Jesus spoke a lot of parables in his teaching ministry. But what exactly is a parable? A parable is an earthly story that communicates a heavenly truth.

One of Jesus’ most vivid parables is the parable of the four soils in Matthew 13. Essentially, he says that our hearts are like different types of soil outside when it comes to the seed of the gospel of Jesus being planted therein. Some hearts are like a hard, compacted pathway that won’t let the gospel in at all.

Other hearts are like rocky soil that lets the gospel in, but as it grows, the rocks prevent gospel roots from growing. So, the life of the gospel soon dries up and withers away from the heat of life.

Still other hearts are like thorn-infested soil. The gospel gets in and springs up, but the thorns of life choke it out, and it dies.

Finally are the hearts that are like good, rich, cultivated soil. They not only receive the gospel seed but grow to bear much fruit.

So, which soil represents your heart? I know the answer that we all want to give, but the true answer is determined by whether or not your life is producing gospel fruit, godly fruit. Do you see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control coming out of your life? If not, pray to God to soften and cultivate your heart so that that gospel seed of Jesus Christ will be received, take root, grow, and bear much fruit.

Change begins in you!