The Seed Sown on Good Ground - Mark 4:20

Mark wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “The sower sows the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness. And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful”, and in chapter four and verse twenty of his book, Mark shares how Jesus began to tell His disciples about the seed, “sown on good ground” where we read:

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it,

and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

The verse reads, “And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, ...” Mark began with the words, “and these are they” or “and the next people Jesus will share about are like the seed” “which are sown” which means “who are scattered and cast forth” “on good ground” which means “on beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent choice, surpassing, useful and commendable soil, arable dirt and earth”; “such as hear the word” or “who are given the faculty for hearing, understanding, perceiving and comprehending God's speech, mandate and decree”, “and receive it” which means “and accept, take up, acknowledge and delight in God's word”. Mark shared how Jesus referred to people who were like the “good ground” upon which the “seed” was sown because they heard God's word and took it into their lives.

The verse goes on to say, “and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.” Mark added the words, “and bring forth fruit” or “and produce, bear and are fertile with great fruitfulness”, “some thirtyfold” which means “some of the people who receive God's word on the good ground of their soul bear thirty times their original input”, “some sixty” or “some of the same people produce sixty times”, “and some an hundred” which means “and some of the people produce one hundred times as much as their original input”. Mark shared how Jesus said the people who receive God's word upon the “good ground” of their souls bear fruit thirty, sixty and one hundred times their original input of the word.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus referred to people who receive God's word into the “good ground” of their souls. As they continue growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, their lives begin to “reproduce” “fruit” for the Kingdom of God. God's desire is to have an abundantly “fruitful” relationship with every person who receives His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Those who are wise will “hear Him”, “accept His word” and “bear much fruit” in the Kingdom of God.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus asks, “is a candle brought to be put under a bushel?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".