But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:23 KJV)
And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:23 ASV)
But he that is sown upon the good ground–this is he who hears and understands the word, who bears fruit also, and produces, one a hundred, one sixty, and one thirty. (Matthew 13:23 DBY)
And that sown on the good ground: this is he who is hearing the word, and is understanding, who indeed doth bear fruit, and doth make, some indeed a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty. (Matthew 13:23 YLT)
What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit, and brings forth, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty. (Matthew 13:23 WEB)
Interlinear
But <de> he that received seed <speiro> into <epi> the good <kalos> ground <ge> is <esti> he <houtos> that heareth <akouo> the word, <logos> and <kai> understandeth <suniemi> it; which <hos> also <de> beareth fruit, <karpophoreo> and <kai> bringeth forth, <poieo> some <hos> <men> an hundredfold, <hekaton> <de> some <hos> sixty, <hexekonta> <de> some <hos> thirty. <triakonta> (Matthew 13:23 KJV)
Albert Barnes’ Commentary
Verse 23. Into the good ground. Those whose hearts are prepared by grace to receive it honestly, and to give it full opportunity to grow. In a rich and mellow soil– a heart that submits itself to the full influence of truth, unchecked by cares and anxieties; under the showers and summer suns of Divine grace; with the heart spread open, like a broad luxuriant field, to the rays of the morning, and to evening dews–the gospel takes deep root, and grows; it has full room, and then and there only shows what it is.
{p} “beareth fruit” Joh 15:5
Adam Clarke’s Commentary
Verse 23. Good ground] That which had depth of mould, was well ploughed, and well weeded.
Is he that heareth] Who diligently attends the ministry of the word.
And understandeth it] Lays the subject to heart, deeply weighing its nature, design, and importance.
Which also beareth fruit] His fruitfulness being an almost necessary consequence of his thus laying the Divine message to heart. Let it be observed, that to hear, to understand, and to bring forth fruit, are the three grand evidences of a genuine believer. He who does not hear the word of wisdom cannot understand what makes for his peace; and he who does not understand what the Gospel requires him to be and to perform, cannot bring forth fruit; and he who is not fruitful, very fruitful, cannot be a disciple of Christ-see Joh 15:8; and he who is not Christ’s disciple cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
From the different portions of fruit produced by the good ground, a hundred, sixty, and thirty, we may learn that all sound believers are not equally fruitful; all hear, understand, and bring forth fruit, but not in the same degrees-occasioned, partly, by their situation and circumstances not allowing them such extensive opportunities of receiving and doing good; and, partly, by lack of mental capacity-for every mind is not equally improvable.
Let it be farther observed that the unfruitfulness of the different lands was not owing to bad seed or an unskilful sower-the same sower sows the same seed in all, and with the same gracious design-but it is unfruitful in many because they are careless, inattentive, and worldly-minded.
But is not the ground naturally bad in every heart? Undoubtedly. And can any but God make it good? None. But it is your business, when you hear of the justice and mercy of God, to implore him to work in you that which is pleasing in his sight. No man shall be condemned because he did not change his own heart, but because he did not cry to God to change it, who gave him his Holy Spirit for this very purpose, and which he, by his worldly-mindedness and impiety, quenched. Whoso hath ears to hear let him hear: and may the Lord save the reader from an impenitent and unfruitful heart!