In Matthew 13-1-23, Jesus tells the parable of the sower then explains the parable to his disciples. In between the telling of the parable and the explanation, Jesus said, “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him (13:12, NASB).” I think this is the key verse to understanding this parable and its importance to our life. It is about the “has” and “not haves.”
So what exactly is it that some have and some do not have? In this parable it is the type of soil that receives the word of God. As Jesus explains it, the haves are the ones who hear the word of God and understand it; the one “who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty (13:23).” What’s important here is the act of bearing fruit.
When Jesus said in verse 12, “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance,” I believe the key here is the fertile soil. If you maintain fertile soil for the word of God, to sow the word of God in your heart and nurture it in the lives of others, you will bear fruit — in essence the fruit you bear gives you more “in abundance.” As Jesus said, “bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty (13:23).”
To maintain fertile soil for Christ Jesus to grow in our life, we must continue to hear and see the word of God as well as act on it (13:16-17). Maintaining fertile soil for the word of God requires us to be vigilant, to avoid becoming the soil of the “have nots:”
• The hardened soil of the road (13:19)
• The rocky soil where no firm root grows (20-21)
• The soil with thorns (19:22)
In all these cases, the word of God does not grow or withers away. There is no fruit, no abundance in God, no chance for the seed of God’s truth to multiply.
© 2020 CGThelen
140 Character Christian 
We can only reap a harvest of fruit by allowing God to guide our walk.
Amen. Blessings.
Good thoughts about the soil and seed. i just planted some wild flowers, praying they come up. Now I think I should have mixed more potting soil in with the dirt…we’ll see…God can give growth when He wants it even when the soil is not so good. Sometimes it takes years for the seeds of the Word to take root and produce. I read the Word for four years, the seeds were there but the soil of my heart was full of self, yet He continued to pour seeds all around me. Good post
Thanks for the comment. I love wildflowers and also hope they grow. I praise God for his patient pursuit of us — for his love and grace. Praying your faith in Christ Jesus will continue to grow and blossom. Blessings.
Your post brings to mind the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.14-30. The first two servants produced “fruit” and were blessed. The unfaithful servant produced nothing with his gift, and was cursed.
Yes. Another good example. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.
The fruitfulness of a life is determined by the soil not the seed. The grace of God is offered to all, how rich and merciful is this unspeakable gift. The same seed fell upon all…
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name…”
BT
So true. The same seed fell upon all. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.
And it’s hard to be fertile soil for the Word of God when you’re caught up in the 24 hour news cycle and addicted to social media.