Matthew Poole and continuators on Mark 4:20

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground, such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

See this Parable largely opened in the Notes, upon Matth. 13.1. The Parable is recorded both by Matthew, Mark and Luke, and is of excellent use. 1. To shew the excellency of the Word of God, which is here (as in other places) called The Word. It is the Seed of God, the good Seed, and the excellency of the Ordinance of Preaching (for that is the Seed sown.) 2. To shew us the different effect of the Word Preached from Moral Discourses, and Philosophical Disputes, from which can be expected no Fruit, but where the Sower soweth the Word, there is yet a very different effect. Some bring forth the Fruit of Faith and Holiness, and the abiding Fruit of it, tho in different Degrees. But many, yea the most of those that hear it, either bring fo[illegible: 1 letter]th no Fruit, or no abiding Fruit, (which is indeed no true Fruit.) The Causes of this are, some Mens perfunctory, and c[illegible: 1 letter]reless hearing, never regarding to meditate on it, apply it to their own So[illegible: 1 letter]ls, or to hide it in their Memories. Others not suffering it to Sink into their Hearts, and to take Root in them, tho it may at present a little affect them, and make them matter of Discourse. Other Mens thoughts being taken up with business, and the care of this world, and their hearts filled with the love of the things of this Life, which they cannot part with when trouble and persecution for the owning, and Profession of the Gospel ariseth. 3. It likewise teacheth us a sure note of unprofitable hearers of the Word, as also of those, whom the Word is likely to profit, and have any good, and saving effect upon, the former hear, but never regard whether they understand what they hear, yea or no. The others are not satisfied with hearing, unless they understand, for those who went to him to know the Parable, were not the twelve only, (who are often called his Disciples emphatically) but those others that were about him, to whom it was given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God. 4. The most of our Saviours hearers, were doubtless Members of the Iewish Church (at least the most of them) yet our Saviour v. 11. stiles the most of them those that are without, which teacheth us, that not only such as are out of the pale of the Church, but those also who are out of the Degree of Election, those to whom it is not given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God, are in Christs account without. For other things concerning this Parable, they are fully spoken to in our Notes on Matth. 13.