As Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, He did not always find a receptive audience. The problem He faced was that many people, though they had ears to hear, their ears had become “hard of hearing” (Matthew 13:14-15). To illustrate this problem, Jesus told a parable that is known as “The Parable of the Four Soils.” In it, we can see ourselves as we really are concerning how we receive the Word of God in our lives. Therefore, let’s consider the last one, the good soil (Matthew 13:8).
According to Jesus, this is the one who “hears the word and understands it” and who “bears fruit and produces” (Matthew 13:23). Luke adds that he hears “the word with a noble and good heart” and “keeps it and bears fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Therefore, when one “understands” the Word, he will more likely “bear fruit,” but the key to understanding is having a “good and noble heart” that is willing to listen, learn, and obey!
What kind of fruit will this person produce? There are different kinds: The fruit of winning souls to Christ (Romans 1:13). The fruit of practical holiness (Romans 6:22). The fruit of sharing material things (Romans 15:27). The fruit of the Spirit (a Christ-like character; Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of good works (Colossians 1:10). The fruit of praise & thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15) …etc.
An important observation is that not all will bear the same amount, “some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:23). As illustrated in “The Parable of the Talents,” some may be given more according to their ability to use what God has given them (Matthew 25:14-15). Whatever our ability, we should exercise it accordingly (1 Peter 4:10-11).
Are you like the good soil? If you have responded to the gospel and are bearing fruit, then you have demonstrated several important things: You have a good and noble heart! You have come to understand the Word! You have been keeping it with patience! And so the Word of God has been able to produce its intended effect in you!