As Jesus concludes The Parable of the Sower, he emphasizes what happens to the seed that is sown in the good soil, by saying, “It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times” (Mk 4:8). Unlike the other seeds that, either never got a chance to grow, or only sprouted, or merely grew without fruition, this particular soil causes the seed to produce fruit and flourish. 

What makes this soil different?

The good soil has a good heart

In Jeremiah 17:9, we see a depiction of the human heart that is, “deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” On our own, we have no hope of expecting our heart to be good or noble. In the eyes of God, a good heart is not procured by good works or by being well-mannered, but rather, by God transplanting one in us through faith in Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel stating, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Eze 36:26). This promise finds its fulfillment in Christ for, as the apostle Paul writes in the New Testament, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor 5:17).

A good heart is excellent in moral and spiritual character and expresses it in Christlikeness. In Christ, God removes our unresponsive heart of stone and gives us the soft-hearted disposition to respond to God’s word in a life-giving and thriving manner.

The good soil hears and understands

All of the various soil types receive the same seed, which correlates to the various heart types that hear the same word, yet each have different outcomes. This is why Jesus states, “Pay close attention to what you hear” (Mk 4:24). Those who passively listen to God’s word will inevitably lose what they have heard, while those who engage in active listening of God’s word will heighten their ability to hear and understand it even more.

Romans 10:17 states, “faith comes from hearing the message,” which suggests the continuous act of listening. Repeated study and meditation of God’s word produces deep understanding, for the Holy Spirit releases revelation through repetition. God says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jer 33:3). When we earnestly and diligently seek God in his word, we will get the spiritual insight we desperately need and desire to live a fruitful life.

The good soil keeps the seed

Whether we realize it or not, our hearts are always holding on to something. With our thoughts, emotions, and imaginations, we store an internal account of words and perspectives from which we always draw from. God made us this way in order for us to retain his word in our heart, so that we may speak the truth and see life from his point of view. Jesus states, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him” (Mt 12:35). What is rooted in our heart will eventually come out, which is why we need to discipline our mind to think and always recall to memory God’s promises.

Good soil flourishes through patient perseverance

It takes time for what is planted to grow and bear fruit. No one plants a seed and expects it bear fruit overnight. The same principle applies to the promises and word of God that we hear and read. This is why God uses The Parable of the Sower for us to understand this truth. In Galatians 6:7-9, Paul reminds us of this principle of sowing and reaping as well, by stating,

• “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

As we remain steadfast under pressure and enduring in the face of trials and delays, in due season, we will bear fruit. By investing our time, effort, and energy in the things of God, we will develop the stamina to not give up nor lose heart.

In conclusion

The Parable of the Sower is the God-given criterion of how to gauge the condition of your heart. God does not withhold his word and promises from anyone and even “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt 5:45). If things are not going as expected in your walk with God, then rest assured that the issue does not lie with God’s word, and a closer examination of your heart is in order. How you respond to God and his word determines what you will experience in God.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me …

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Ps 51:10,12).