I’ve been interacting with a friend about who the third soil in Luke 8:14 represents. 

We both agree that it represents believers.  

But we disagree on whether the believers in view represent believers who persevere or believers who fail to endure.  

My friend thinks that the third soil represents believers who lay up treasure in heaven (Matt 6:19-21), but who fail to persevere. Hence, they will not be chosen to reign with Christ (2 Tim 2:12; 1 John 2:28; Rev 2:26).  

My view is that the third soil represents persevering believers who will rule with Christ, but because their fruitfulness is lessened by “cares, riches, and the pleasures of life,” they will not rule over ten cities like the faithful servant in Luke 19:17. Instead, they will rule over a smaller number of cities (Luke 19:19).  

My friend wondered whether my view is widely held among GES people. I explained that while I think the evidence for my view is overwhelming, the interpretation of the passage is far from settled in Free Grace circles. I don’t recall Zane Hodges ever discussing this. I don’t recall hearing a talk on this by any other Free Grace speaker.  

Here are my reasons: 

1. Each soil is better than the previous one(s). The first soil does not believe and is not saved (Luke 8:12). The second soil believes and is saved but later falls away in time of temptation (Luke 8:13). The third soil believes but doesn’t bring forth mature fruit. The final soil believes and brings forth mature fruit.

2. That the second soil did not persevere is important in understanding the third soil.

3. Since the third soil is better than the second, it did not fall away. It represents believers who persevere.

4. If there are degrees of rulership—and we know there are from the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-26)—then it is evident, at least to me, that the third soil rules, but less than the fourth.

I have written in Appendix D of The Road to Reward that I think there is a connection between the Parable of the Minas in Luke 19 and the Parable of the Four Soils in Luke 8 (pp. 135-145). Here are four parallels that I discuss in that book: 

1. The first soil, the wayside soil (on the path) parallels the enemies of Jesus in Luke 19:14, 27 (representing unbelieving Israel).

2. The second soil, the rocky soil parallels the third servant, who buries his mina (Luke 19:20-26). The Lord Jesus calls him a wicked servant in Luke 19:22.

3. The third soil, the weedy soil, parallels the second servant, who comes back with only five minas (Luke 19:18-19). He is called neither a wicked servant nor a good servant. Unlike the first servant, he does not hear, “Well done, good servant,” (Luke 19:17). Compare Luke 19:17 and Luke 19:19. The second servant just hears, “You also be over five cities.”

4. The fourth soil, the good soil, is equal to the good servant (Luke 19:16-17). This is the one who hears, “Well done, good servant” (Luke 19:17) and who receives authority over ten cities (p. 144).

I encourage you to study this issue for yourself. Be a Berean (Acts 17:11).  

Keep grace in focus so that one day you will hear, “Well done, good servant” (Luke 19:17).