But the seed that fell on good soil stands for those who have good and honest hearts. Those people hear the message, keep it in their hearts, remain faithful, and produce a good crop.
A good person says good things that come from the good stored up in their heart, but a bad person says bad things that come from the evil stored up in their heart, because a person’s mouth says whatever’s in their heart.
Then you’ll be able to lead a life that is worthy of the Lord and please him in every way. You’ll bear fruit in every good thing you do, you’ll get to know God better,
that has come to you. In the same way, the good news is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
My brothers and sisters, when Christ died, you also died, and so you were no longer “married” to the law. Then it became possible for you to belong to Christ instead. He was raised from the dead so that our lives could produce what God wanted.
But you’ve been set free from sin, and you’ve become slaves of God. You’re gaining a great benefit from that: You’re living in the right way, and the end result will be eternal life.
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear the message, but then, as they go on their way, are choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures, so they don’t reach full growth.
“No one lights a lamp but then hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand so that anyone who comes in can see its light.
But hope that can be seen isn’t really hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we don’t have yet, we wait for it patiently.