Expert: Dean Gade - 12/31/2009

Question
what does it mean others fell on good ground and
yielded a crop: some hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

100 fold of what, sixty of what, thirty of what.
is this reference to souls being saved, some evangelist
bring in 100 souls to Christ, some bring in 60, others 30?
I am confused, please explain. Thanks.


Answer
In this parable the "place" where the seed falls is a PERSON and the parable distinguishes the various kinds of receptions and retentions that it has in the individual persons.

The "seed" is the living and powerful word of the Gospel (the good news of God's love for us carried out by Jesus' death to free us from the death of our sin).

The "fold" or produce are the FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS which we produce in our lives as a result of having that life giving and powerful word growing in us.  That is, "good works".... not to save us but for the sake of others.

Here are some passages which speak of these things:

1 Pe 1:23
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. NIV

Col 1:3-6
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. NIV

Isa 55:10-11
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. NIV

Jn 15:6-8
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. NIV

Eph 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works , which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV

2 Co 3:18
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. NIV

It is not easy to understand parables even though Jesus explains them to His disciples because what He is speaking about are spiritual matters even though He is using earthly examples.   
If you have furthe questions on any of the above, please write again.

Dean