And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold (Mark 4:20).

In contrast to the good soil, the other soils fail to produce fruit because of...

1. Satan's disruptive influence
2. Weak convictions in the face of hardship and persecution
3. Worldly entanglements and enticements

Before Jesus gave the explanation of this Parable of the Soils, he told them, 

Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand any parable? (Mark 4:13 NIV)

Was Jesus simply rebuking his disciples for not paying enough attention? Was he criticizing them for their lack of faith when they should have had more faith? 

Perhap Jesus was not really asking them a question at all. Perhaps he was revealing to them that not only could they not understand the Parable of the Soils, they could not understand any of his parables. It was not a question so much as a statement of fact. If Jesus did not explain the parables, even the disciples would remain in the dark as to their meaning. That is why Jesus told them earlier,

To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables (Mark 4:11).

The contrast was between the parables of the kingdom, by which Jesus hid deep truths inside of stories, and the mystery of the kingdom, which Jesus revealed to the disciples through his explanations. So while truth was hidden from everyone who was not a disciple of Christ, Jesus would privately reveal this truth to his disciples:

With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples (Mark 4:33-34).

Now, let us return to the Parable of the Soils. Jesus said that the good soil represented those that hear the Word of God, accept it, and bear fruit by it in different measures.

At the conclusion of the parable, Jesus also said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Mark 4:9). But which of them could truly hear, as to understand (cf. Mark 4:12), except those to whom Jesus gave the explanation, which on this occasion, was only the disciples. They were the only ones given ears to hear. Jesus' question, "How will you understand any parable?", suggests that even the disciples would not understand without the Lord giving them the hearing by which understanding could come. 

What am I getting at here? I'm suggesting that the good soil is not natural to us. It is not something we produce. The good soil is the heart that has been cultivated by God so that it can hear, accept and produce fruit. Thus, we read, 

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema - spoken word) of God (Romans 10:17).

God (or Christ, as some ancient transalations have "Christ" for "God") decreed (i.e. spoke) that some people receive ears that could hear so as to understand and believe. In other words faith only comes when a person is given "ears to hear". Apart from this, there will be no understanding, and consequently, no saving faith. It is not that people cannot hear. They can hear, but their hearing will not be accompanied by understanding leading to faith. 

So, even when the resurrected Christ came among the disciples, they could not understand what Jesus was telling them about how he had fulfilled what was written in the Old Testament; that is, until he opened their minds to understand:

And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures (Mark 24:45).

Friends, let us understand, we did not choose God. He chose us. We may have done the deed; that is performed the activity of hearing and believing; however, apart from God's drawing, enabling, and cultivating our hearts to hear so as to understand and believe, we would never have trusted in Christ so as to be saved. As Jesus told Nicodemus,

Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again (John 3:3).

It is by the inworking of the Holy Spirit that people are given eyes to see kingdom truth. Apart from the Spirit, no one will accept it, nor can they:

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Therefore, friends, there is no cause for fretting about our salvation because none of it was of our own doing (cf. Ephesians 2;8-9). God freely and sovereignly gave it to us and enabled us to accept it and keep it forever. Our security is in the promise of His Word alone. The outworking of our faith in obedience to His Word is simply more assurances to us that God has indeed chosen us, that we do not fail the test of His calling and election of us for salvation (cf. 2 Peter 1:10-11).

What is more, I believe that whether we produce thirty, sixty or a hundred-fold, this also is not of our own doing but what God has designed for our lives (cf. Ephesians 2:10). Such outcomes belong to the Lord (cf. Proverbs 16:9). But let us be faithful to what we know from His Word. Let us align our wills with His perfect Word. And let us obey, not with anxiety but with the full confidence that God will direct our steps according to His good and sovereign purpose. 

Friends, a dear brother asked some excellent questions. I share them here along with my responses:

"He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat." (Mk. 5:43)

What is odd to me in verse 35 it is made clear that others know about the daughters death.  How is it reasonable to assume that they would be able to not let anyone know about this miracle especially when the evidence of the daughter being alive proves it?  One thought is that He meant let the miracle speak for itself.  Could Jesus have been talking to the disciples only?  I don't necessarily believe this myself since the directive to give the girl something to eat directly follows the orders not to say anything in the same sentence.  My assumption here is that it is more likely He would not have asked a disciple to give her something to eat but rather one who lived in the house.  Therefore I believe Jesus was talking to the parents at the very least.

My responses:

Great questions! I think you should take the expression literally, and it does refer to repentance and forgiveness in salvation; however, it does not mean that Jesus was keeping them from getting saved but rather that they were being confirmed in their rebellion and unbelief. In other words, even if they understood the parables, they would reject the message, because this was already their heart disposition. And they had not been given ears (i.e. the ears to hear in faith) to hear; therefore, they could not understand and believe. This was the context in Isaiah, who was sent to preach to a people that had already hardened their hearts to God. Thus, the message that would bring salvation to those, who were predisposed to believe (e.g. the Ninevites of Jonah's day), would be a message of condemnation to the Israelites of Isaiah's day, who were entrenched in their unbelief and rebellion.

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As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed (Mark 5:18-20).

Jesus did not have the same issues among the Gentiles as He did with the Jews. There was no risk of rebellion. In fact, they even asked Jesus to leave their region because they did not know what to think of Him, and they were afraid. Therefore, in the case of the Gentiles, the spreading of the testimony by the healed demoniac became an avenue for faith.

Again we read the Parable of the Sower (also in Matthew) - but something else comes to light in the book of Mark.

The Parable of the Sower

(Mark 4:18-20) Jesus continues..."Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown."

Recall that this Parable describes a farmer sprinkling seed, but some seed falls on shallow soil or rock and withers, while the seed that falls on good soil will be grow many times over. Good soil is really an analogy for letting Gods word take hold of you deeply. But we read the danger is the "worries of life - the deceit of wealth and desire of 'things' " chokes Gods Word. This is so true. Gods Word on Sunday gets us motivated and touches our heart, but Monday brings the worries of the world.

Jesus doesn’t stop there though, he gives us three other Parables which seem to emphasize the importance of letting Gods Word take root in us. In the Parable of the "A Lamp on a Stand" (Mark 4:21-25) - we read "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them"

Jesus is telling the disciples consider carefully Gods Word - and when we do more will be revealed to us (in fact He says the more we consider, the more that will be revealed). Jesus continues with the "The Parable of the Growing Seed" (Mark 4:26-29) - where Christ tells us that the Word will grow in us day and night.

And finally in the "The Parable of the Mustard Seed" (Mark 4:30-34) - we read that Gods Word and our faith begin as a mustard seed (as small speck) but when planted it becomes an enormous plant.

It seems these 4 Parables reveal one story about how Gods Word will grow when we 'consider it carefully' and when we don’t let the worries of the world "choke it out", then it will grow 100 times over in us.

Friends, we find a curious expression in Mark 4:9 and again in Mark 4:23, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" This expression is best known from the Book of Revelation, where it is used at the conclusion of each of the messages to the seven churches in Asia (Revelation 2-3). But what does this expression mean?

In the context of Mark 4 there is much about hearing. In the Parable of the Soils, Jesus explained regarding this parable and all parables that they were spoken so that only certain ones would understand "the mystery of the kingdom of God" (Mark 4:11). He cites Isaiah 6:9-10, which in part reads, "And hearing they may hear and not understand...lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them" (Mark 4:12). A distinction is made between hearing to hear and hearing that brings understanding, repentance and forgiveness. The disciples were given this kind of understanding by Jesus (Mark 4:33-34), but everytone else was left in the dark.

When Jesus explained the specifics of the Parable of the Soils, He revealed to the disciples that it was about the hearing of the Word of God. The different soils represented the different ways that people would receive the Word. And only the last group, "those who hear the word [and] accept it" (Mark 4:20) would produce a crop. Again, all four soils heard the word, but only the last group heard the word in such a way as to accept it and bear fruit. Once again, a distinction is made between hearing to hear and hearing that leads to a productive faith (i.e. faith and obedience).

Finally, Jesus spoke about the purpose of a lamp and explained that everything hidden would be revealed. In the context, this likely refers to the parables, which were hideen from some because they were not given ears to accept and understand the secrets of the kingdom of God. While Jesus spoke in this hidden language of parables at the present time, they would all be explained and become clear in the future, likely by the disciples, who would explain them.

Right after this, he again repeated "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear" (Mark 4:24). Then Jesus commanded, "Take heed what you hear," that is, hear in such a way that you have an obedient response. He continued, "With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you." In keeping with the idea of hearing, Jesus taught that how you hear would determine how you would be rewarded. And the next phrase, "and to you who hear, more will be given," suggests that there is only one kind of hearing that will be rewarded; namely, true hearing. Everything else is not hearing at all. This is just like the Parable of the Soils, where only one kind of soil produced a crop. The only true hearing is the hearing that is accompanied by an obedient response.

Finally, Jesus taught, "For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him" (Mark 4:25). In this context, the message seems to be that the one who truly hears will be rewarded even more, but the one who does not hear, even the initial benefit they received will be taken away. Since this is in the context of the kingdom of heaven, the rewards are likely associated with kingdom riches. In keeping with the Parable of the Soils, those that truly hear the Word of God, accepting it and producing a crop (i.e. believing and producing the fruit of obedience) will enjoy even more blessings. Could this be referring to the true Christian, of whom Paul writes in Romans 8:32, 

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Christians will be given "all things" by virtue of having Christ, through whom all good things come. But those that reject Christ, those who do not believe, understand, and obey the Word, they will not only fail to receive these benefits, but whatever benefit they have will be taken away from them. In other texts, this removal of benefits is associated with judgment, being thrown out in "outer darkness," even being cast into eternal torment in the "Lake of Fire."

Now, coming full circle, what is meant by the phrase "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"? This refers to those that have been given ears to hear. The disciples had Jesus to explain the parables to them so that they could understand the message as it pertained to the mystery of the kingdom of God. They were given "ears to hear." And having "ears to hear," they could then hear the Word in such a way that they could believe and produce the fruit of obedience.

Friends, Jesus often spoke in parables. But let us not be too quick to imitate him in this, thinking that we are doing well to follow the master Teacher. Also, let us not be naive in thinking that parables were given to "reveal truth" as it has too often been taught. This happens when people fail to understand the full context of a biblical teaching. Even preachers and teachers are tempted to short-cut the process of study when they think they have achieved something "that will preach," that is, something that will sound good enough for people to be stirred up. Our calling is not to "stir up" but to preach the truth, even to "correctly handle the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

That said, Mark 4:11-12, 34 uniquely helps us to understand Jesus' purpose in speaking in parables.

He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you [disciples only]. But to those on the outside [unbelievers] everything is said in parables so that, " 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven [Isaiah 6:9-10]!'"... He did not say anything to them [everyone] without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Jesus contrasts the disciples, true believers, with "those on the outside," that is, unbelievers, and particularly the unbelieving religious leaders. Therefore, the parables were not given for believers but for unbelievers. And they were not spoken to reveal truth but to hide it. This is why the disciples repeatedly ask Jesus to explain what he meant by this or that parable. And this is why in Mark 4:34 we learn that when he was alone with his disciples, Jesus explained every parable to them. The parables were not meant for believers; the explanations were.

Jesus cites Isaiah 6:9-10, which is another passage often misunderstood. Missiologists are quick to preach the "Here I am. Send me!" from Isaiah 6:8 but neglect to reveal that Isaiah was not sent to preach a massage of salvation but of judgment, not of conversion but of condemnation, not of harvest but of hardening. While the commissioning is there, perhaps missiologists would do well to tell the full story, so that those who answer the call might not have a too glamorous ideal of what they are called to do.

Likewise, when Jesus cites Isaiah in Mark 4:12, he was revealing to his disciples that the parables were not vehicles to enlighten but to obscure, not a way to "help the common folk understand," as has been preached by some, but rather to keep everyone, whose hearts God had not opened to understand, confused. Do you still want to use parables like Jesus?

The parables served an additional purpose. In the unlawful trials that the religious leaders held to condemn Jesus, we are told that there was no agreement, and the Pharisees could pin nothing on Jesus to justify the death penalty. Could it be because they only heard parables from Jesus? How could they condemn a man for telling stories? And whose to say what these stories actually meant, especially since no two interpretations could agree? And we know that these religious rulers did not listen to understand and to believe but in order to "catch him in his words" (Mark 12:13) so that they might kill him.

Another important lesson comes from this passage in Mark. If parables were primarily a vehicle to hide truth, preachers should be careful about teaching any major principle from the parables that have no accompanying explanation. There are many of them. One of the most famous ones is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This passage is often used to preach on the love God has for people, just as the father loved his prodigal son. While this may be a valid truth, we note that there is no explanation given for this parable by Jesus; therefore, it should not be a central text in making our argument.

The nearest context are the two parables preceding it, which do have accompanying explanations. And both of these, the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin, have a common message, namely, rejoicing over a repentant sinner. If all of these parables are parallels, it would seem that the parable of the prodigal, or the "lost son," would likely carry a similar message. If so, the focus of the parable is not on the father but on the son, and not so much on the father's love as much as the great value put on repentance.

When I was a seminarian and still "wet behind the ears," I loved passages like the Prodigal Son because they were fun stories that made for easy and interesting preaching. The more elaborate the parable the more I could use them to get people excited about this or that principle I wanted to teach. It's kind of like "talking points" or "breaking news" on television. They fascinate us, but they are shallow on substance and can often distract from reality and truth. We are all susceptible to this. The only remedy I know is time and study. So, dear friends, read, explore, and study daily for yourselves the Word of God. Otherwise, you will be tossed back and forth by any and every eloquent speaker in whatever way they want to lead you.