“As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:23)
Chapter 13 is packed with parables, and this is the conclusion of the parable of the sower. In summary, Jesus used an understandable farming analogy to teach his disciples some important things about discipleship and the kingdom of heaven. The elements of the story are the sower, the seed, and the four soil types: the hard path, rocky ground, thorny ground, and good soil.
He explained that the seed represents his word and the four soil types to illustrate receptivity to the word. The good soil is the focus of our verse and represents those who receive and understand God‘s word.
What stands out to me is the varied outcome. He who receives the word bears fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. When I read this, I tend to think that one hundred is better than sixty, and sixty is better than thirty. However, Jesus’ focus isn’t on quantity. His focus is on bearing lasting fruit versus no fruit or fruit that is apparent but fades away.
I need to be careful that I am not measuring myself against others who may appear to bear more fruit or less fruit than I do. I must focus on bearing fruit. Only God can truly measure the fruit. I also must be careful not to reduce my fruit to one thing. Because in our life experience, a seed can bear only one type of fruit, we tend to understand this analogy through that lens. In some circles, soulwinning is THE fruit. In other circles, discipleship is THE fruit. Still, in other circles, the measured fruit is church attendance, spiritual gifts, or something else. All of these are good fruit, but the Christian life is more holistic, and the Word is a different kind of seed. It is a supernatural seed that prepares us for godliness. Here is what Paul wrote to Timothy:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Because God’s word is broad in its content, we should not isolate our fruit inspection to one fruit. Rather, we should look more broadly at how we bear fruit in every area that God’s word addresses. As I read and meditate on God’s word, I can’t dismiss the command to evangelize the lost because my fruit/interest/gift is small group discipleship. Likewise, I can’t dismiss discipleship because my fruit/interest/gift is evangelism. I need to bear fruit related to the seed that is sown. If I spend time in God’s word, I will have a variety of seeds cast my way. The question is: Is my heart good soil?
Father, please help me to bear good fruit in all areas of my life. Amen.