From the Pulpit...

This parable is given in all three synoptic gospels—along with the explanation. It must be very significant for the Spirit of God to include it in full three times. The condition of the good soil is characterized by things we can discern in all four of the soils. Several ingredients must be in place. We discern that the good heart is marked by: (1) hearing the message of the kingdom and understanding it; (2) accepting the kingdom message with lasting joy; (3) enduring in adherence to the message; (4) being devoted single-mindedly to the message; (5) having a noble and good heart (Luke 8:15); (6) producing fruit of various amounts. Pastor Matt produced the above list by looking at the positive characteristics listed in Matthew 12:18-23, and then he turned each of the negative characteristics into its opposite. B. Corresponding to this, we see that a bad response to the message is marked by the various deficiencies in the three soils. Such deficiencies include some combination of the following, each the opposite of the above list: (1) hearing but not understanding; (2) not accepting; indifference or lack of gladness; (3) stumbling when difficulties arise; (4) being distracted by the things of life, money, pleasures; (5) having an evil heart (negation of Luke 8:15); (6) producing no fruit. Your local agriculture extension soil testing service is a helpful tool to test your garden's soil to see what ingredients it needs. Testing of a person's heart soil is more difficult. Send your heart’s soil off to Heaven for a soil test. Ask God, “Does my heart have these good or bad characteristics?” What kind of heart soil do you have?