The old saying that it’s darkest before the dawn is certainly true in a natural sense. It’s pitch black outside as I was led to Matthew 13:23. . .it’s not a subject that I’d planned to write about. After all, this particular scripture is quoted by every preacher/teacher who ever taught about sowing, reaping and the hundredfold.

But God gave me a different approach to the verse. . .He wanted me to write about the seven keys to a Matthew 13:23 and your hundredfold harvest.

Matthew 13:23 says:

“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.”

1. Where does the seed you sow come from?

In the parable of the sower there are three verses (Matthew 13:19,22,23) where we’re told that the sower received seed.

The question is where did the sower receive seed from?

2 Corinthians 9:10 in the Amplified Bible gives us this answer:

“And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [ which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].”

God provides seed to the sower.

The criteria for receiving seed to sow is that you are or become a sower. The immediate response of some would be. . . “Yes, but I have nothing to sow.”

That’s not true. . .in fact, it is one of the seven greatest lies ever perpetrated by the devil. I encourage you to visit our website www.haroldherring.com and search for “greatest lies” for more revelation on that subject.

Everyone has something to sow. . .but at the moment they may be sowing it to the credit card company. . .the mortgage company. . .the automobile finance company. . .the big screen TV company. . .the time share company. . .the boat sales company and the list goes on.

We all have something to sow. . .but at some point, we made a conscious decision to sow our seed into things with interest charges. . .where our seed will never EVER produce a harvest.

God is going to give seed to a sower. Not only is He going to give seed to the sower but He tells us He’s willing to multiply it.

2 Corinthians 9:10 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].”



2. Choose to sow in good ground.

According to Strong’s Concordance the word good in Matthew 13:23 is the Greek word kalos (G2570) which means:

“beautiful, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable; excellent in its nature and characteristics, and therefore well adapted to its ends; joined to names of men designated by their office, competent, able, such as one ought to be; affecting the mind agreeably, comforting and confirming.”

I think it’s fair to say that “good ground” is when you find a ministry or organization where the leadership is excellent in its operation. . .honoring the precious seeds with which it’s entrusted. . .and who will mentally and spiritually come into agreement with you confirming their faith with yours.

The prayer of agreement is important. Matthew 18:19-20 in the King James Version says:

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

It’s spiritually unwise to ask someone who doesn’t believe in biblical prosperity to come into agreement with you for a hundredfold return on a seed you’ve sown with them. They will gladly receive your seed but what about the power of agreement?

Luke 8:15 says:

“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

The New Living Translation of Luke 8:15 talks about people “. . . who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.”

Seed planted in good ground with people who hear God’s word and cling to His promises will produce a “huge harvest.” Hallelujah.

3. If you aren’t listening for the truth you’ll never hear it.

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word. . .”

The sower with the seed that he is planting is good ground. . .must hear the word according to Matthew 13:23.

The Hebrew word for hearing is akouō (G191) and it means:

“to hear; to attend to, consider what is or has been said; to give ear to a teaching or a teacher.”

There are two things that stirred in me as I read this passage. . .

First, you have to put yourself in a position to hear the truth.

--If you’re attending a church where the fullness of the gospel is never taught

--Or you don’t read books written by men and women who search deeper revelatory understanding of the Word

--Or if you fail to watch anointed men and women teaching the word on TV or over the internet

. . .then you’re not in a position to receive the truth.

Second, you need to keep hearing and hearing (and hearing) the precious promises of God.

Romans 10:17 says:

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

4. If you don’t understand it. . .trouble is coming your way.

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it. . .”

It’s not just enough to hear the Word. . .you must understand it as well.

Jesus understood the distinction. Matthew 15:10 says:

“And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand.”

According to Strong’s Concordance the Greek word for hear is akouō (G191) and it means:

“to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.”

Also, according to Strong’s Concordance the Greek word for understandeth is syniēmi (G4920) and it means:

“to set or join together in the mind; to understand: the man of understanding.”

Hearing is an audible reception of words spoken. . .understanding is the mental recognition of what you’ve just heard along with what needs to be done and then, doing it.

Jesus made a definite distinction between hearing and understanding. The scripture is also very clear about the consequences of hearing but not understanding what the Word has to say.

Matthew 13:19 in the New Living Translation says:

“The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.”

The enemy loves to make you think you can give lip service to the Lord. A lot of people do and then wonder why things don’t go so well for them.

Proverbs 4:7 says:

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

Notice how this Proverb says … wisdom is the principal thing BUT with all the getting… understanding is the critical step.

5. If you’re not productive then what are you doing?.

Matthew 13:23 says:

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit. . .”

Bearing fruit is not really optional . . .in fact, it is an absolute requirement for success in the kingdom.

John 15:2 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.”

This is the part where the rubber meets the road. The scripture says we are either going to produce fruit or be cut off.

And we are going to be pruned for our own good. It makes us better able to produce fruit because fruit is essential in the kingdom. And it is a necessity for our survival and favor in God’s eyes.

Bottom line . . .we are either producing harvests or you’ll be cut off. Truly, God’s Word explains the principle of seed time and harvest.

It also means He a people who understand seedtime and harvest. . .people who know the value of sowing seeds. . .people who have expectation for harvests.

Those who are productive for the Kingdom. . .planting seeds into good ground ministries. . .will not only be reaping a harvest but will be pruned by obeying the Word and His directions to become even more productive.

6. Better than Wall Street and/or the lottery. . . 30, 60, 100 fold.

Matthew 13:23 says:

“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.”

It is easy to understand what thirtyfold and sixtyfold mean.

Thirtyfold means thirty times, and sixtyfold means sixty times. However, hundredfold is a little different.

Mark 4:8 says:

“And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.”

Notice that in telling the story of the sower (Mark 4) Jesus abruptly breaks the mathematical progression He uses after reaching sixtyfold. He has been progressing by thirty numbers at a time. That is, until He goes beyond sixtyfold. Then instead of adding another thirty to His count and coming to ninetyfold, He jumps forty numbers and ends with a hundred.

When our Lord makes this abrupt change, it should be obvious that something of great significance is taking place, for one hundred is a unique number. It is the only number that can represent many other numbers. Not only does it mean one hundred, it can also signify that something is complete, whole, or the best possible.

In simple terms, if you owned a milking cow you would not expect her to produce 100 calves or give you a hundredfold return. You could however expect her to produce more than the average.

Big Bertha is a good example. She holds the world’s record for being the oldest cow … she died 3 months before her 49th birthday. She also gave birth to largest amount of calves on record—39.

Please remember, sometimes your return is thirtyfold, sometimes it is sixtyfold. However, if you walk faithfully in God’s principles of seedtime and harvest, your return will always be hundredfold – the best possible return under the circumstances.

Before we question God to have fallen short of our harvest, we need to be thankful for all He does.

Then lift up your head and boldly say, “My God is the God of thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and no matter what the circumstances always gives me the best possible return! He always makes it exceeding, abundantly above all you can ask or think.”

Ephesians 3:20 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].”

7. What You Sow Is What You’re Going To Reap.

Matthew 13:23 in the New Living Translation says:

“The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Do you remember learning your multiplication tables in elementary school? Those tables were based on a specific formula which compromised the table. Five times one equals five. Five times two equals ten. Five times ten equals fifty and so.

The Contemporary English Version of Matthew 13:23 says: “. . . They produce as much as a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was planted.”

God’s multiplication table is simpler yet more explosive in its return than any table that you were ever taught in school. Any seed sown is multiplied thirty times, sixty times or one hundred times. . .Hallelujah!

The key phrase in this verse is that the sower received “. . .as much as had been planted.” The size of the harvest you receive is determined by the amount that you sow.

Galatians 6:7 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.”

Pay particular attention to the last sentence in this verse.

“. . .For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.”

You will reap what you’ve sown as it’s applied to God’s multiplication table.

For instance, nothing times 30, 60 or 100 still equals nothing.

If you plant nothing. . .your multiplied harvest will still be nothing.

However, if you plant $100. . .then God’s multiplication table will bring forth a harvest of $3,000; $6,000; $10,000 or the perfect yield for the seed sown. . .the best possible harvest.

If you read, study, meditate and pray about these seven keys to your hundredfold harvest, then the Lord will continue to open the eyes of your understanding to increase your harvests. The point is to get God’s multiplication system working for you.

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