(8:11-15)
Parable of the sower
The good soil represents those who "persist until they bear fruit"; the fruit/harvest doesn't happen by itself - there is a persevering and a persistence that is necessary. That persistence is predicated by the retaining of the Word in a good (noble) and obedient heart; i.e. if we are not prepared to retain the Word, then we will not persist unto harvest.
(8:19-21)
To be called, and classified, a relation of Jesus, and hence to be in relationship to Him, necessitates hearing and doing (obeying) God's Word. We would think, not altogether wrongly, that it would be the more intimate activities - prayer, reading the Word, worship - that would mark us out as Jesus' relatives, but Jesus says that it is the more visible signs that people will recognize us by.
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