge and understanding of God’s word. We can then bear appreciable fruits to God’s delight. Be a fruit bearing soil for Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we open our hearts to you to sow and to grow the seeds of redemption in our hearts. As the Sower, preserve and manage our hearts by your Spirit to yield bountifully to feed hungry souls in body and spirit. In your holy name we pray, Amen!!
