An Honest Heart. 3

The fourth class are the GOOD-GROUND hearers. This is soil which not only receives the seed and has depth to give it root—but where it springs up, bears fruit and actually brings forth a goodly yield—so that the gardener is well-rewarded for his labors. Let us take careful note then of what is here noted of the good-ground hearer.

First, it is, "he who hears the Word and understands it."He has taken pains so to do. He has "searched the Scriptures daily" (Acts 17:11) to ascertain whether or not the things to which he has listened, are really according to the Divine Oracles, for he feels there is far too much at stake to take any man's say-so for it. Mark 4:20 adds, "and receives it." He has prayerfully pondered what he has heard and personally appropriates it as God's message to his own soul. However unpalatable to the flesh, however searching and humbling, he does not refuse it. Luke 8:15 adds "and retains it and brings forth fruit with patience." He holds fast the Word because it is treasured up in his heart as his most cherished possession; and though he is much discouraged by the slowness of his growth he perseveres in crying to God for the increase.

But there is one word said concerning this fourth class which we wish to particularly observe: they are the ones who receive the Word "In an honestand good heart." This is the only time in the parable that our Lord defines the kind of heart which received the Word. It is here we have disclosed the decisive factor, that which fundamentally distinguishes those belonging to the fourth class from all the others. Thus it is of prime importance we should seek to ascertain exactly what is connoted by "an honest and good heart" (Luke 8:15), and diligently search ourselves whether or not we possess such. Clearly the terms used here by Christ are in designed contrast from Jeremiah 17:9, "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked," which describes that which every descendant of Adam is born with. "An honest and good heart" then is not the natural heart—but one which Divine grace has imparted.

"But that on the good ground are those who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15). Let it be duly considered that as it is not the falling of the seed into the ground which makes it good, so it is not the Word of God which makes the heart honest. The soil itself must be rich—or there will be no satisfactory crop; and the heart itself must first be honest—if the Word is to be received and bear fruit. But such a heart no man has by nature—instead it is "deceitful above all things—and desperately wicked." The heart of fallen man is radically and essentially dishonest, feeding on lies, loving deceits, producing hypocrisies; and he can no more effect any alteration in it—than the Ethiopian can change his skin. Nor does he even desire to do so—he is totally unconscious of its rottenness.

"The disposings of the heart of man is from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:1). It is by the regenerative operations of the Holy Spirit, that the heart is made honest. Honesty, or sincerity of heart—is the grand distinction between the genuine Christian and all other men. We do not regard it as a separate grace, like purity or humility—but rather is the regulator of all the graces. Thus we read of "sincere faith" (2 Timothy 1:5) and "sincere love" (1 Peter 1:22). As holiness is the glory of all the Divine perfections—so sincerity is what gives color and beauty to all the Christian's graces. Holiness is the distinctive glory of the Godhead—as one termed it, "an attribute of attributes, casting luster upon the others." "As God's power is the strength of His perfections, so His holiness is the beauty of them. As all would be weak without almightiness to back them, so all would be unlovely without holiness to adorn them" (Charnock). Thus it is on a lower plane—without honesty to regulate them, the graces of the Christian would be worthless.

As honesty of heart is that which distinguishes the genuine Christian from all other men—so it is the grand feature which is common to all the children of God, none of them being without it. Different saints are eminent for various graces: Abraham for his faith, Moses for his meekness, Phineas for his zeal, Job for his patience or endurance. But sincerity is that which characterizes and regulates all of them, so that to speak of a hypocritical Christian is a contradiction in terms.

An honest heart is an "upright" heart (Psalm 7:10). That is, it is a "single" (Colossians 3:22) or "undivided" one (Hosea 10:2). An honest heart is a "sound" one (Proverbs 14:30), a "true" one (Hebrews 10:22). The marks and fruits of an honest heart are frankness, genuineness, truthfulness, integrity, righteousness, fidelity, and sincerity—in contrast from deception, deceitfulness, or pretense. An honest heart hates all shams. But passing from generalizations let us point out some of the more specific and fundamental workings and manifestations of an honest heart.

Next Part An Honest Heart. 4

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