The term "thirty-fold" is derived from the Parable of the Sower, a teaching of Jesus Christ found in the Synoptic Gospels, specifically in Matthew 13:8, Mark 4:8, and Luke 8:8. In these passages, Jesus describes the varying yields of seed sown on different types of soil, symbolizing the reception of the Word of God in the hearts of individuals. The "thirty-fold" yield represents one of the levels of fruitfulness that results from the seed sown on good soil.

Biblical Context

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus uses agricultural imagery familiar to His audience to convey spiritual truths. The seed represents the Word of God, and the different types of soil symbolize the conditions of human hearts. The seed that falls on good soil produces a harvest, yielding "thirty, sixty, or a hundred times what was sown" (Mark 4:8). The thirty-fold yield, while the smallest of the three mentioned, still signifies a significant and fruitful response to the Gospel.

Interpretation

The thirty-fold yield is often interpreted as the varying degrees of spiritual fruitfulness among believers. While some may produce more abundant spiritual fruit, the thirty-fold yield is still a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel in a receptive heart. It underscores the idea that all genuine responses to the Word, regardless of the magnitude, are valuable and contribute to the Kingdom of God.

Theological Significance

From a theological perspective, the thirty-fold yield emphasizes the diversity of spiritual growth and productivity among Christians. It acknowledges that believers are endowed with different gifts and capacities, and each person's contribution to the Kingdom is significant. The parable encourages believers to cultivate their hearts, ensuring they are receptive to God's Word, and to strive for spiritual growth and fruitfulness.

Practical Application

In practical terms, the concept of the thirty-fold yield challenges Christians to examine the condition of their hearts and their responsiveness to God's Word. It serves as a reminder to nurture one's spiritual life through prayer, study of Scripture, and obedience to God's commands. Believers are encouraged to be patient and persistent, trusting that God will bring about growth and fruitfulness in His timing.

Related Scriptures

· Matthew 13:8 : "Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold."
· Mark 4:8 : "Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprouted, grew, and produced a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold."
· Luke 8:8 : "Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprang up and produced a crop—a hundredfold." As He said this, He called out, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'"

Conclusion

The thirty-fold yield in the Parable of the Sower serves as a powerful illustration of the potential for spiritual growth and productivity in the life of a believer. It highlights the importance of a receptive heart and the diverse ways in which God's Word can bear fruit in the lives of those who embrace it.

But this is So Great, that Certain Understand it to be the Fruit ...
... to it, who understand these things better than we; whether the virginal life be
in fruit an hundred-fold, in sixty-fold the widowed, in thirty-fold the married ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/of holy virginity /section 46 but this is.htm

Whether Three Fruits are Fittingly Assigned to the Three Parts of ...
... But the excess of sixtyfold over thirtyfold is not as the excess of a hundredfold
over sixtyfold; neither in arithmetical proportion, since sixty exceeds ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether three fruits are fittingly.htm

Letter Xlviii. To Pammachius.
... Yields of one hundredfold, of sixtyfold, and of thirtyfold [1049] may all come from
one soil and from one sowing, yet they will differ widely in quantity. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xlviii to pammachius.htm

Whether the Fruits are Suitably Enumerated by the Apostle?
... good ground, viz. "hundredfold, sixtyfold," and "thirtyfold." Therefore
one should not reckon twelve fruits. Objection 3: Further ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the fruits are suitably.htm

The Sower
... And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing;
and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 4 3-9 14-20 the sower.htm

Whether virginity is the Greatest of virtues?
... ad Ageruch.], on account of its superiority to widowhood, to which the sixtyfold
fruit is ascribed, and to marriage, to which is ascribed the thirtyfold fruit. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether virginity is the greatest.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xiii. 19, Etc. , Where the Lord ...
... which were choked," and could not bring forth fruit; and "other some into good ground,
and it brought forth fruit, a hundred, sixty, thirty fold." But to-day ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxiii on the words.htm

The First Great Group of Parables.
... up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. {
^a some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.} [Thirty-fold is a good ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/liv the first great group 2.htm

A Revival Sermon
... When the sower went forth to sow his seed, some of it fell on good soil, and it
brought forth fruit, some twenty fold, some thirty fold, but it is written ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a revival sermon.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... Although the hundred-fold, the sixty-fold, and the thirty-fold spring from one earth
and from one sowing, yet there is a great difference in respect of number. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

Thirtyfold (3 Occurrences)
...Thirtyfold (3 Occurrences). Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought
forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. (KJV). ...
/t/thirtyfold.htm - 7k

Thirty-fold (3 Occurrences)
Thirty-fold. Thirtyfold, Thirty-fold. Thirty-four . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WBS YLT). Thirtyfold, Thirty-fold. Thirty-four . Reference Bible.
/t/thirty-fold.htm - 7k

Sixtyfold (3 Occurrences)
... Sixtyfold (3 Occurrences). Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought
forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. (KJV). ...
/s/sixtyfold.htm - 7k

Thirty-five (9 Occurrences)
Thirty-five. Thirty-first, Thirty-five. Thirtyfold . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WEB BBE DBY RSV). Thirty-first, Thirty-five. Thirtyfold . Reference Bible
/t/thirty-five.htm - 8k

Hundredfold (10 Occurrences)
... Hundredfold (10 Occurrences). Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and
brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. ...
/h/hundredfold.htm - 9k

Fold (23 Occurrences)
... Mark 4:20 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 ...
/f/fold.htm - 17k

Thirty-four (2 Occurrences)
Thirty-four. Thirty-fold, Thirty-four. Thirty-nine . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WEB BBE DBY RSV). Thirty-fold, Thirty-four. Thirty-nine . Reference Bible
/t/thirty-four.htm - 7k

Bare (250 Occurrences)
... Mark 4:8 and other fell to the good ground, and was giving fruit, coming up and
increasing, and it bare, one thirty-fold, and one sixty, and one an hundred ...
/b/bare.htm - 35k

Sixty-fold (1 Occurrence)
... Sixty-fold (1 Occurrence). Matthew 13:8 But others fell into good ground, and brought
forth fruit, some a hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold. (WBS) ...
/s/sixty-fold.htm - 6k

Ground (538 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY DBY RSV). Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth
fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. ...
/g/ground.htm - 43k

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