A Word from God's Word

“But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Matthew 13:8,9

HAVING CONSIDERED OVER the last three weeks (in the “Parable of the Sower”), the poor, infertile soils (hardened, stony and thorn-ridden) on which the seed is sown, we now come to the good soil of verse 8. “But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Jesus again interprets for us the significance of this soil in 13:23. “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Quite simply, the good soil is the one who hears, understands, and embraces by faith the gospel message. Furthermore, this one continues on despite the “cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches” and despite the “persecution” that inevitably arises. And the result of that is what? Life is the result. For the life of a plant is shown in its fruitfulness, and this one “yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty”.

Therefore, the lesson of this parable is given by Jesus in 13:9, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Hear the gospel message of life in Christ, life through faith in Him and His sacrifice for sin on the cross. Hear, receive… and live!

Pastor Craig publishes  "A Word from God's Word" weekly in the "Kootenay News Advertiser".