The Parable of the Sower: The Good Soil Base text: Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23 I. The Parable A. Parable: "true-to-life" story expressing spiritual truths B. An extended metaphor C. Discussion of sower and seed and soil (Matthew 13:3-9) 1. Sower refers to one preaching 2. Seed is the Word, the Gospel 3. Soils represent different persons hearing the Gospel D. Interpretation is sure-- Jesus Himself explains it (Matthew 13:18-23) E. We saw general truths regarding the parable 1. Expectation that Christians go out and sow the seed 2. Seed sown everywhere-- not prejudging people's receptiveness 3. We just cast the seed F. Previously looked at the seed cast on the road (vv. 4, 19) 1. Those who do not believe 2. Do not believe for different reasons 3. May respond in different, mostly negative ways to hearing the Gospel 4. It should not discourage us G. Also considered the rocky soil (vv. 5-6, 20-21) 1. Those that start well but are not well-founded in the faith 2. Are caused to stumble 3. Demonstration of need to be "rooted" in the faith H. Likewise the thorny soil (vv. 7, 22) 1. The soil is decent, but thorns abound 2. Cares of the world and deceitfulness of riches 3. Demonstration of need to prioritize properly I. Let us conclude now by examining the good soil (vv. 8, 23) II. The Good Soil A. After all kinds of soils that posed problems, we now get to soil that is good 1. The seed is cast on the ground and grows (v. 8) 2. Grain is produced 3. Some of the good soil produces 100x, some 60x, the rest 30x B. Compared to those who hear the Gospel and understand it (v. 23) 1. Such a person bears fruit-- becomes a Christian and grows! 2. Some 100x, some 60x, some 30x C. Seeing, then, the overall picture of the good soil, let us consider it further III. What Makes the Soil Good? A. Let us consider what conditions make for good soil B. Earthy soil is good when it has a good climate and a good level of nutrients C. What makes for a good condition of a soul? 1. Receptive to hearing the truth (Romans 10:17, 1 Corinthians 1:18) 2. Willing to be obedient to God (Romans 6:16-18) 3. Willing to fully convert and live for Christ (Matthew 10:37-38) 4. One who can be a humble disciple (Matthew 28:18-20, 23:12) 5. One who is willing to work in the Kingdom (Matthew 9:37-38, Titus 3:8) D. We can also learn from conditions that are not good 1. As seen earlier, one who refuses to hear is not good soil (Matthew 13:4, 19) 2. Likewise, one who is not well founded in the faith (vv. 4, 19) 3. Further the one who allows the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches to choke out the Word is not good soil (vv. 5-6, 20-21) 4. Likewise, those who freely engage in the works of the flesh would not be good soil (Galatians 5:19-21) E. The good soil, then, is receptive to Christ and to be changed to conform to His image (Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20) IV. Bearing Fruit A. The expectation is that the seed on the good soil will grow and bear fruit (Matthew 13:8, 23) 1. As with earthly soil, so with Christians: one grows first and then can bear fruit! 2. Growth is essential (Hebrews 5:12-6:3) 3. The natural result of growth will be to bear fruit for God (Galatians 5:22-24) 4. Titus 3:4-8 represents the spiritual progression in development B. Fruit Borne 1. What fruit is expected? 2. There is, of course, the fruit of the Spirit-- the development of the soul (Galatians 5:22-24) 3. That comes through "constant practice" (Hebrews 5:14) and diligent study of God's word (2 Timothy 2:15) 4. There will also be the promotion of the Gospel in life (Matthew 28:18-20) 5. Just as plants on earth grow, produce seed, and scatter the seed... 6. ...Christians likewise are to receive the seed of the Gospel, grow, and then spread that seed themselves! C. We cannot expect to bear part of the fruit and not other parts; all are equally necessary to cultivate! V. Different Qualities of Soil A. One interesting aspect to the good soil is that the yields are different 1. Some soil yields 100x, some 60x, some 30x (Matthew 13:8) 2. This is recognized in agriculture 3. Based on climate and soil conditions, some soil will naturally be more fertile than other soil B. This is recognized by Jesus as true also in spiritual terms (Matthew 13:23) 1. There are some persons who will yield more than others 2. This is not seen as one being "better" than another! 3. God's purpose is that everyone lives up to their potential! C. Consider the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) 1. The master gives one 5, one 2, and one 1, based on their abilities 2. The expectation was increase-- even just interest (v. 27)! 3. While humans may be obsessed with numbers, God simply desires us to increase using the abilities He has given us D. It is not for us to compare ourselves with one another! 1. You might be a "60x" field, sitting next to a "100x" field-- do not despair! 2. Likewise, you might be sitting next to a "30x" field-- do not be complacent! 3. We must each look to God, derive strength from Him, and work in His field as He has given us ability (Matthew 9:37-38) E. We must remember that we all function in one body and have different roles in that body (1 Corinthians 12:14-27) 1. Some parts have more functioning 2. Some parts are more public 3. All parts are necessary for proper function VI. Conclusion A. We have now considered the good soil B. We have seen the conditions necessary to be good soil for God C. We have seen that God expects His children to bear fruit D. We understand that while different persons have different levels of ability, God demands increase from all E. Let us be the good soil we need to be and bear the necessary fruit for God! F. Songbook/invitation Scripture, Meditation, and Application: 1: "And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it..." (Matthew 13:23). If we understand the Gospel, we will believe in Jesus and repent of our past ways so as to follow Him. If we do not believe in Jesus, or have not fully repented of our past ways, or do not truly follow Him, then we have not really understood the Gospel. Let us allow the Gospel to inform our thinking, feeling, and acting, and glorify God in Christ! 2: "...and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matthew 13:8). Plants must grow before they can bear fruit, but are worth little if they grow without bearing fruit. So it is with Christians: we must grow in our faith and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18), yet all that growth means little if we do not practice it and thus bear fruit for the Lord Jesus (Galatians 5:22-24, Hebrews 5:14)! 3: "...who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matthew 13:23). While all Christians have equal value in God's sight (Galatians 3:28), different Christians have different amounts and types of abilities. Each should strive to live up to their potential, concerned more with pleasing the Lord than comparing themselves to other disciples!