Understanding the Good Soil

I have gone back to an old sermon series and rebuilt it.  I wanted to write and share a few thoughts about the good ground in Matthew 13.  

Jesus tells this parable about 4 different types of soil.   I wanted for the purpose of this blog to focus on the 4th type of soil and say this is the kind of soil we should hope to be, strive to be, and pray to become.

 I will call it the good ground found in verse 23.  Jesus refers to it as "the good soil."  Here are a few thoughts from verse 23.

First, keep in mind that some people bear more fruit than others, but all truly saved people bear some fruit. That which distinguishes the good ground from the rest, was one word, fruitfulness.

By our fruitfulness true Christians are distinguished from hypocrites.  

True Christians bring forth the fruit of righteousness thereby showing those around them that they are truly the Disciples of Christ.

Jesus would say in John 15:8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

keep in mind, that He does not say that this good ground has no stones, nor does he say it is void of thorns; but none of those things  existed in such proportions as to hinder the fruitfulness of the soil.

Any garden that is planted will have to battle the weeds.  The fact of the matter is this:  Every planted garden will battle thorns and thistles!

Saints, in this world are not perfectly free from the remains of sin nor are we immune from the pressures from this world.  In real ways saints  are under the assault from our enemy.  The real difference is this: we are happily freed from the reign of these things.  We are not under their control!  

 I want you to notice a couple of things: {Evidences of good Ground}

1. 1. Jesus spoke of an intelligent hearer. 

What I find striking is this:  All of them heard the same message.   The wise one is the one who hears and understands.  They hear the word, by hearing they received the word, by receiving the word they gained understanding.  God and his word deals with men as men, in a rational way.  Through our minds and thoughts HE gains possession of our will and our affections and  these things open our understanding.

2. Jesus spoke of the fruitful hearer.

This is evidence of their understanding.   Good fruit is the product of the good seed, nurtured in the body and life and heart of the person.  

Here lies a life lesson: Fruitfulness is the product of Faithfulness.

3.  Jesus spoke of different kinds of fruit.

At the latter part of verse 23, some produced 100 fold, some 60, and some 30. 

Here is the lesson:  Among fruitful Christians some are  more fruitful than others.

Again some churches will be and become more fruitful than others. 

We need to pray that our church would become a church that bears 100 fold.  That means we pray that we become a person who is bearing 100 fold.

We live in a world where everyone is told they need to be the same.  

I do not find this idea in the Scriptures. I think by virtue of Jesus talking about these different degrees of fruitfulness it speaks of the true nature of grace. 

There are different degrees of our development, there are different degrees of our understanding, there are different degrees of our knowledge, application and surrender.

Some experience greater attainments and knowledge in holiness than others.

All of Christ disciples are not the same.  We should aim at the highest degree, to bring forth a hundredfold, and we should recognize that not everybody beside us will be like us. 

Whenever we understand that the same God who excepted those who produced 100 fold will graciously accept those who bring forth 30 fold, we understand more fully what Paul said, that we are under grace and not under the law.

While many people believe in Jesus the truth is you cannot tell early on what soil the seeds have been planted in.  

Furthermore,  You cannot  tell if that seed was a wheat or a tear.  If you look down at Matthew 13:24 and following…  because here is another parable from Jesus, teaching us the same truth.

Weeds or Wheat?  You cannot tell initially,  you have to wait until the plant is full-grown.  

One thing then becomes very clear:  A profession of faith does not equal a possession of faith

So the question was posed to me this week:  Preacher man  what are fruits?  If I examine my life what am I looking for?  I am glad you asked.  Read my next blog and I will talk about the fruit we desire.