Hear the Word and Understand it

Matthew 13:18-23

Key Verse 23: “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Key Question: What does it mean to understand the word?

Read verses 18-19.

1. How is the word of the kingdom like a seed? What is the purpose of a seed?
2. How are people’s hearts like soil?
3. How do we hear the word?
4. How can we understand the word?
5. Why would it be difficult to sow seed on a path?
6. Why would a person with heart soil like a path have difficulty understanding the word?
   1. How can we prevent the evil one from snatching away the word?

Read verses 20-21.

1. Why would it be difficult for a seed to grow on rocky ground?
2. Why would a person with a rocky ground heart have difficulty growing the word of the kingdom in their lives?
   1. How can we take root?

Read verse 22.

1. Why would it be difficult for a seed to grow amongst thorns?
2. Why would a person with thorns growing in their heart have difficulty bearing fruit?
   1. How can we uproot the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches?

Read verse 23.

1. What does it mean to understand the word?
2. What type of person is a ‘good soil’ person?
   1. Why are they able to grow the word of the kingdom, bear fruit, and yield a hundredfold seed?
   2. What happens after someone yields seed?