Jesus is Essential
Matthew 13:23: But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
This person chooses to understand and accept the truth, also accepting the One who is truth (John 14:6). None of the other soils bore any fruit, but this soil yielded much fruit. Jesus did not clarify what caused the variability between the fruitfulness of various faithful followers.
One factor may be the degrees of faith. Perhaps another factor has to do with the variety of tasks given to different believers by God. Some may have greater potential for bearing fruit than others (cf. the different number of talents and different levels of return in 25:14–30). Crop represents the tangible results of a life of faith, including godly character and other souls brought into the kingdom (Matt. 9:37–38). 1
Walking with Jesus
What choices are you making for the Kingdom of God? Exam your life. You may be doing good things, but are you bearing much fruit? How much of the “fruit of the spirit” is coming forth from your life?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:22–23
Bearing fruit is the desire of every Christian who abides in Christ.
Praying
Lord, thank You being my way, my truth, and my life. May my life choices bring You much glory.
1. Weber, S. K. (2000). Matthew (Vol. 1). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
