While much of the good seed is lost, the sower has not sown in vain. The parable lauds the fertility of the Palestinian soil. Much seed bears fruit, but not always to the same degree. The parables stresses the difference in the yield; how it comes about is not described, only the result. A hundred grains from a single seed is common in Palestine.
Not every believer is equally fruitful, and some bear more fruit than others. Even though all indeed hear and understand and bear fruit, it is not always to the same degree.1
Much of the good seed is lost, but still the sower has not sown in vain. A significant portion falls on good soil and produces much fruit. In the parable the fertility of the Palestinian soil is lauded. The difference in the yield is amplified here; how that comes about is left entirely out of account though—only the existing condition is described: a hundred grains from a single seed is not unusual in Palestine.2
8 Une autre partie tomba dans la bonne terre: elle donna du fruit, un grain cent, un autre soixante, un autre trente.