Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8, and Ephesians 6:11-17.

In Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8, Jesus tells the parable of the sower.  Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, emphasizes the importance of planting your seed, or the Word of God, in good ground.  But what is your good ground made of?

A good ground has the consistency, or firmness of constitution or character, as of the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11).  In Ephesians 6:13-17, Paul describes what is the whole armor of God, i.e., truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God.

In Matthew 13:18-23, Mark 4:13-20, and Luke 8:11-15, Jesus is saying that the Word of God or seed falls on different types of ground or persons, i.e., those who fail to respond to the Word of God, those who have no root, or cause, origin, or source (Vine’s Complete Expositionary Dictionary definition of the word root) in the Word of God, those who reject the Word of God due to persecution, and those who have a preoccupation with the “cares of this world” and the “deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things” (Mark 4:19) versus keeping and receiving the Word of God (The King James Study Bible, Mark 4:12-20 commentary).

However, the Word of God, according to Jesus, must fall on good ground or ground which would consist of having the whole armor of God in order for one to be fruitful having received fruitfulness from God.  One having heard the Word of God must keep and receive that seed or Word of God (Luke 8:15 and Mark 4:20) which will “bring forth fruit (or to be fertile), some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred” (Mark 4:20) with patience (Luke 8:15).

Don’t forget to endure patience in keeping and receiving the Word of God in your heart.  Put on the whole armor of God and keep your good ground fertile with the Word of God.

God Bless You All!