I have no doubt that humans need good hearts in order to hear and know and love the word of God.
The question in my mind is "when" and "how" did they get these "good hearts." (good soil)
1st, the verse clearly indicates that the seed grew because they ALREADY had this good soil (good hearts).
If, as Jeremiah says, the heart is "deceitful above all things", then this good soil happened at some point after their conception and before their conversion.
The only alternative I can see is that they had some kind of "latent good soil" that they were born with.
“If, as Jeremiah says, the heart is “deceitful above all things”, then this good soil happened at some point after their conception and before their conversion.”
It seems to me that God works to prepare the soil of most men, while men typically resist. And that happens from birth until we either convert, die, or God gives us over to our evil nature.
” 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” - Matt 5
If we are to imitate God, we must love those who hate us, and give good gifts to our enemies, and not just our friends.
This passage indicates God’s love, not just for the elect, but for those who hate him. That is why I find it so odd that some would say God hates the non-elect. We are called to love all, because of God’s example, so how could God not love all the world? Even though it hates him, God loves...and is patient, and merciful, and giving. Until he decides it has gone far enough, and he judges man.
Think of the example of the vineyard (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%205&version=ESV), where God gives it everything - and still it rejects him. In the end, he judges - but not until he has first proven his love many times over.
So it is with man. God gives us love, and mercy, and withholds judgement - not forever, but certainly until we have proven our evil beyond any question.
Consider Hosea 2 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+2&version=ESV). It should make us weak with guilt at our hard hearts, and overwhelm us with God’s mercy!
The good soil "happened" according to the will of God from before the foundation of the world, "before men could do anything good or evil." What God has ordained will come to pass.
There is good soil. There is rocky soil. And there is shallow, sandy soil. The word of God takes root only in the good soil. And these soils differ because God "made them to differ."
"For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" -- 1 Corinthians 4:7
God knows which soil He is going to nourish. He knows whose stony heart He is going to replace with a heart of flesh. He "knows" because this is what He wants. And God always always gets what He wants, ultimately.
"Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." -- Matthew 15:13