In regards to the kingdom of heaven parable that Jesus spoke of in Matt 13:3-9, Jesus later explains the meaning of the parable from verses 18-23.
[18] “Hear then the parable of the sower: [19] When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. [20] As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, [21] yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. [22] As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. [23] 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 13:18-23 ESV)
Since this is a parable, we can understand that Jesus is not speaking of the physical but of the spiritual. Through Luke 8:15, it is known that the meaning of soil represents a persons’ heart, which means through this parable, Jesus is speaking of people with four different types of heart: path, rocky, thorns, and good. And these four types of soils/hearts appear when the word of the kingdom is sown. In other words, there will be those who hear about God’s word related to heaven but will either not understand it (path), fall way due to persecution regarding the Word (rock) or follow the worldly pleasures (thorn). Only the ones without the path-like, rocky, or thorn-like heart, the one with a good heart will receive, understand, and yield fruit.
So, which type of soil are you? Or perhaps a better question to ask oneself before this is “have I received the God’s word regarding the kingdom of heaven?”
Image Source: http://projectfitamerica.org/blog/2011/12/fertile-fitness-soil/
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