8:15Luke 8:15

The good ground are those who with an honest and good receptive heart hear the word, retain it, and perseveringly bring forth a harvest.ST Feb 2, 1915+3 An honest and good heart is not a sinless heart, but one that yields to the Holy Spirit, confesses need, sincerely desires truth to obey it, and believes with mind and ears open to instruction.Ms 85, 1894, par. 15–17+1 Keeping the word is more than hearing or reading, for it must be meditated upon, prayed over, planted and held fast in the soul until it transforms the life, which requires putting true religion first and uprooting thorns of care, riches, pleasure and unchristlike desire that would choke it.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24+2 The fruit borne is a faith that works by love and purifies the soul in good works to God's glory, differing in amount with some a hundredfold, some sixty and some thirty, yet springing up unto eternal life as the Spirit makes the absorbed word effective to win souls.ST Jun 30, 1881+4 Bringing forth this fruit demands patience under difficulty and trial, not growing restless or despondent when purposes cannot be seen, but waiting on God while character matures gradually like growing seed until faith, meekness and love ripen even amid storm and darkness.COL 60.4–61.2+2

The words were spoken beside the Sea of Galilee to an eager, expectant crowd gathered on the shore to see and hear.COL 33.2–34.1 The sick lay there on mats waiting to present their cases, and disease was rebuked as life and health and peace were spread around.COL 33.2–34.1 As the crowd kept growing and pressed close until there was no room, the speaker stepped into a waiting fishing boat, had it pushed off a little from the land, and addressed the multitude upon the shore.COL 33.2–34.1

They concern the kingdom of heaven and the work of the great Husbandman for His people.COL 33.1 Christ came as a sower in the field to scatter the heavenly grain of truth, and the parable-teaching itself was seed-sowing the most precious truths of grace.COL 33.1 From natural seed cast into soil, minds are led to the gospel seed whose sowing brings man back to loyalty to God.COL 33.1 He who gave the parable is the Sovereign of heaven, and the same laws that govern earthly seed-sowing govern the sowing of the seeds of truth, yet because of its simplicity the parable has not been valued as it should be.COL 33.1

The parable shows the different tendencies and classes of human hearts that were taught, and explains limited immediate results.2SP 241.1–2+1 Good-ground hearers are one possible result of the same seed and sower that produce other results, for fruitfulness depends on the hearer’s response.ST Feb 2, 1915 No one is compelled to believe or obey, but each is left free to accept or reject, and must unite personal effort with divine power to overcome sin.2SP 241.1–2+1 Some retain the teaching and carry its principles out daily in a holier life, while others soon return to indifference.2SP 234.1–2

The good ground is soil that welcomes the gospel seed and incorporates it with the life, a receptive heart in which the word takes root.Ms 85, 1894, par. 15–17 To receive the good seed is to receive the words of Christ in faith as a remedy for sin-sick souls for present and eternal good, keeping the heard word and bringing forth fruit with patience.Ms 85, 1894, par. 15–17 An honest and good heart does not mean a heart without sin, for the gospel is given to the lost.COL 58.1–59.1 An honest heart yields to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, confesses its guilt, feels its need of mercy and love, and sincerely desires to know the truth in order to obey it.COL 58.1–59.1

When light shines such a heart acknowledges that sin is transgression of the law, takes heed how it hears, and no longer turns aside appeals to conscience as of no consequence, with its tares uprooted to bear direct and glorious results testifying to infinite love and transforming power.Ms 85, 1894, par. 15–17 A good heart is a believing heart that has faith in the word, for without faith it is impossible to receive it.COL 58.1–59.1 Hearing means hearing and understanding with a mind open to instruction and ready to believe, seeing and hearing with believing eyes and ears, in contrast to wilful ignorance and self-imposed blindness that close eyes and ears lest truth reach the heart and bring retribution.COL 58.1–59.1

Receiving the word into a good and honest heart means welcoming the messages God sends to elevate, ennoble and sanctify character rather than criticizing them because they oppose desire.ST May 12, 1898 It means being a doer of the word heard discourse after discourse, working with all might in harmony with heaven instead of hugging sins and going one's own way.Ms 1, 1890, par. 21 Those who only listen while clinging to sin break away from the Spirit and keep venturing into the wiles of the devil, so that the seal of God cannot be upon them, and when calamities and perilous positions come they go down lost to the grave, not to rise in the first resurrection nor see the King in His beauty.Ms 1, 1890, par. 21 To accept and follow His teaching day by day is to receive His blessing, for a distinct blessing is pronounced upon those who receive the word into good and honest hearts and His beatitudes belong to them.20MR 349.4+1

To keep the word on good ground is to hold it so securely that Satan with all his agencies of evil is unable to catch it away.COL 59.4–60.1+1 Keeping is more than merely hearing or reading, for profit requires meditating on the truth presented, learning the meaning of the words of truth by earnest attention and prayerful thought, and drinking deep of the spirit of the holy oracles.COL 59.4–60.1+1 The mind is to be filled with great and pure thoughts by meditating upon His love and mercy and studying His wonderful work in the great plan of redemption.COL 59.4–60.1 Then perception of truth becomes clearer and still clearer, desire for purity of heart and clearness of thought becomes higher and holier, and the soul dwelling in the pure atmosphere of holy thought is transformed by communion with God through the study of the Scriptures.COL 59.4–60.1 The word thus kept in the soul bears fruit in obedience, good works, and a Christlike character and life.ST Feb 2, 1915

Keeping the word requires the cultivation of piety and putting true religion first.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24 It requires overcoming unchristlike traits of character, uprooting and casting out thorns from the heart, and cutting away unsanctified human inclinations and desires as hindrances to Christian growth.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24 This is necessary because good and evil cannot grow in the heart at the same time.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24 Earthly cares, riches, and pleasures choke the word so that it brings no fruit to perfection.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24

The word must be planted in the heart and kept there until it brings forth fruit unto eternal life.Lt 20, 1903, par. 6–9 An occasional glance at the word is not enough; it must abide in the soul with the fixed conviction that present truth is a life-and-death question and not a round of ceremonies.Lt 20, 1903, par. 6–9 Those who so hear and keep it learn to work and to stand in their lot as burden-bearers, rooted and grounded in the truth.Lt 20, 1903, par. 6–9 Christ dwells in their hearts by faith, and His life circulates through them like blood circulating as a vitalizing current, so that they receive power from the Source of all power to impart to others.Lt 20, 1903, par. 6–9 Truth abiding within spreads outward and covers the life with the beauty of holiness, which is the only safeguard against evil and the only power to make and keep a person steadfast for right, for self must be conquered by the truth or Satan will be victorious, and the humble, patient, Godlike worker who thus keeps the word will have something to show for his labors.Lt 20, 1903, par. 6–9

Those who receive God's word are accountable to keep it and to bring forth the fruit it produces.Lt 219, 1899, par. 11–13 When truth is received into good and honest hearts it abides there and shapes the life into harmony with God.Ms 95, 1906, par. 38–42+1 This begins humbly, without regarding oneself as full-fledged and able to depend on one's own strength, but by sitting at the feet of Jesus with meekness and lowliness of heart to learn of Him and thus steadily increase in knowledge and understanding.Ms 95, 1906, par. 38–42 Occasional religious acts or occasional generosity do not amount to this lasting, fruitful response.11MR 45.3–46.1

The seed falling on good ground produces a growing harvest where the word is not choked by worldly cares, riches, forbidden desires, pride or other faults, and though the amount differs it still grows, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.ST Jun 30, 1881+2 The honest and good heart that yields this harvest is not a sinless heart, for the gospel is given to the lost, but an honest heart yields to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, confesses guilt, feels need of mercy and love, and sincerely desires to know truth in order to obey it.COL 58.1–59.1 A good heart is a believing heart with faith in the word, without which the word cannot be received, hearing and understanding with a mind open to instruction and with believing eyes and ears, in contrast to wilful ignorance and self-imposed blindness that closes eyes and ears lest truth reach the heart.COL 58.1–59.1 Good soil therefore represents those who receive and cherish the word, cultivate the heart by removing evil tendencies, and patiently bring forth fruit in sincere effort and good works to God's glory.ST Jun 30, 1881

Bearing fruit is commanded as trees were commanded to bear fruit, and bearing much fruit glorifies the Father.RH Sep 2, 1902 Those who receive truth into a good and honest heart keep it and bring forth fruit with patience to the glory of God.RH Sep 2, 1902+1 That fruit is a faith that works by love and purifies the soul, revealed in a life of good works.RH Sep 2, 1902+1

Bringing forth fruit requires patience under difficulty and trial, from which no receiver of the word is exempt, persevering without giving up while Christian character develops through the grace of Christ as seed growth depends on time and changing conditions.COL 60.4–61.2+1 When affliction comes the true Christian does not become restless, distrustful or despondent, but even when the outcome cannot be seen and God's purposes cannot be discerned keeps confidence, remembers tender mercies, casts care upon Him and waits for salvation.COL 60.4–61.2+1 Conflict strengthens spiritual life, and trials well borne develop steadfastness of character and precious spiritual graces, so that the perfect fruit of faith, meekness and love often matures best amid storm and darkness.COL 60.4–61.2 As the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, so the Christian waits for the word to reach fruition in life, and often God answers prayer for spiritual graces by placing a person in circumstances that develop those fruits, which can develop only through the process of growth and fruit-bearing.COL 60.4–61.2 The human part is to receive the word and hold it fast, yielding fully to its control, with earnest attention and prayerful thought learning its meaning so that the word kept in the soul bears fruit in obedience, good works and a Christlike character and life.COL 60.4–61.2+1

The word received in good ground springs up and bears fruit unto eternal life, made effective by the Holy Spirit to convict and convert souls.Ms 133, 1906, par. 3+1 It is received by taking in and absorbing the word and welcoming the Spirit's impression with a receptive honest heart.Ms 171, 1905, par. 13–15 So received it bears fruit in efforts to win souls, expressed through humble loving service and sympathy for others, and if all who know the truth did this a great work would be done.Ms 171, 1905, par. 13–15+1

The heart is a garden where both good seed and bad seed are sown, and the seed of truth needs prepared soil to grow.ED 111.1–2 As a garden must be prepared for natural seed, so the heart must be prepared for spiritual sowing, and as raw land never yields a harvest at once, bringing forth fruit with patience requires diligent, persevering labor in preparing the soil, sowing the seed, and culturing the crop.ED 111.1–2 The garden of the heart must be cultivated, the soil broken up by repentance, and the evil growths that choke the good grain uprooted.ED 111.1–2 As soil overgrown with thorns can be reclaimed only by diligent labor, evil tendencies can be overcome only by earnest effort in the name and strength of Christ.ED 111.1–2 The results of hearing depend on the condition of the heart, and the hearer is responsible for resisting or receiving the Spirit's work, yet the heart can be prepared through repentance and earnest effort in Jesus' strength so the word can take root and develop.COL 56.1–2

Good ground that keeps the word and brings forth fruit with patience is not left to chance but calls for work by sowers to prepare hearts to receive the gospel.COL 57.1–2 Sermonizing alone is not enough; close, personal, heart-to-heart labor in Christlike sympathy must come close to men individually, reveal the love of Christ, and awaken interest in eternal life.COL 57.1–2+1 That love revealed in personal ministry can soften even a heart as hard as the beaten highway and as stone so the seed can take root.COL 57.1–2+1 Logic fails to move such hearts and argument is powerless to convince them, yet what seemed useless soil receives the Saviour and grows to fruitfulness when softened and made receptive so the seed can take root, hold fast, and mature through persevering life.GW 185.1

Sowers must also keep the seed from being choked with thorns or perishing from shallowness by teaching every believer at the very outset its foundation principles.COL 57.1–2 He is saved by Christ's sacrifice, yet he is to make the life of Christ his life and the character of Christ his character, to bear burdens and deny natural inclination, to know the blessedness of working for Christ, following Him in self-denial, and enduring hardness as a good soldier, to trust His love and cast cares on Him, and to taste the joy of winning souls for Him.COL 57.1–2 In love and interest for the lost he loses sight of self, the pleasures of the world lose power to attract and its burdens to dishearten, and the plowshare of truth breaks up the fallow ground, taking thorns out by the roots and not merely cutting off their tops.COL 57.1–2 Spiritual truth is seed to be dropped into the soil of honest hearts where it springs up and bears precious fruit, and ministers do this sowing by speaking words of cheer and courage and by teaching people how to come to the Lord and how to lead others to Him.6T 45.1–2 To sow successfully they must be free from wearing mechanical labor, refreshed and cheerful, and given to the spiritual interests of the people and to building them up in the most holy faith.6T 45.1–2 Truth sown in the heart may remain dormant for a time before grace awakens it to life, and then it bears fruit to God's glory through careful, self-denying, earnest, persevering work by those who sow it.TBC1872 111.1

Bearing lasting results by steady endurance requires cultivated moral powers, separation from friendship with lovers of pleasure and corrupt society and from constant temptation, depth and stability of character with principle reaching down to the springs of action, and a heart renewed by the transforming influence of the Spirit.TCBMP 140.1–142.1 It requires endurance when tested by trial and temptation and persecution and by the pruning work of God and by plain, pointed, close truth that reveals deformity of character, being a doer of the word and not controlled by feeling, and putting away love of the world and getting advantage by prevarication and deception and fraud, anxious care and fear about gaining or losing means, making temporal matters primary, and love of earthly pleasures and worldly honors that riches give, while nourishing the seed through religious privileges.TCBMP 140.1–142.1 Success in winning souls depends on the character manifested when truth is received into the heart and carried out in earnest action, which brings sure results, while yielding to worldly influences brings decline of zeal and corresponding failure.Lt 190, 1907, par. 2 The word received into good and honest hearts and stamped upon hearts and kept there produces increased intelligence and practical holiness in the home and in the church, with the entire being wrought upon by the Holy Spirit and transformation of character following.Lt 11, 1901, par. 12–13 Workers are to come close to hearts and by earnest appeals arouse increased confidence in the word, so their words gain power in winning souls.Lt 11, 1901, par. 12–13

A child's mind is especially impressionable good soil, and the heart must be prepared to receive the good seed, with parents helping to prepare children's hearts by cultivating their minds and teaching them.4T 499.2+2 Lessons impressed on tender minds with patient and persevering instruction take root like seed sown in good soil and bear good fruit in the life.4T 499.2+1 Truth planted in expanding minds and kept in hearts springs up in after years to bear good fruit unto eternal life.4T 499.2+2 Children were especially ready to hear and accept Jesus, for He came down to their level, answered their questions, and simplified important lessons to meet childish understanding, far more readily than worldly-wise and hard-hearted grown people, so that those who received Him could become heirs of grace and subjects of His kingdom, some even becoming martyrs for His sake.DA 512.4+1

Giving youth opportunity to become more fully instructed in the word is sowing seed on good ground, by making Bible truth plain to them and having those with experience in the truth search the Scriptures with them, planting the word in honest and good hearts to hear it, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.6T 106.1 Teaching itself is seed that takes root in the heart and produces fruit, so that the kind of instruction received determines the harvest.CT 186.3–187.2 Ideas from books that conceal skepticism or add fanciful interpretations to Scripture are seed that grows into infidelity, while education through nature is a better way to shape young minds.CT 186.3–187.2

Receiving truth into a good and honest heart is revealed in a decided change of character and a life that practices the gospel.19MR 233.1+1 Such receiving makes a person a living channel of light, with clear perception, sanctified imagination, exalted conceptions of truth, a heart made joyful in God, and a clear, powerful and convincing testimony given by God.15MR 92.2+1 The testimony message received into honest hearts proves an antidote for the world's sins and sorrows, effective and suited to people in every circumstance.15MR 320.2–321.1