13:23 who hears the word and understands it. Only hearing and understanding the word (obedience being implied) results in fruit. There are those who temporarily receive the word but who fall away to avoid earthly discomfort or lose their commitment in pursuit of earthly wealth (v. 22). Likewise there are differing levels of bearing fruit. There are ultimately only two kinds of ground, that which genuinely receives the word to bear fruit and that which does not.