The Parable of the four HEART conditions

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.


A. Keys to interpreting this parable:

1. Each soil represents the "heart" - v. 2 - "in his heart" - v. 19

2. The "seed" represents "the word" or gospel - "the word" - vv. 20,21,22,23

3. Each soil "received" the word - profession - vv. 19-23

4. Parable found in a context of rejection of Christ by professed People of God
1. Matt. 11:19-25 - rejection of John the Baptist by Israel and religious leaders
2. Matt. 12 - rejection of Christ by Religious leaders of Israel
3. Matt. 13:54-57 - rejection of Christ by Home town and family

5. Parable found in a context with final separation between "tares" and wheat and between good and bad fish in the professing kingdom.


B. Keys to understanding Parable of soils.
1. Only "good" ground contained three essentials of true profession
a. "heard"
b. "understood"
c. "beareth" fruit
2. First ground the seed was taken away
3. Second ground no "understanding"
4. Third ground no "beareth" fruit

C. The Only soil/heart of true profession
1. Only soil Jesus calls "good"
2. Only soil that hears, undstands and provides harvest
3. Only soil inclusive of different degrees of sanctification (some thirty,
sixty, hundred)

D. The BAD soils of False Profession
1. First received the word by profession but it does not pentrate their
heart- impentrable heart
2. Second received the word by profession with joy but without
understanding or love for it in their heart
3. Third received the word by profession without any room for it in their
heart or any priority.

 

Do you know of any man that can enter the region of the heart?

 

Take note of the following additional explanation that immediately follows the parable of the four soils:

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.


The old heart is at enmity (state of war) with God and is not subject to the law of God. The difference between the old and new heart is like the difference between clay and butter. Hence, the more light it is exposed to the more hardened it becomes. In contrast, the new heart is like butter. The more sunlight it is exposed to the more it melts.

Ezekiel 36:26 explicitly states it is God that gives the new heart as does Deut. 29:4

It is a CREATIVE work (Eph. 2:10a) that produces a "new" heart, an inward "new" man. The work of creation is not a product of man or his will.

 

We are leaving the subject of the OP. The OP has to do with distinguishing professors from possessors and how the parable of the soils demonstrates that difference.

 

returning to the subject of the OP. The first three soils lack the ingredients of true gospel conversion - no penetration (inner hearing), no understanding, no room in such hearts but still "received" by profession.

The last soil is the only soil that Christ calls "good" the only soil that contains all three essentials of a true gospel conversion - hears, understands and produces fruit. The production varies according to God's individual measure of grace given to each believer (some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred).