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.
Matthew 13:20-21
Matthew 13 [16.] “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.
Matthew 13 [18.] “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.”
Matthew 13 [24.] He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. But when the blade sprang up and produced fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also. The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’
Meaning:
Jesus is explaining the parable of the farmer to his disciples. He has described the seed by the roadside, snatched away by the evil one (Matthew 13:18-19). Now he turns to the second kind of ground, the rocky places. In the parable the seed there “sprang up, because they had no depth of earth”, but when the sun rose it was scorched and withered (Matthew 13:5-6).
- “He who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it”
This hearer’s response looks very promising. He welcomes the message gladly and at once. There is real joy and enthusiasm. Many who heard Jesus responded this way: they were thrilled by his miracles and moved by his words. But a quick start is not the same as a lasting faith.
- “Yet he has no root in himself”
In much of Galilee a thin layer of soil lay over limestone rock. Seed sown there warmed quickly and sprang up fast, but its roots soon hit the rock. Above ground it looked healthy; below ground there was nothing to sustain it. So it is with someone whose faith is only on the surface. The message has touched the emotions but not gone down deep into the heart and will.
Scripture pictures the person who trusts God as a well-rooted tree: “he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat comes” (Jeremiah 17:8). Paul prays that believers will be “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17).
- “When oppression or persecution arises because of the word”
The scorching sun stands for trouble that comes precisely because a person has received the word. Following Jesus brought opposition from family, neighbors and religious leaders. Jesus warned his disciples plainly about this, adding, “but he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).
- “Immediately he stumbles”
The word “immediately” appears twice. The rocky-ground hearer receives the word immediately and falls away just as quickly. To stumble here means to be tripped up and give up following Jesus. Faith that has never put down roots cannot survive the heat. Mark records the same explanation (Mark 4:16-17).
The Significance of Matthew 13:20-21
- Deep roots, not just quick growth
A joyful start is good, but lasting faith needs depth. We grow roots through prayer, God’s word, obedience and fellowship with other believers.
- Expect the heat
Trouble because of faith is not a sign that something has gone wrong. Jesus said it would come. Knowing this ahead of time helps us stand firm when it arrives.
Cross-References:
Mark 4:17: "They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble." Mark’s record of the same explanation.
Jeremiah 17:8: "For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river," The deeply rooted believer.
Matthew 10:22: "but he who endures to the end will be saved." The call to endure.
Conclusion: The seed on rocky places pictures someone who receives the word immediately and with joy, but has no root in himself. He lasts only a while, and when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. Jesus calls his hearers to let the word sink deep, so that their faith is rooted and able to endure.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible