Matthew 13:1-23

Matthew 13:1-23

Here we read about four types of soil, but only one of them bore fruit. First, some of the seed fell by the wayside. It remained on the surface, and the wicked one came and snatched it away. Vs. 4 and 19.

A pathway is made hard by everything and everyone passing over it. This is the condition of many people’s hearts. They sought to have a good life, and so they opened their hearts to all kinds of things—except to God. They were disappointed wherever they turned. They expected to find understanding, love, and goodness from all kinds of people. However, they did not seek God; they made no demands on themselves, but relied on other people. Their hearts became hard because of all these disappointments. They lost faith in everything that is good. When they heard the Word of life they did not understand it. They had expected everything from the others, but the Word of life wants to go down into their hearts and do a work in them—make them good. But they didn’t understand that. Their hearts were hard. The Word stayed on the surface, and the wicked one snatched it away.

Then there were some that fell on stony places. They received the Word with joy; but since there wasn’t much earth, they had no root; and when persecution arose they immediately stumbled. Vs. 5-6; 20-21.

Many hearts can be compared to stony ground. They become enthusiastic when they hear the Word of life about righteousness, peace, and joy. They receive it with joy. But if the seed is to bear fruit, it has to put down roots. It requires nourishment from the earth. This is how it is when it comes to the Word of life in our hearts. It also requires something if it is to bring us peace and joy. It requires everything that the heart is attached to. It pierces and divides and separates; it discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. They had not expected this, and so they hardened their hearts. They were enthusiastic for all the things the Word could bring them, but when it began to require something from them, their hearts were hard as stone. They got offended when they were required to suffer a little bit for the Word. They had their reservations, and the Word did not bear fruit.

Some also fell among thorns. They heard the Word; but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choked the Word. Vs. 7, 22.

Many people react the way the rich young man did who went away sorrowful. They want to have life, but they do not want to lose their life in order to find it. When they hear Jesus’ call in their hearts to forsake everything and follow Him, they become anxious about all kinds of things that Jesus has said will be added to us. They do not believe God; the Word is choked by all these anxieties, and it does not bear fruit.

Some fell on good ground. They heard the Word and understood it, and it bore fruit: some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. Vs. 8, 23.

Those who are the good ground are the ones who receive the Word without reservation, without any ulterior motives. They understand that the Word has to put down roots and do a work in them. They give the Word everything it asks for and judges. They embrace it with all of their heart and cast all their cares for this world on the Lord, because they believe that He cares for them. This produces fruit, because the seed can only bear fruit in this ground.