Seed sown on good ground
A. The Parable and the Interpretation in Matthew
1.Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold.
2. Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundred, some sixty, some thirty.
a. understandeth [Strong: 4920 suniemi soon-ee'-ay-mee from 4862 and hiemi (to send); to put together, i.e. (mentally) to comprehend; by implication, to act piously:-- consider, understand, be wise.] [Bullinger: to bring together, to collect together the single, features of an object into a whole; hence to collect, apprehend, grasp, understand, to be earnestly occupied with the object, to reflect morally, ponder, lay to heart, (implying mental activity, knowledge acquired by reflection and
consideration.)]
b. One of the keys to bringing forth fruit is understanding, understanding here is an
action, that action, according to Bullinger, is to be earnestly occupied with the word. We use our mental ability to acquire knowledge, by reflection and consideration. It is a choice. But it is only one component. Simply applying mental activity to the Scripture will not give us what we need. The more important part in this equation is of course the Spirit of God. There needs to be a spiritual revelation imparted.
1). Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
2). 2 Timothy 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
c. This is why the Apostle Paul prayed for the Body of Christ in this regard.
1). Ephesians 1:17, 18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
a). His prayer was that the Holy Ghost would give us a revelation of not only the hope of his calling but also that we would get a revelation of what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in us.
d. The process is described by Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians.
1). 1 Corinthians 2:6-13 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
2). The Holy Ghost teaches by comparing spiritual things with spiritual, Scripture with Scripture
a). John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
b). John 16:12-15 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
c). Before he can bring it to our remembrance it has to be in there. The more familiar we get with the Scriptures the more able is the Holy Ghost
e. Receiving revelation knowledge, spiritual impartation is the key to growing spiritually, of bringing forth fruit.
1). Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
2). Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
3). Revelation knowledge concerning the Covenant becomes personal, it becomes mine. Along with the knowledge comes a surety that I through Jesus can walk in it.
f. One of the ways to earnestly occupy our mental abilities is to meditate.
1). Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day.
1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and
whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
c. Surely this is one of the requirements of abiding in Christ.
1). John 15:1-6 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
d. As we earnestly occupy ourselves with the Scripture, God will use the Scripture to give us everything we need to obey what the Scripture says.
1). Isaiah 55:10, 11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
a). What power there is in His word! The word that goes out of His mouth will accomplish and prosper what He sent it to do in me.
b). 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
(1). My faith will join with His word and it will effectively work inside of me.
c). Philippians 2:12, 13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
(1). It will give me the desire and the ability to be obedient
B. The Parable and the Interpretation in Mark
1. Mark 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
2. Mark 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
a. receive [Strong: 3858 paradechomai par-ad-ekh'-om-ahee from 3844 and 1209; to accept near, i.e. admit or (by implication) delight in:--receive.] [Zoshiates: to receive, admit, embrace with assent and obedience.]
b. This is in direct contrast with those where the seed fell by the wayside in Luke.
1). Luke 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
a). trodden down [Strong: 2662 katapateo kat-ap-at-eh'-o from 2596 and 3961; to trample down; figuratively, to reject with disdain:--trample, tread (down, underfoot).] [Zodhiates: Literally, to tread or trample upon. underfoot. Figuratively, to reject, Hebrews 10:29.]
b). Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
C. The Parable and the Interpretation in Luke.
1. Luke 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
2. Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
a. honest [Strong: 2570 kalos kal-os' of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from 18, which is properly intrinsic):--X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.] [Zodhiates: Constitutionally good without being benovelent, good as to quality and character.]
b. good [Strong: 18 agathos ag-ath-os' a primary word; "good" (in any sense, often as noun):--benefit, good(-s, things), well.] [Zodhiates: good, benevolent, profitable.]
c. keep [Strong: 2722 katecho kat-ekh'-o from 2596 and 2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively):--have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.] [Zodhiates: to hold fast, to hold firmly.]
d. We are to hold fast to the word of God.
1). 2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
2) Proverbs 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
e. patience [5281 hypomonḗ, hoop-om-on-ay'; from G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:—enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).] [hupomone; hupo-under; meno-to abide.]
1). The compound Greek word ‘meno used in the word translated “patience”, is the same Greek word translated in John 15.
a). John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
b). Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
f. The meaning of the Greek word for patience in Luke 8:15 is in direct contrast to the meaning of the term ‘fall away’ used in the seed sown on the rock in Luke 8:13.
1). Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
D. Summary: It is our responsibility to bear fruit, yet it is impossible to do it without Christ. The Covenant we have with God gives us all the tools we need to bear much fruit.
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