and other seed fell onto the good soil and it grew up producing fruit a hundredfold. After He said this he cried out, 'the ones having ears to hear, hear.'*
The scriptures mention Jesus crying out like this only a few times.* It puts emphasis on what Jesus is saying. A sower went out to sow his seed. But some fell on the path and the birds of heaven devoured it and some were trampled underfoot. Other seed fell on the rocks and because it had no moisture, having no depth of soil to grow roots, when the sun came up it withered away, scorched by the sun. Other seed fell in the middle of thorns and when the thorns came up they choked it out so it did not produce fruit. But other seed fell onto the good soil and it grew up producing fruit.* As Jesus said these things he cried out, 'the ones having ears to hear, hear.'*
There is understanding into this parable that Jesus gives us. The seed is the word of God. Satan is the bird that carries away the word that has been sown in the heart so they do not hear (understand, perceive, comprehend, have revelation.) Jesus cries out if you have ears hear for this very reason, the devil attempts with all his effort to snatch away the seed, so it will not sprout or attempt to grow. The word of God is always being sown into our hearts. The word of God sown founds and increases our faith in which is our victory. Faith without hearing will achieve nothing so we must as Jesus cried out, be diligent at hearing so the devil doesn't snatch the seed away.
There is a renewing of the mind in this area, something God has taught me. Our minds can wander, so even when given the revelation of the word, receiving with joy, without proper cultivation it will not grow to bear fruit. It needs to take root which requires intentional action on my part. Stay on point and focused and do not allow thoughts that sidetrack, causing the seed to be stolen. This can be hard when we might receive revelation on several things and want to share. The preparation of the soil is important. When the word is sown in your heart and God gives you understanding immediately be aware that the devil wants to snatch it away and if you do receive it, he wants you to fall away from the belief, doubting, so to be doubleminded which will not mature. Meditate on this understanding from God because he wants the seed you have just received to be planted so it grows up to bear fruit.
There is seed that the devil snatches away, it will never be planted and grow. If we are so distracted in our minds we can not receive it. But also we can hear and receive with joy on one day but then not think about it again, in this case we become like the rest of the soils in this parable that do not bear. These soils have this in common; they hear and receive the word with joy but they either do not grow deep roots so they fall away or they are choked out by the thorns and do not endure. We see that one must hear, which implies receiving (from pará, "from close-beside," intensifying dexomai, "receive" – properly, receive openly, welcoming with personal interest.) And one must have deep roots and endure to maturity, to bear fruit.
How can we be good soil, having deep roots, and endurance, so to bear fruit? The seed God has planted, we must intentionally cultivate so it grows up to bear fruit. Think, meditate, and abide in the word, the seed God gives. Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches if we the branches abide in the Vine, we will bear fruit.* Those whose trust and have confidence in God will be like trees planted by waters whose roots will go out to the waters.* Those who meditate on His words will be like trees firmly planted by waters.* John writes, if the word of God abides in us, we will become strong, endure, and overcome.
From these parables, we see the good soil is that which the plants can grow its roots deep having moisture, and depth of soil.* Mark writes that Jesus said the ones who hear, and accept are the ones that grow to bear fruit.* Matthew writes that Jesus said these who bear fruit hear the word and understand it.*
He who has ears, hear. We know understanding, comprehension, perception is not based upon ours, but trusting in God and leaning on His. The type of hearing Jesus is crying out for, requires intentional concentration, contemplation. Notice something interesting, that hearing alone doesn't produce maturity, of bearing fruit. Jesus said this to those who had believed, who had heard and received with joy his words; the true disciple "abides" in His words, he will know the truth and the truth will set him free.* John writes of this good soil, the young person who is strong and overcomes because the word of God abides in him.*
These parables really teach us about a growth process, that develops the proper mind, a renewed mind. Training for godliness teaches us to be deliberate at meditating on the seed God is giving us at the moment so that we have understanding. Thinking, pondering, meditating on the seed sown allows the growth of deep roots, and endurance so the plant overcomes the weeds, so as to bear fruit. We guard our thoughts and minds, as we know without the proper foundation persecution, cares and anxieties of this world, the deceit of riches... can cause us to fall away or choke out our growth. When God gives the food, eat it, chew on it for a while, it is living bread and water that gives life. He who has ears, hear.
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| My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me. |
There is understanding into this parable that Jesus gives us. The seed is the word of God. Satan is the bird that carries away the word that has been sown in the heart so they do not hear (understand, perceive, comprehend, have revelation.) Jesus cries out if you have ears hear for this very reason, the devil attempts with all his effort to snatch away the seed, so it will not sprout or attempt to grow. The word of God is always being sown into our hearts. The word of God sown founds and increases our faith in which is our victory. Faith without hearing will achieve nothing so we must as Jesus cried out, be diligent at hearing so the devil doesn't snatch the seed away.
There is a renewing of the mind in this area, something God has taught me. Our minds can wander, so even when given the revelation of the word, receiving with joy, without proper cultivation it will not grow to bear fruit. It needs to take root which requires intentional action on my part. Stay on point and focused and do not allow thoughts that sidetrack, causing the seed to be stolen. This can be hard when we might receive revelation on several things and want to share. The preparation of the soil is important. When the word is sown in your heart and God gives you understanding immediately be aware that the devil wants to snatch it away and if you do receive it, he wants you to fall away from the belief, doubting, so to be doubleminded which will not mature. Meditate on this understanding from God because he wants the seed you have just received to be planted so it grows up to bear fruit.
There is seed that the devil snatches away, it will never be planted and grow. If we are so distracted in our minds we can not receive it. But also we can hear and receive with joy on one day but then not think about it again, in this case we become like the rest of the soils in this parable that do not bear. These soils have this in common; they hear and receive the word with joy but they either do not grow deep roots so they fall away or they are choked out by the thorns and do not endure. We see that one must hear, which implies receiving (from pará, "from close-beside," intensifying dexomai, "receive" – properly, receive openly, welcoming with personal interest.) And one must have deep roots and endure to maturity, to bear fruit.
How can we be good soil, having deep roots, and endurance, so to bear fruit? The seed God has planted, we must intentionally cultivate so it grows up to bear fruit. Think, meditate, and abide in the word, the seed God gives. Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches if we the branches abide in the Vine, we will bear fruit.* Those whose trust and have confidence in God will be like trees planted by waters whose roots will go out to the waters.* Those who meditate on His words will be like trees firmly planted by waters.* John writes, if the word of God abides in us, we will become strong, endure, and overcome.
From these parables, we see the good soil is that which the plants can grow its roots deep having moisture, and depth of soil.* Mark writes that Jesus said the ones who hear, and accept are the ones that grow to bear fruit.* Matthew writes that Jesus said these who bear fruit hear the word and understand it.*
He who has ears, hear. We know understanding, comprehension, perception is not based upon ours, but trusting in God and leaning on His. The type of hearing Jesus is crying out for, requires intentional concentration, contemplation. Notice something interesting, that hearing alone doesn't produce maturity, of bearing fruit. Jesus said this to those who had believed, who had heard and received with joy his words; the true disciple "abides" in His words, he will know the truth and the truth will set him free.* John writes of this good soil, the young person who is strong and overcomes because the word of God abides in him.*
These parables really teach us about a growth process, that develops the proper mind, a renewed mind. Training for godliness teaches us to be deliberate at meditating on the seed God is giving us at the moment so that we have understanding. Thinking, pondering, meditating on the seed sown allows the growth of deep roots, and endurance so the plant overcomes the weeds, so as to bear fruit. We guard our thoughts and minds, as we know without the proper foundation persecution, cares and anxieties of this world, the deceit of riches... can cause us to fall away or choke out our growth. When God gives the food, eat it, chew on it for a while, it is living bread and water that gives life. He who has ears, hear.