Matthew 13:23 - The Word of God in Good Hearts.
Matthew 13:23 (NKJV) 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."
Matthew 13:23 (CWR) Finally, there are those
who listen attentively and receive the good news
in their hearts and fully commit themselves to
it. They live their lives in such a way that the
good news always has priority, and they bear
fruit accordingly. Through their influence some of
these people will win a hundred to the gospel,
others sixty and still others thirty. They are
represented by the seed sown in the good part of the
field."
CONTEXT
The four types of soil represent different
responses to God's message. People respond differently
because they are in different states of readiness.
Some are hardened, others are shallow, others are
contaminated by distracting worries, and some are
receptive. How has God's Word taken root in your life?
What kind of soil are you? [Life Application SB]
INTRODUCTION
The word of God is the seed. Every seed has
in itself a germinating principle. In it the
life of the plant is enfolded. So there is life
in God's word. Christ says, "The words that I
speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are
life." John 6:63. "He that heareth My word, and
believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life."
John 5:24. In every command and in every promise
of the word of God is the power, the very life
of God, by which the command may be fulfilled
and the promise realized. He who by faith
receives the word is receiving the very life and
character of God. COL 38
COMMENTARY PEARL
Living in Wisconsin, I mourn that our
garden's growing season is so short. I'm often
scraping snow aside, wondering if my trowel will hit
frost when digging in our first plantings. I watch
others in warmer climates harvesting their crop of
veggies while I'm still trying to keep the cold at
bay from the varieties I planted that are
designed for short growing seasons.
The hindrance means it's even more
important to amend the soil well, giving my garden the
best possible opportunity to produce a healthy,
robust crop before the snow flies again. I don't
even bother trying warm-climate crops, but I
appreciate what does spring up - beans, peas, onions,
cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, squash.
Good soil is important for my garden so
my seeds and starter plants have the very best
chance of producing an abundant yield. Like my
garden, rich, fertile soil is also important in my
life if I want Jesus's teachings to take root and
grow.
I pondered the condition of my soil. Has
it been properly prepared and tended by reading
Jesus's Word and by prayer? Have I done what I need
to so I can yield a life of abundance with His
forgiveness, grace, and hope? With good soil - Jesus - I
can bless others with the hope, faith, and love
that grows in my spiritual garden. Cynthia
Ruchti
Faith Step: Consider planting a few seeds
in prepared soil and watch them sprout. Think
about how quickly you see changes in them each
day. Thank Jesus that He can do the same in your
life. [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
The sower is not always to meet with
disappointment. Of the seed that fell into good ground the
Saviour said, This "is he that heareth the word, and
understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth
forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some
thirty." "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."
The "honest and good heart" of which the
parable speaks, is not a heart without sin; for the
gospel is to be preached to the lost. Christ said,
"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance." Mark 2:17. He has an honest
heart who yields to the conviction of the Holy
Spirit. He confesses his guilt, and feels his need
of the mercy and love of God. He has a sincere
desire to know the truth, that he may obey it. The
good heart is a believing heart, one that has
faith in the word of God. Without faith it is
impossible to receive the word. "He that cometh to God
must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Heb.
11:6.
This "is he that heareth the word, and
understandeth it." The Pharisees of Christ's day closed
their eyes lest they should see, and their ears
lest they should hear; therefore the truth could
not reach their hearts. They were to suffer
retribution for their willful ignorance and self-imposed
blindness. But Christ taught His disciples that they
were to open their minds to instruction, and be
ready to believe. He pronounced a blessing upon
them because they saw and heard with eyes and
ears that believed.
The good-ground hearer receives the word
"not as the word of men, but as it is in truth,
the word of God." 1 Thess. 2:13. Only he who
receives the Scriptures as the voice of God speaking
to himself is a true learner. He trembles at
the word; for to him it is a living reality. He
opens his understanding and his heart to receive
it. Such hearers were Cornelius and his friends,
who said to the apostle Peter, "Now therefore
are we all here present before God, to hear all
things that are commanded thee of God." Acts 10:33.
A knowledge of the truth depends not so
much upon strength of intellect as upon pureness
of purpose, the simplicity of an earnest,
dependent faith. To those who in humility of heart
seek for divine guidance, angels of God draw
near. The Holy Spirit is given to open to them the
rich treasures of the truth.
The good-ground hearers, having heard the
word, keep it. Satan with all his agencies of evil
is not able to catch it away.
Merely to hear or to read the word is not
enough. He who desires to be profited by the
Scriptures must meditate upon the truth that has been
presented to him. By earnest attention and prayerful
thought he must learn the meaning of the words of
truth, and drink deep of the spirit of the holy
oracles.
God bids us fill the mind with great
thoughts, pure thoughts. He desires us to meditate
upon His love and mercy, to study His wonderful
work in the great plan of redemption. Then
clearer and still clearer will be our perception of
truth, higher, holier, our desire for purity of
heart and clearness of thought. The soul dwelling
in the pure atmosphere of holy thought will be
transformed by communion with God through the study of
Scriptures.
"And bring forth fruit." Those who,
having heard the word, keep it, will bring forth
fruit in obedience. The word of God, received into
the soul, will be manifest in good works. Its
results will be seen in a Christlike character and
life. Christ said of Himself, "I delight to do Thy
will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart."
Ps. 40:8. "I seek not Mine own will, but the
will of the Father which hath sent Me." John
5:30. And the Scripture says, "He that saith he
abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even
as He walked." 1 John 2:6.
The word of God often comes in collision
with man's hereditary and cultivated traits of
character and his habits of life. But the good-ground
hearer, in receiving the word, accepts all its
conditions and requirements. His habits, customs, and
practices are brought into submission to God's word.
In his view the commands of finite, erring man
sink into insignificance beside the word of the
infinite God. With the whole heart, with undivided
purpose, he is seeking the life eternal, and at the
cost of loss, persecution, or death itself, he
will obey the truth.
And he brings forth fruit "with
patience." None who receive God's word are exempt from
difficulty and trial; but when affliction comes, the
true Christian does not become restless,
distrustful, or despondent. Though we can not see the
definite outcome of affairs, or discern the purpose
of God's providences, we are not to cast away
our confidence. Remembering the tender mercies
of the Lord, we should cast our care upon Him,
and with patience wait for His salvation.
Through conflict the spiritual life is
strengthened. Trials well borne will develop steadfastness
of character and precious spiritual graces. The
perfect fruit of faith, meekness, and love often
matures best amid storm clouds and darkness.
"The husbandman waiteth for the precious
fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it,
until he receive the early and latter rain." James
5:7. So the Christian is to wait with patience
for the fruition in his life of the word of God.
Often when we pray for the graces of the Spirit,
God works to answer our prayers by placing us in
circumstances to develop these fruits; but we do not
understand His purpose, and wonder, and are dismayed.
Yet none can develop these graces except through
the process of growth and fruit bearing. Our
part is to receive God's word and to hold it
fast, yielding ourselves fully to its control, and
its purpose in us will be accomplished.
"If a man love Me," Christ said, "he will
keep My words; and My Father will love him, and
we will come unto him, and make our abode with
him." John 14:23. The spell of a stronger, a
perfect mind will be over us; for we have a living
connection with the source of all-enduring strength. In
our divine life we shall be brought into
captivity to Jesus Christ. We shall no longer live the
common life of selfishness, but Christ will live in
us. His character will be reproduced in our
nature. Thus shall we bring forth the fruits of the
Holy Spirit--"some thirty, and some sixty, and
some an hundred." [COL 58-61]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
Matthew 13:23 - The Word of God in Good
Hearts.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2011/20110121-1249.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
