The Soil of the Heart

“While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed.'” (Luke 8:4-5a)

Reading the parable of the soils in Luke’s gospel, I’m surprised by the final sentence of Jesus’ explanation of that parable to the disciples: “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). In Matthew’s telling, we read: “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). Matthew emphasizes understanding the Word and the outcome, represented with different types of harvests. Mark’s account is similar in style to that of Matthew, emphasizing the outcome of the different harvests, and substituting “accepts it” for Matthew’s “understands it.” John does not have this parable in his gospel account.

Luke depicts the heart of the hearer—”honest and good” (ESV) or “noble and good” (NIV)—along with the character of the steady, fruit-bearing life—”bear fruit with patience” (ESV) or “by persevering produce a crop” (NIV). While some say soil does not do anything to itself to produce a crop, Jesus’ explanation of the parable draws attention to the nature of the heart and life of the hearer as vital to what sort of fruit will arise here. Some are overcome by evil, some by trials, and some by earthly pleasures—these do not produce fruit because their reception of the seed, which is God’s word, is affected in some way. Those overcome by evil are not saved. Those overcome by trials are rootless and fall away. Those overcome by pleasures or worldly goods produce fruit but do not mature.

The mature life with God, marked by good fruit, is one rooted in God and receiving His Word, having a good and honest heart, and patiently continuing with God over the long haul.

Lord, make my life like that today and at all times. May the soil of my heart be renewed by You that I might be receptive to You.