13:12Matthew 13:12

Whoever receives, understands and responds to the light and truth given will be given further understanding and more abundance, while whoever rejects, fails to receive or neglects it will lose even what he has.Ms 26, 1898, par. 8+2 The saying belongs to the parable of the sower, which shows the different ways people receive Christ's teaching and the tendencies of the human heart.2SP 241.1–2+2 Its fruitfulness depends on the hearer as soil for the seed, for the same seed is sown but worldly absorption and resistance to the Spirit keep it from taking root and growing.COL 56.1–2+1 Those who put to use, gather and obey the light already received will be given more, while those who neglect or despise it will be left without further light.LSEGW 199.2–200.1+1 Those who value and cherish what they have and are willing to do God's will shall receive greater light and an abundance of grace, but those who refuse evidence and make no place for truth lose the ability to discern it.Ms 71, 1897, par. 33–34

Matthew 13:12 belongs to the parable of the sower, which lays open the different ways people receive Christ's teaching and the tendencies of the human heart, and which accounts for the limited immediate results of His ministry without any forcing of belief on the one hand or withholding of opportunity on the other.2SP 241.1–2+2 The same truth produces different results according to the hearer's response: some lose their regard for truth, others receive it gladly but fail under trial, while worldly cares and love of riches choke the seed, so that hearing without cultivating the word or letting it transform the heart brings no lasting fruit and forms no Christian character.TCBMP 140.1–142.1+1 Some let gospel impressions fade and return to indifference, while others carry the teaching into daily life and begin a holier life, and the parable's visible, everyday details helped fix its lesson in the mind.2SP 234.1–2

Christ's teaching is seed scattered everywhere for people to receive and cultivate, even where the soil is poor, and poor results in some places are no reason to stop sowing.RH Jul 2, 1908+1 His precious words were greatly needed and call for thankfulness, falling on good ground in some to bring forth fruit, and they require every hearer to be in a position where he can understand them.Ms 116, 1909, par. 1 Parables were meant to stir inquiry and lead on to clearer understanding, and they were received and cherished by many, for by drawing interest, prompting inquiry, holding attention, and linking truth to life and nature they helped hearers remember it.2SP 241.3+1

Jesus gave the mysteries of the kingdom to His disciples but spoke to the multitude in parables, speaking plainly to disciples while using parables with resistant and prejudiced hearers who would misuse the truth, so truth should be presented with care according to readiness to understand it.Lt 226, 1907, par. 13–14+2 Great truths were hidden under similitudes from those who had not the truth or the love of it and were determined not to be convinced, whose hearts were misled by temper and gratified inclination and whose unconquerable obstinacy grieves the Spirit away, while an honest and pure heart discerns the doctrines though given in parables.Lt 24, 1882, par. 7–11 Unfruitful hearers are the skeptical, the superficial, or the secular, who cannot discern the moral glory of truth or its practical personal application to their own hearts, who lack the faith that overcomes the world and are therefore overcome by the world; fruitful hearers receive the Word into good and honest hearts in proportion as they understand it and in proportion to their faith, and it is close connection with God rather than learning that quickens and sharpens understanding.Lt 24, 1882, par. 7–11

Truth was spoken in parables to rebuke sin without causing personal offense and to avoid needless opposition from the Pharisees.Lt 140, 1903, par. 11–13+1 Giving lessons in parables was the only way to reach people whose eyes were blinded, because He greatly desired to open their eyes to see the uselessness of the multitudinous traditional ceremonies that constituted their religion.Ms 56, 1902, par. 9 Jesus as the divine Sower scatters precious seeds of truth, and truth is to be gathered and presented as a complete system with error separated and lost or marred truths restored to their proper place to shine in the gospel.ST Dec 11, 1893 Evil angels in the form of men mingle with hearers to suggest, criticize, misapply and misinterpret what is spoken, and Satan links with religionists to resist it; when his suggestions and insinuations are received the words of life lose force, hearts are not moved, and even what was heard is taken away.Lt 140, 1903, par. 11–13

Whoever receives, understands and responds to the light and truth given is given further understanding and more abundance, while whoever rejects, fails to receive or neglects it loses even what he has.Ms 26, 1898, par. 8+4 In the reception of truth, the one who seeks to understand its teachings is given increased understanding, and the one who shows that he possesses the spirit of truth is given increased light and a larger measure of the Spirit so that he may work out his own salvation, not boastfully but with fear and trembling in the power of the Spirit.CT 399.1+1 Man is now on probation to learn and reveal the principles of true higher education.CT 399.1+1

Those who respond to Christ's drawing, yield their will to God, and receive and follow the light are given further heavenly understanding.Ms 26, 1898, par. 8+2 Those who resist the Spirit and refuse the light are not forced into righteousness but persist in their chosen way and become blind to its consequences.ST Nov 7, 1892 The loss is not caused by Christ blinding people, for He gave great light, but hardened hearts, dulled ears, closed eyes, and attachment to covetousness and the world kept them from understanding and obeying.Ms 30, 1898, par. 11–14 Those who hear the Word and refuse it are accountable for rejecting its instruction and warnings.Ms 30, 1898, par. 11–14

The difference is reflected in truly seeing and hearing: closed hearts, eyes and ears prevent understanding and response, while receptive disciples are blessed with sight and hearing.Ms 26, 1898, par. 8 Those who value and cherish the light and evidence they have and are willing to do God's will receive greater light and an abundance of grace and see and receive His teaching.Ms 71, 1897, par. 33–34 Those who refuse evidence and make no place for truth in mind and heart lose the ability to discern truth; what they received perishes for lack of care, false principles take the place of spiritual truth, and what was received becomes so mingled with supposition, uncertainty and darkness that light cannot be distinguished from darkness.Ms 71, 1897, par. 33–34+1

Those who listen with open ears and quickened understanding to words of reproof and encouragement receive more, with special communications guiding them into all truth as they prepare to stand in the day of God and hasten the second advent.11MR 86.2–87.1 But Satan seeks to close every avenue for receiving truth, and those whose ears are dull and eyes closed to flashing light lose even what they have, especially when they refuse reproof and counsel and shut their eyes to God's light.11MR 86.2–87.1+1 Israel's leaders illustrate the loss: turning from true knowledge, using Scripture to defend human traditions, obscuring what God made plain, practically denying essential truths, and robbing God's word of its power.CT 438.3–4

Those who put to use, gather and obey the light already received are given more, while those who neglect or despise it lose even what they have, are left without further light, and suffer losses and trials they could have avoided.LSEGW 199.2–200.1 Using the knowledge God has given, including in sharing Bible truth with neighbors, leads to receiving increased light, while neglecting what one has leads to loss.RH Feb 8, 1912 Nicodemus illustrates gradual response under this principle: for three years he carefully considered Jesus' teachings and works, and the raising of Lazarus gave him undeniable evidence of Messiahship, though he had not yet acknowledged Jesus publicly.4RED 18.1

Those who receive Jesus' words, even when understanding them only dimly at first, may have the seeds of spiritual life take root and later bear fruit, growing from reverence and awe into perfect faith with an abundant harvest.2SP 295.1+1 What a person faithfully receives and uses increases, while what is neglected is lost.4T 499.2 The Lord provides spiritual food through which His servants can grow toward the full stature of men and women in Christ.4T 499.2+1

He gave the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to His disciples but not to the multitude after the parable of the sower and the seed, for to whoever has spiritual understanding more abundance is given while from whoever has not even what he has is taken away, and therefore He spoke to them in parables because seeing they see not and hearing they hear not neither do they understand.Lt 226, 1907, par. 13–14 This fulfills Isaiah's prophecy that by hearing they shall hear and shall not understand and seeing they shall see and shall not perceive, for the people's heart is waxed gross and their ears dull of hearing and their eyes closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted and be healed.Lt 226, 1907, par. 13–14 In contrast the disciples' eyes and ears are blessed for they see and hear what many prophets and righteous men desired to see and hear and did not.Lt 226, 1907, par. 13–14

Those living in the present day are highly favored when precious, advanced Bible truth and previously hidden truths are made known to them, having light beyond what many prophets and righteous people longed to see and hear.Ms 5, 1893, par. 12–14+1 What the disciples did see and hear is the measure of that privilege, showing how great the advantage is when what was long desired is at last opened to understanding.Ms 5, 1893, par. 12–14+1 In this the Father hides these things from the wise and prudent and reveals them unto babes.Lt 226, 1907, par. 13–14

The verse contemplates the future destiny of those for whom Christ gave His life and presses the question who will stand acquitted without spot or stain of character before the judgment seat of Christ.Lt 317, 1905, par. 7–9 It belongs to life-or-death instruction in Matthew 13 that must be read and heeded as a warning about self, letting no human sophistry blind the reader.Lt 317, 1905, par. 7–9 The saved must form characters without fault in the sight of a pure and holy God, God has given every man his work and Christ will cooperate with everyone who cooperates with Him by wearing His yoke and learning His meekness and lowliness, Christ teaches His followers daily the meaning of the divine beatitudes, because at the great day every man will be judged according to deeds done in this life.Lt 317, 1905, par. 7–9

The fruitfulness of the word depends on the condition of the hearer's heart as soil for seed, and as a garden must be prepared for natural seed so the heart must be prepared for the seed of truth.COL 56.1–2+1 The same seed is sown for all, but worldly absorption and resistance to the Spirit keep it from taking root and growing.COL 56.1–2 Hearers are responsible for this condition yet can choose to change, and through repentance that breaks up the soil, uprooting the evil growths that choke the good grain, and earnest effort in Christ's name and strength, hard or thorn-filled hearts can be reclaimed.COL 56.1–2+1 As soil once overgrown with thorns can be reclaimed only by diligent labor, so evil tendencies of the heart can be overcome only by earnest effort in His strength, for no raw land is expected to yield a harvest at once.ED 111.1–2

Children and youth learn this correspondence by preparing soil and sowing seed themselves, learning as they work and from tilling the soil.ED 111.1–2 As the seed is cast into the ground Christ's death is taught, as the blade springs up the resurrection, and as the plant grows the parallel between natural and spiritual sowing continues.ED 111.1–2 Diligent persevering labor is required in preparing the soil, sowing the seed, and culturing the crop, in nature and in spiritual sowing alike.ED 111.1–2 The heart can also be prepared to receive the word through personal, Christlike care and diligent teaching and labor that soften a hard heart and keep seed from being choked or lost in shallow soil.COL 57.1–2 Hearts hard as a path where truth cannot take root can be made receptive by such ministry, and a patient whose heart is softened and subdued can receive truth planted through gentle religious counsel.GW 185.1+1

Truth takes root in hearts prepared by prayer, growing confidence, and weakened prejudice.HRP 10.1 Regular welcoming prayer meetings that build confidence and weaken prejudice prepare the way for the seed to take root in some hearts.3T 166.3–167.2 By contrast, the hearts of the Pharisees are unproductive, hopeless, and profitless soil in which heavenly truth cannot take root, so they do not receive its light and benefit.ST Dec 3, 1912+1 Their feeling of superiority is self-deluding, supposing others at fault, speaking strong and hard words of reproof and condemnation that crush all hope and courage out of the soul like nether millstones.ST Dec 17, 1894 They manifest roots of bitterness whereby many are defiled, are full of evil thoughts, suspect even the purest, make a man an offender for a word, and give all their faith, honor, and love to exalted self.ST Dec 17, 1894

Parents are given the work of preparing the soil of their children's hearts by carefully cultivating their minds and habits so truth can take root.CTBH 67.3+1 This is done by educating them early for usefulness, bringing them up in nurture and admonition, making God's Word the standard against worldly fashions, and teaching them cheerful obedience, so that they grow into Christian men and women.RH Feb 28, 1907 Words are to be wisely chosen and planted deeply in the soil of the heart, which in application means continuing to labor for children while they are still outside Christ.Ms 9, 1868, par. 8 An untrained mind is like an uncultivated field and must be cultivated like soil, for the enemy sows tares in children and youth unless parents keep watchful guard, and without guarding those tares will spring up to bear evil fruit.CT 136.4 Unceasing care is therefore needed to cultivate the mind and sow Bible truth, teaching children to reject trashy exciting tales and turn to sensible reading in Bible story, history, and argument that throws light upon the Sacred Volume and quickens desire to study it.CT 136.4 The mind is especially open to influence in early life, and sowing good seed in receptive minds can bear fruit unto eternal life.4T 499.2

Increase comes from sowing the seed of truth as Christ sowed it, with care and anxiety and self-denial in a life of continued sacrifice for the good of others.TBC1872 111.1 The sower must have the mind of Christ in order not to become weary in well-doing, but to sow the seed and trust God to quicken it to life.TBC1872 111.1 The precious seed may lie dormant for some time until the grace of God convicts the heart and awakens it to spring up and bear abundant fruit to the glory of God.TBC1872 111.1 Such increase requires unselfish, earnest, persevering missionaries as co-workers with Christ and the heavenly angels in the salvation of others.TBC1872 111.1 Seed sown in a heart may remain hidden for a time before taking root and bearing fruit, and since the growth and result belong to God, the worker is to sow faithfully without trying to decide which effort will prosper.GW92 402.3

Teaching God's Word sows seed that is not lost even when it has little visible effect on the minds and hearts of many students.STSE 97.2 When the teacher's work is wrought in God, some lessons of divine truth linger in the memory of even the most careless, the Holy Spirit waters the sown seed, and often after many days it springs up and bears fruit to the glory of God.STSE 97.2 The clear and pointed words spoken in the temple that day were seed of truth sown in the minds of the people, whose effect would not be seen at once but would spring up and bear fruit in saving many souls.ST May 2, 1878 That seed was revived in the hearts of attentive listeners after the crucifixion and resurrection and then repeated by them for the benefit of future generations to the close of time.ST May 2, 1878

Seed sown by preaching brings more abundance only when the soil of the heart is cultivated by personal labor, for the discourse from the pulpit sows precious seed, but without personal contact and cultivation the seed does not take root and much of the discourse is lost.6T 68.1 Increase comes when the heart is softened and subdued by the Spirit of God, when workers watch for those who seem interested and speak to them after the service, when a few words spoken in private do more good than the whole discourse, and when inquiry is made whether the subjects presented are clear to the hearers.6T 68.1 Kindness and courtesy show real interest and care for souls, and appealing to people to come to Christ softens hearts, sweeps away prejudice, and leads to conversion.6T 68.1 Hearing the truth can lead to further spiritual growth and fruit, especially when Christ and His redeeming love are presented.GW 158.1

Sowing the seeds of truth through books that contain precious truths brings good and repays those who take hold of the work in earnest with lessons learned, placing large blessings within their reach and raising means for God's work, while failure to teach and encourage people in this sowing loses that blessing.JIOKP 44.1–3 Teaching is seed sown in the heart that grows and bears fruit into a plentiful harvest.CT 186.3–187.2 Skeptical books of science and philosophy, vague fanciful fairy stories, and Scripture books woven with fanciful human interpretations sow infidelity that multiplies into depravity of the human family.CT 186.3–187.2 Cultivation of the soil and work in garden and field bring direct contact with nature and nature's God and sow healthful impressions through nature that do not fade because they stay associated with objects continually before the eyes, giving health and happiness especially to the nervous child wearied by exhausting abstract book lessons.CT 186.3–187.2