Many are familiar with Jesus' parable about the seeds that fall on four types of earth (Matthew 13:3-23 ; Luke 8:4-15). One type of earth is by the wayside, one is in the rocky places, one is in the thorny places, and one is described as the good earth. This parable is particularly unique because rather than speaking mysteriously and leaving the crowds (and the readers of the Bible) to speculate as to the deeper meaning, this time Jesus follows His speaking of the parable by revealing its meaning to His close group of twelve disciples.
In His explanation, we see that the seed signifies the Word of God and the four types of earth signify four different types of hearts (not physical, of course). In the first three types of hearts, God's word was either snatched away or killed. Only in the last type of heart is God's word able to take root, grow healthily, and bear fruit. We can learn much from the first three counterexamples of what our heart shouldn't be, but what is it about this fourth type of heart that makes it such good earth for the Word of God to grow?
The key is in how a person handles the Word of God.
In His explanation, we see that the seed signifies the Word of God and the four types of earth signify four different types of hearts (not physical, of course). In the first three types of hearts, God's word was either snatched away or killed. Only in the last type of heart is God's word able to take root, grow healthily, and bear fruit. We can learn much from the first three counterexamples of what our heart shouldn't be, but what is it about this fourth type of heart that makes it such good earth for the Word of God to grow?
The key is in how a person handles the Word of God.
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
–Luke 8:15 (NIV)
The New International Version uses the phrase, "retain it." Hopefully we're all receiving the seeds of God's word, whether it be through our own reading of the Bible or by attending gatherings where God's word is spoken. When the Word of God comes to us, do we retain it?
The New Living Translation uses the phrase, "cling to it." My favorite, however, is the way the English Standard Version, American Standard Version, and Recovery Version put it, which say, "hold it fast." The World English Dictionary defines "hold fast" as "the act of gripping strongly." This implies a deliberate effort to not let go.
The New Living Translation uses the phrase, "cling to it." My favorite, however, is the way the English Standard Version, American Standard Version, and Recovery Version put it, which say, "hold it fast." The World English Dictionary defines "hold fast" as "the act of gripping strongly." This implies a deliberate effort to not let go.
But that which is in the good earth, these are those who in a noble and good heart hear the word and hold it fast and bear fruit with endurance.
–Luke 8:15 (RcV)
Are we this way with the Bible? When God speaks something to us, do we exert effort to not forget what He said? Sometimes I find myself in the afternoon thinking, "What did I read in the Bible this morning?" or "What was I praying about earlier?" This doesn't mean that I've let go of what God has said to me—in fact, asking this question and recalling what He spoke IS my holding fast His word! Sometimes I'll even pull out my Bible or the spiritual book I was reading and flip back to what I read in order to hang onto what He spoke to me. This is how I exert effort to retain, cling to, and hold fast God's word. Don't you think this kind of attitude will bear fruit?
In Colossians 3:16 Paul says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...." This doesn't happen automatically. Surely for this to happen the soil of our heart must be tilled of all hardness, rocks, and thorns, but even more our heart must be one that retains and even clings to the Word of God—our heart must be one that holds fast the Word of God. Don't let go of His words!