Fruitfulness Quote by Robert Farrar Capon
““It is the Word alone, and not the interference with it, that finally counts. True enough, and fittingly enough, the most obvious point in the whole parable is that the fullest enjoyment of the fruitfulness of the Word is available only to those who interfere with it least. But even in making that point, Jesus still hammers away at the sovereignty and sole effectiveness of the Word. Those on the good ground, he says, are those who simply hear the Word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty-, some sixty-, and some a hundredfold. It's not that they do anything, you see; rather, it's that they don't do things that get in the Word's way. It's the Word, and the Word alone, that does all the rest.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Gospel According to Jesus, Robert Farrar Capon, 1978
The power of the Word lies in receiving it without interference; action that obstructs the message diminishes its fruit.
In simple terms: Receive the message plainly; avoid meddling.
Key Takeaway
Listen fully, let the message work.
Themes
faith
obedience
spirituality
simplicity
Mood
contemplative
inspirational
Type
theological
spiritual
When to use this quote
- prayer
- study of scripture
- personal meditation
Key Concepts
theology
scripture interpretation
non‑action
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we honor the Word while living actively?
- What does “interfering” look like today?
A Different Perspective
The passage may overlook the role of active engagement in deepening understanding.
