Rooted or Removed?

“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.”

Matthew 13:23

Jesus often spoke in parables to reveal deep spiritual truths in simple stories. One of the most well-known is The Parable of the Sower, found in Matthew 13:1–23, Mark 4:1–20, and Luke 8:4–15. In this parable, Jesus explains how the Word of God is like a seed sown into different types of soil, representing the condition of people’s hearts.

Let’s break down each type of soil Jesus describes:

1. The Wayside – The Hardened Heart

“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.”

— Matthew 13:19, NKJV

This heart is closed off. The Word barely lands before the enemy steals it away. It may be bitterness, pride, or spiritual blindness, but this heart is unreceptive and hard-packed.

2. Stony Places – The Shallow Heart

“But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself... for when tribulation or persecution arises... he stumbles.”

— Matthew 13:20–21, NKJV

There’s excitement at first, but no depth. As soon as life gets hard or following Christ costs something, faith withers. Emotional faith is not enough. It must grow roots in truth and surrender.

3. Among Thorns – The Divided Heart

“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”

— Matthew 13:22, NKJV

This heart is overcrowded. Worries, materialism, and worldly distractions compete for attention. Though the Word was heard, it never bore lasting fruit. God won’t share His throne.

4. Good Ground – The Prepared Heart

“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit...”

— Matthew 13:23, NKJV

This heart is humble, teachable, surrendered. The Word doesn’t just sit—it sinks in. It takes root, grows, and produces fruit in season. This is the life God desires for every believer.

Lesson to Be Learned:

The fruitfulness of the Word in your life depends not on the sower, nor even the seed—but on the soil. Every heart must be evaluated. Are you hardened by past wounds? Shallow in faith? Distracted by the world? Or are you being cultivated daily through prayer, repentance, and obedience? God desires that we become good ground—rich, fertile, and ready for growth. You can’t bear fruit unless your roots go deep.

Questions for Journaling & Introspection:

👉 Which type of soil best describes the current condition of your heart?

👉 What is choking or blocking God’s Word from taking root in your life?

👉 What steps can you take to soften your heart and grow deeper roots?

👉 When was the last time the Word of God truly changed your thoughts or actions?

👉 What kind of spiritual fruit is being produced in your life today?

Verses for Meditation:

Psalm 1:2-3 – “But his delight is in the law of the Lord... He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water...”

Hosea 10:12 – “Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord...”

John 15:5 – “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit...”

James 1:22 – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Main Goal Today:

To honestly evaluate the condition of your heart and surrender to the Lord any area that is hardened, shallow, or crowded. Seek to become good ground where the Word of God takes root and produces lasting fruit.

Closing Prayer:

Abba Father,

I humble myself before You and ask that You examine my heart. Break up any hardness. Remove anything that chokes Your Word in my life—whether it be fear, pride, distraction, or sin. Help me to grow deep roots in Your truth and to bear fruit that brings You glory. I long to be good soil, fertile and ready to receive all that You desire to plant in me. Teach me to listen, to obey, and to be transformed by Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.