When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside. What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
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Matthew 13:19-22 sits inside this longer paragraph.
“Hear, then, the parable of the farmer. When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside. What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit, and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”
Parallel Translations
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When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.
What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it;
yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
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Whosoever heareth the worde of the kingdome and vnderstondeth it not ther cometh the evyll man and catcheth awaye that which was sowne in his hert. And this is he which was sowne by the wayesyde.
But he that was sowne in the stony grounde is he which heareth the worde of God and anone with ioye receaveth it
yet hath he no rottes in him selfe and therfore dureth but a season: for assone as tribulacion or persecucion aryseth because of the worde by and by he falleth.
He that was sowne amonge thornes is he that heareth the worde of God: but the care of this worlde and the dissaytfulnes of ryches choke the worde and so is he made vnfrutfull.
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Whensoeuer any man heareth the woorde of that kingdome, and vnderstandeth it not, that euil one commeth, and catcheth away that which was sowen in his heart: and this is he which hath receiued the seede by the way side.
And hee that receiued seede in the stonie grounde, is he which heareth the woorde, and incontinently with ioy receiueth it,
Yet hath he no roote in himselfe, and dureth but a season: for assoone as tribulation or persecution commeth because of the woorde, by and by he is offended.
And hee that receiued the seede among thornes, is hee that heareth the woorde: but the care of this worlde, and the deceitfulnesse of riches choke the word, and he is made vnfruitfull.
Cross-references (123)
- 1 Timothy 6:17 (v22) Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the…
- Luke 8:14 (v22) That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and…
- 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (v22) But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and…
- Luke 8:11-15 (v19) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those along the road are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the…
- Mark 4:18-19 (v22) Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word, and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness…
Show all 100 cross-references
- Luke 12:15 (v22) He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he…
- 2 Timothy 4:10 (vv21–22) for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 (v22) He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. When goods…
- Matthew 13:38 (v19) the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one.
- Hebrews 2:1 (v19) Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.
- Matthew 11:6 (v21) Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
- Psalms 52:7 (v22) “Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his…
- Ezekiel 33:31-32 (v20) They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their…
- 1 John 2:15-16 (v22) Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. For all that is in the…
- Psalms 106:12-13 (v20) Then they believed his words. They sang his praise. They soon forgot his works. They didn’t wait for his counsel,
- Matthew 6:24-25 (v22) “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other.…
- Luke 12:29-30 (v22) Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but…
- 2 Peter 1:8-9 (v21) For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who…
- Matthew 13:7 (v22) Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.
- Luke 12:21 (v22) So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
- Luke 21:34 (v22) “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you…
- Ephesians 3:17 (v21) that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
- 1 John 5:18 (v19) We know that whoever is born of God doesn’t sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him.
- Psalms 62:10 (v22) Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them.
- Proverbs 11:28 (v22) He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
- Jeremiah 4:3 (v22) For Yahweh says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Break up your fallow ground, and don’t sow among thorns.
- Hosea 6:4 (v21) “Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears…
- Matthew 4:23 (v19) Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every…
- John 5:35 (v20) He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
- Genesis 13:10-13 (v22) Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and…
- Joshua 7:20-21 (v22) Achan answered Joshua, and said, “I have truly sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel, and this is what I have done. When I saw among the…
- 2 Kings 5:20-27 (v22) But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands…
- 2 Chronicles 24:2 (v20) Joash did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
- Job 19:28 (v21) If you say, ‘How we will persecute him!’ because the root of the matter is found in me,
- Psalms 78:34-37 (v20) When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the…
- Proverbs 12:3 (v21) A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
- Proverbs 23:5 (v22) Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 (v22) There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with…
- Ecclesiastes 5:13-14 (v22) There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. Those riches perish by misfortune, and if…
- Isaiah 58:2 (v20) Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways. As a nation that did righteousness, and didn’t forsake the ordinance of their God,…
- Matthew 19:16-24 (v22) Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” He said to him, “Why do you…
- Luke 14:16-24 (v22) But he said to him, “A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people. He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those…
- Luke 18:24-25 (v22) Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom! For it is easier for a…
- John 15:5-7 (v21) I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man…
- Acts 5:1-11 (v22) But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of…
- Acts 8:18 (v22) Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
- 2 Peter 2:14-15 (v22) having eyes full of adultery, and who can’t cease from sin; enticing unsettled souls; having a heart trained in greed; children of cursing;…
- 1 John 3:12 (v19) unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
- Jude 1:11-12 (v22) Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion. These…
- 1 Samuel 11:13-15 (v20) Saul said, “No man shall be put to death today; for today Yahweh has rescued Israel.” Then Samuel said to the people, “Come! Let’s go to…
- 2 Chronicles 24:6 (v20) The king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, “Why haven’t you required of the Levites to bring in the tax of Moses the servant…
- 2 Chronicles 24:14 (v20) When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, from which were made vessels for Yahweh’s house,…
- Job 27:8-10 (v21) For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life? Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?…
- Psalms 36:3 (v21) The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
- Proverbs 1:7 (v19) The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
- Proverbs 2:1-6 (v19) My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you, so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to…
- Proverbs 17:16 (v19) Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
- Proverbs 18:1-2 (v19) A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment. A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in…
- Matthew 5:37 (v19) But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.
- Matthew 13:5-6 (v20) Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth. When the…
- Mark 4:15 (v19) The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which…
- Mark 4:16-17 (v20) These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy. They…
- Mark 6:20 (v20) for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard…
- Mark 10:23-25 (v22) Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!” The disciples…
- Mark 13:12-13 (v21) “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to…
- John 8:43 (v19) Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word.
- John 12:25-26 (v21) He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. If anyone serves me, let him follow…
- Acts 8:13 (v20) Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
- Acts 17:32 (v19) Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning this.”
- Romans 1:28 (v19) Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
- Galatians 4:14-15 (v20) That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ…
- 1 John 2:13-14 (v19) I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.…
- Proverbs 1:20-22 (v19) Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares. She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the…
- Proverbs 12:12 (v21) The wicked desires the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes.
- Matthew 5:10-12 (v21) Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. “Blessed are you when people…
- Matthew 7:22-23 (v21) Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty…
- Matthew 7:26-27 (v21) Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came…
- Matthew 10:22 (v21) You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.
- Matthew 10:37-39 (v21) He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. He who…
- Matthew 13:6 (v21) When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.
- Matthew 13:57 (v21) They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house.”
- Matthew 16:24-26 (v21) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For…
- Matthew 24:9-10 (v21) Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. Then many will…
- Matthew 24:13 (v21) But he who endures to the end will be saved.
- Matthew 26:31 (v21) Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the…
- Matthew 26:33 (v21) But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”
- Mark 4:17 (v21) They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble.
- Mark 8:34-36 (v21) He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up…
- Luke 8:13 (v21) Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, then fall away…
- Luke 9:2 (v19) He sent them out to preach God’s Kingdom and to heal the sick.
- Luke 9:23-25 (v21) He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save…
- Luke 10:9 (v19) Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
- Luke 14:26-33 (v21) “If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he…
- Luke 21:12-18 (v21) But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing…
- John 3:19-20 (v19) This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.…
- John 6:26 (v21) Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.
- John 6:61-65 (v21) But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? Then what if you would see…
- John 6:70-71 (v21) Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it…
- John 18:38 (v19) Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge…
- Acts 8:21-23 (v21) You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God. Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God…
100 distinct cross-references across this passage (123 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v19 Though there be mention made of the heart yet…
Though there be mention made of the heart yet this sowing is referred to hearing without understanding. For whether the seed be received in the heart or no, yet he that soweth, soweth to the heart.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv19–22 19 When any one heareth the word of the…
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Ver. 19. The word of the kingdom] So called, because it points to and paints out the way to the kingdom, and is therefore also called "The word of life, the power of God to salvation:" heaven is potentially in it, as the harvest is in the seed, as above I noted.
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And understandeth it not] Considereth it not, as the Syriac here hath it, using the same word that David doth, Psa 41:1; "Blessed is the man that wisely considereth the poor and needy." Consideration sets on the word when it hath been heard (which else lies loose, and is driven away as chaff before the wind), maketh it to become an ingrafted word (λογος εμφυτος, Jas 1:21), as the scions grafted into the stock, or as a tree rooted by the river’s side, that removes not.
Then cometh the wicked one] The troubler of Israel, the master of misrule (ο πονηρος); he is one at church, whosoever is the other. A Doeg, a devil may set his foot as far within the sanctuary as a David. The sons of God cannot present themselves before the Lord but Satan comes also among them to do ill offices, Job 1:6.
And catcheth away that which was sown in his heart] That is, upon his heart (εν τη καρδια, pro επι τη καρδια); for into his heart the seed never came, because the devil had made a pathway over it. People are now so sermon trodden many of them, that their hearts, like footpaths, grow hard by the word, which takes no more impression than rain doth upon a rock: they have brawny breasts, horny heart-strings, dead and dedolent dispositions. Hence they become a prey to the devil, as Abraham’s sacrifice would have been to the fowls of the air, had he not huffed them away, Gen 15:11.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv19, 20, 22 Mark hath this thus, Mar 4:14,15, The sower soweth…
Mark hath this thus, Mar 4:14,15, The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way-side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. Luke hath it thus, Luk 8:11,12, The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. From Luke we learn that the seed is the word; from Mark, that the sower is the preacher, Christ in the first place, then all who derive from him as his ministers, and are exercised in preaching the gospel, which Matthew calleth
the word of the kingdom, because it is the instrument by which God raised up Christ’s kingdom on earth, both in the church, and in particular souls, and by which he prepareth men for the kingdom of glory. This is a mighty commendation of the word. The soil is the heart, the soul of man. Now there are some hearers to whom the word preached is like seed that a sower throws upon some footpath, or highway, the plough never turneth the earth upon it, or the harrow never goeth over it; so it lieth bare, and is trodden down by the feet of passengers, and the fowls of the air come and pick it up. So, saith our Saviour, there are some that hear the word, but never meditate upon it, never lay it to their hearts, never cover it with second thoughts; the wicked ones, the devils, who are afraid of the power of the word digested, (like the fowls of the air), by suggesting other thoughts, or by presenting other objects to them, catch away the word that was sown in their hearts. These are they whom I compared to the highway ground receiving the seed.
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But some may say, how was it sown in their hearts, if the devil could thus catch it away?
Answer: By the heart here is meant the soul, which hath several powers and faculties. Every thing we hear goeth into our heart, in some sense. As the heart may signify the imaginative power of our soul, or that power by which we take the notion of a thing, the word doth enter into sinners’ hearts, so far as they spend some thoughts upon it, and gain some knowledge and notion of it, yea, they may entertain it with some sudden and temporary affection and passion: indeed it is never so in their hearts, as that they truly believe it, or that their wills are conquered into the obedience of it.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv19–22 Yet hath he not root in himself,.... Nor in…
Yet hath he not root in himself,.... Nor in Christ; the word is not rooted in him, nor has he the root of the matter, or the truth of grace in him:
but dureth for a while; a hearer of the word, a professor of religion, showing some outward respect to the word, and to the preachers of it:
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for when tribulation or persecution ariseth, because of the word; which is often the case, and must be expected by those who embrace the Gospel, profess the name of Christ, and are willing to live godly in him. Tribulation may intend some lesser and lighter troubles for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel; such as the revilings and reproaches of men, loss of character, and trade, &c. and persecution may design something more public and vehement; such as confiscation of goods, imprisonment, and danger of life, the most exquisite tortures, and death in the most cruel form and shape; things very disagreeable to flesh and blood, and which cannot be endured, and submitted to, by persons without a principle of grace, by one that has no root in himself. Luke calls this a time "of temptation", or trial, as it is either way, both by private troubles, and more public persecutions: these try men's principles and professions, and whether the truth of grace is in them or not; and where it is not in any person,
by and by he is offended; at the cross; he shrinks back from it, does not care to take it up, and follow Christ; but drops his religion, and the profession of it; apostatises, falls away, and comes to nothing.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv19–22 When any one heareth the word, and considereth it…
When any one heareth the word, and considereth it not - The first and most general cause of unfruitfulness. The wicked one cometh - Either inwardly; filling the mind with thoughts of other things; or by his agent. Such are all they that introduce other subjects, when men should be considering what they have heard.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv19–22 Verse 19. When any one heareth the word of…
Verse 19. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom] Viz. the preaching of the Gospel of Christ.
And understandeth it not] μη συνιεντος, perhaps more properly, regardeth it not, does not lay his heart to it.
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The wicked one] ο πονηρος, from πονος, labour, toil, he who distresses and torments the soul. Mark, Mr 4:15, calls him οσατανας, the adversary or opposer, because he resists men in all their purposes of amendment, and, to the utmost of his power opposes, in order to frustrate, the influences of Divine grace upon the heart. In the parallel place in Luke, Lu 8:12, he is called ο διαβολος, the devil, from διαβαλλειν, to shoot, or dart through. In allusion to this meaning of the name, St. Paul, Eph 6:16, speaks of the fiery DARTS of the wicked one. It is worthy of remark, that the three evangelists should use each a different appellative of this mortal enemy of mankind; probably to show that the devil, with all his powers and properties, opposes every thing that tends to the salvation of the soul.
Catcheth away] Makes the utmost haste to pick up the good seed, lest it should take root in the heart.
A careless inattentive hearer is compared to the way side-his heart is an open road, where evil affections, and foolish and hurtful desires, continually pass and repass, without either notice or restraint. "A heart where Satan has" (as one terms it) "ingress, egress, regress, and progress: in a word, the devil's thoroughfare."
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv20, 22 Mat 13:20-21. He that received the seed into stony,…
Mat 13:20-21. He that received the seed into stony, rather, rocky, places — Where the bed of earth was very shallow, is he that heareth the word — Hears it with attention, and in a spirit of prayer, sincerely desiring that the eyes of his understanding may be opened; nay, and understands what he hears, and even seriously considers it afterward. For he is said, Luk 8:13, to believe for a while, and here to receive it with joy; being struck, doubtless, with the beauty of the truth, and drawn by the preventing grace of God. Yet hath he not root in himself — No deep work of grace in his soul; no real change in the ground of his heart. He is not truly regenerated and made a new creature in Christ. The consequence is, he only endureth for a while — Continues to profess an attachment to the truth, as long as the truth is held in esteem, and proceeds on, apparently, in the way of the kingdom, while the way is smooth, and no stumbling-block, or difficulty, occurs therein. But when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word — When the truth and its professors are exposed to reproach and infamy, and the disciples of Jesus are called to drink of his cup of suffering, by and by, Greek ευθυς, immediately, he is offended, σκανδαλιζεται, he is stumbled. He finds a thousand pretences for leaving so narrow and rugged a way. Luke has it, εν καιρω πειρασμου αφιστανται, In time of temptation, or trial, they fall off, namely, as blossoms from the trees, through a frost in the spring. It has been observed above, that the warmth of the sun’s beams will rather promote than hinder the growth of the corn, if it hath sufficient depth of earth, wherein to take root, and sufficient moisture; in like manner, if a deep work of grace be wrought in a man’s heart, and he be really born from above, tribulation, persecution, and other trials and temptations will be so far from destroying his piety, or even obstructing the growth of grace in his soul, that they will rather promote it, and though not joyous but grievous while they continue, yet will afterward yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness, to those that are exercised thereby; and will tend to perfect their faith and patience, and other graces, and prepare them for heaven, as hot weather before the harvest ripens the corn, when full in the ear, for the sickle.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv19, 21 When any one heareth. This seed faileth upon four…
When any one heareth. This seed faileth upon four different kinds of soil, which represent four different sorts of persons. The 1st, such as continue obdurate in vice; the 2d, such as are unsteady and inconstant in their good resolutions; the 3d, such as are absorbed in the cares and pleasures of life; the 4th, such as have every proper disposition for receiving the word of God with fruit. --- There cometh the wicked one, Greek: o poneros, the devil, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts, lest believing they should be saved. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv19–22 19. Heareth… and understandeth it not — So the…
19. Heareth… and understandeth it not — So the Jewish outsider heard the parable, but it was a mere tale to him. He penetrated not the interior meaning and power. And it is wonderful how little the careless hearer of the Gospel in a Christian land, who attends church, as a form, from Sabbath to Sabbath, really understands the Gospel. When he afterwards becomes convicted of sin, the simplest truths have to be repeated and explained, which he has heard with his ear a hundred times. The truth has indeed fallen upon his ear like seed on the solid surface of a beaten path; it has lain ready for the devil to carry off and leave not a trace behind.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv20–22 20. anon] = immediately; the same Greek word is…
20. anon] = immediately; the same Greek word is translated by and by in the next verse. Cp. “Then I will come to my mother by and by.” Shaksp. Hamlet, Act iii. sc. 2.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv19–22 (19) When any one heareth the word.—The explanation has…
(19) When any one heareth the word.—The explanation has become so familiar to us that it is hard to place ourselves in the position of those to whom it was the unveiling of new truths—the holding up a mirror in which they might see, it might be, their own likeness. Our interest in it may, perhaps, be quickened if we think of it as reflecting what had actually been our Lord’s experience. The classes of hearers who had gathered round Him were represented, roughly and generally, by the four issues of the seed scattered by the sower, and all preachers of the truth, from that day to this, have felt that their own experience has presented analogous phenomena.
The ethical sequence described runs thus: The man hears “the word of the kingdom,” a discourse, say, like the Sermon on the Mount, or that at Nazareth (Luk_4:16-21). He does not “understand” it (the fault being moral rather than intellectual), does not attend to it or “take it in.” The “wicked one” (note the connection with the clause in the Lord’s Prayer, “Deliver us from evil,” or the evil one) snatches it away even from his memory. At first it seems strange that “the birds of the air” in their multitude should represent the Tempter in his unity; and yet there is a terrible truth in the fact that everything which leads men to forget the truth is, in very deed, doing the work of the great enemy. On the other hand, the birds, in their rapid flight and their gathering flocks, may well represent the light and foolish thoughts that are as the Tempter’s instruments. The “way-side” thus answers to the character, which is hardened by the wear and tear of daily life, what we well call its routine, so that the words of Truth make hardly even the most transient impression on it.
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This is he which received seed.—Our translators try, unsuccessfully, to combine the parable with its interpretation. Literally, and far better, here and in the following verses, this man it is that is (the seed) sown by the way side.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv19–22 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom,…
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not. Understandeth. The form of the explanation here is influenced by the language of vers. 14, 15. Then (not in the Greek) cometh the wicked one; the evil one (Revised Version); Mat_6:13, note. And catcheth (snatcheth, Revised Version) away seizeth for himself (arpazei , Mat_11:12, note) that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed. That was sown (Revised Version, o spareiv). And so throughout. The masculine is not merely concise, but also expresses the fact that, as even with land, the man who receives the seed does not put forth in turn merely the seed as something alien, but rather himself so far as he is influenced by the seed; or (regarding the subject from another point of view) he puts forth the new life and energy of the seed as conditioned by that which makes up himself.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv20, 22 Mat_13:5; Mat_13:20-21
Mat_13:5; Mat_13:20-21
Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth.
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Stony places
I. The nature of the ground.
1. Stony ground wants breaking up. These persons enter into a profession of religion before their hearts are thoroughly broken in the sense of sin.
2. Stony ground is cold; what colder than a stone? These persons are without spiritual warmth.
3. Their hearts may be compared to stony ground from the heaviness or lumpishness of their spirits. These hearts are heavy and not soon removed out of their evil course.
4. Stony ground doth not drink in the rain that falls from heaven.
5. All the hearts of men are naturally hard.
6. Stony ground seems to be the fruit of the curse for mans sin. So these persons seem still to be under the curse.
7. Stony ground by reason of the little earth that is found there, never brings forth fruit to perfection. So these persons only bring forth the externals of religion.
8. Stony ground, when the sun rises high and begins to shine hot upon it, the scorching beams thereof soon causes the blade to wither away.
II. The success of the seed. Stony or hard hearted hearers may go a great way in the profession of religion.
1. They may hear the Word of God with diligence.
2. They may be zealous hearers.
3. They may receive the Word into their hearts.
4. They receive it with joy.
5. They believe for a while.
6. They may yield obedience to all external duties.
7. They may become members of a visible church.
8. They may leave all gross acts of sin.
9. They may have some inward joy as to the hopes they have of heaven.
Why they go so far?
1. From the common illuminations of Gods Word and Spirit.
2. Because a temporary faith is not wholly without product.
3. It may arise from regard for some ministers.
4. Self-respect and honour may cause them to go so far.
5. It may be self-profit.
6. It may arise from that seeming sweetness and satisfaction they meet with from within themselves whilst they continue in the profession of religion.
7. It may be from a natural desire of being saved.
8. It may be from the shame and reproach which are attached to open wickedness.
From whence it arises that these hearers go no further:
1. It may arise from the great ignorance that is in them.
2. It ariseth from the unsoundness of their hearts, the ground is not good.
3. It ariseth from the deceitfulness of their hearts.
4. They go no further because of their pride.
5. Because they had no vital but artificial principle ill them.
6. Because there is some secret sin hid in their hearts. (B. Keach.)
Withering is the fearful fate of all stony-ground hearers
I. As to the evil of the cause that produces such evil effects.
1. The principal cause is the stoniness of their hearts.
2. Privative cause.
(1) Want of moisture.
(2) Want of earth.
(3) Want of taking root.
II. The badness of those effects that proceed from such evil causes.
1. Barrenness.
2. Another effect that attends these professors is earthliness.
3. Lukewarmness in religious duties.
4. Pride.
5. Uncharitableness.
6. Contention.
7. Inconstancy.
8. Apostacy.
(1) In judgment.
(2) In affection.
(3) In practice.
(4) In respect of means.
III. The danger and fearful condition of such that wither
1. They disappoint God of His expectation.
2. These persons are hateful to God, as they seem to declare to all the world that there is not that good to be found in God which the Word and ministers do affirm.
3. They bring scandal upon the Church.
4. In respect of the world these mens sin and danger is also aggravated.
5. In respect to the sin itself, none is more odious and dangerous. Relapse more dangerous than the disease.
6. This sin of withering is generally punished with other sins,
(1) with blindness of mind;
(2) with judicial hardness of heart;
(3) with a seared conscience;
(4) with final impenitence.
7. How may it be known that a man is withering?
1. Self-confidence.
2. When he cannot bear a searching doctrine.
3. When his conscience is not so tender as it was.
4. When a mans prayers are short.
5. When he cannot stand in the hour of temptation.
6. Deadness of spirit. (B. Keach.)
The temporary Christian
This mans faith has five stages:
1. He knows the Word.
2. He assents to it.
3. He professes it.
4. He rejoices inwardly in it.
5. He brings forth some kind of fruit; and yet for all this, hath no more fruit in him than a faith that will fail in the end; because he wants the effectual application of the promise of the gospel, and is without all manner of sound conversation.
This faith is like corn on the housetop, which grows for a while; but, when the heat of summer comes, it withers. (W. Perkins)
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An easily-moved susceptibility
There is deep knowledge of human nature and exquisite fidelity to truth in the single touch by which the impression of religion on them is described. The seed sprang up quickly; and then withered away as quickly, because it had no depth of root. There is a quick, easily-moved susceptibility, that rapidly exhibits the slightest breath of those emotions which play upon the surface of the soul, and then as rapidly passes off. In such persons words are ever at command-voluble and impassioned words. Tears flow readily. The expressive features exhibit every passing shade of thought. Every thought and every feeling plays upon the surface-everything that is sown springs up at once with vehement vegetation. But slightness and inconstancy go together with violence. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. True; but also out of the emptiness of the heart the mouth can speak even more volubly. He who can always find the word which is appropriate and adequate to his emotion,, is not the man whose emotions are deepest; warmth of feeling is one thing-permanence is another. (F. W. Robertson.)
Shallow soil like superficial character
You meet with such persons in life. There is nothing deep about them-all they do and all they have is on the surface. The superficial servants work is done: but lazily, partially-not thoroughly. The superficial workmans labour will not bear looking into-but it bears a showy outside. The very dress of such persons betrays the slatternly, incomplete character of their minds. When religion comes in contact with persons of this stamp, it shares the fate of everything else. (F. W. Robertson.)
The superficial character connected with the hard heart
Beneath the light thin surface of easily stirred dust lies the bed of rock. The shallow ground was stony ground. And it is among the children of light enjoyment and unsettled life that we must look for stony heartlessness-not in the world of business-not among the poor, crushed to the earth by privation and suffering. These harden the character, but often leave the heart soft. If you wish to know what hollowness and heartlessness are, you must seek for them in the world of light, elegant, superficial Fashion-where frivolity has turned the heart into a rockbed of selfishness. Say what men will of the heartlessness of Trade, it is nothing compared with the heartlessness of Fashion. Say what they will of the atheism of Science, it is nothing to the atheism of that round of pleasure in which many a heart lives: dead while it lives. (F. W. Robertson)
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Warm affections easily moved
Among the affections, when they are warm and newly stirred, the seed speedily springs. (W. Arnot.)
Christ not to be on the surface
Do not keep Christ on the surface; let Him possess the centre, and thence direct all the circumference of your life. (W. Arnot.)
Hasty, but not lasting
The marked antithesis between the immediate reception and the immediate rejection is to be carefully observed. That which is hasty is not lasting. Grace, in almost every case, is slow and progressive; for, in the human heart, it has much to contend against; and God treats us as free agents, putting no force on any mans will, (J. Ford,)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v19 kingdom (See Scofield "Mat 3:2").
kingdom (See Scofield "Mat 3:2").
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv20, 22 Connecting Statement:
Connecting Statement:
Jesus continues to explain to his disciples the parable about a person who sows seeds.
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What was sown on rocky ground
The phrase "what was sown" refers to seed that fell. AT: "The seed that fell on rocky ground" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
What was sown on rocky ground is
"The rocky ground where seed was sown represents" or "The rocky ground where seed fell fell represents"
the person who hears the word
In the parable, the seed represents the word.
the word
This represents God's message. AT: "the message" or "God's teaching" (See: Metonymy)
receives it with joy
Believing the word is spoken of as receiving it. AT: "joyfully believes it" (See: Metaphor)
yet he has no root in himself and he endures for a while
"Yet he has shallow roots and only lasts for a little while." The root represents what makes a person continue to believe God's message. AT: "But like a plant that does not grow deep roots, he only endures for a little while" (See: Metaphor)
he quickly falls away
Here "falls away" means stops believing. AT: "immediately he falls away" or "he quickly stops believing the message" (See: Metaphor)
translationWords
plant
receive
joy
endure
tribulation
persecute
stumble
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv19, 20, 22 13:19 don’t understand it: Responding to the message of…
13:19 don’t understand it: Responding to the message of the Kingdom is directly related to discerning its significance.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.