Luke 8:13

Take care that rocky ground does not receive the seed and send forth the fruit of good work without the roots of perseverance. For many are pleased by what they hear and propose beginnings of good work; but as soon as they begin to be wearied by adversities, they abandon what they have begun. Rocky ground therefore lacked moisture, which did not bring what had sprouted to the fruit of perseverance. For many, when they hear the word against avarice, detest that same avarice and praise contempt for all things; but as soon as the mind sees what it desires, it forgets what it was praising. Many, when they hear the word against lust, not only do not desire to commit defilements of the flesh, but even blush at those committed; but as soon as the beauty of the flesh appears before their eyes, the mind is so carried away to desires as if nothing had yet been resolved by it against these same desires; and it does condemnable things, which whatever it remembers having done, it has already itself condemned. Often too we are pierced with remorse against sins, and yet after weeping we return to the same sins. So Balaam, having gazed upon the tents of the Israelite people, wept and begged to be made like them in death, saying: Let my soul die the death of the just, and let my last end be like theirs; but as soon as the hour of compunction passed, he burned with the wickedness of avarice. For on account of promised gifts he gave counsel for the death of that people whose death he had wished to resemble; and he forgot what he had lamented, since he was unwilling to extinguish what burned through avarice.

(ubi sup.) Many men propose to begin a good work, but as soon as they have become annoyed by adversity or temptation, they abandon what they had begun. The rocky ground then had no moisture to carry on to constancy fruit which it had put forth.

Second, as regards the explanation of the withered seed in the slothful heart, it is added: Those upon the rock are those who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy. And this indeed is praiseworthy, according to that passage of Acts seventeen: "They …

The rock, he says, is the hard and unsubdued heart. Now the moisture at the root of the seed is the same as what is called in another parable, the oil to trim the lamps of the virgins, that is, love and stedfastness in virtue. (Matt. 25.)

They on the rock are they, which when they hear,.... The seed that fell upon the rock, or stony ground, signify such sort of hearers, who receive the word with joy. The Ethiopic version reads, "with joy of heart".

These for awhile believe a little while; their profession promises something, but in time of temptation they fall away from their good beginnings. Whether the temptation arises from the smiles or the frowns, of the world, they are easily overcome by it. (6.) The pleasures of this life are as dangerous and mischievous thorns to choke the good seed of the word as any other.

The parable of the sower which is contained in these verses — is reported more frequently than any parable in the Bible. It is a parable of universal application . The things it relates are continually going on in every congregation to which the Gospel is preached. The four kinds of hearts it describes, are to be found in every assembly which hears the word. These circumstances should make us always read the parable with a deep sense of its importance. We should say to ourselves, as we read it, "This concerns me!

The parable of the sower which is contained in these verses — is reported more frequently than any parable in the Bible. It is a parable of universal application . The things it relates are continually going on in every congregation to which the Gospel is preached. The four kinds of hearts it describes, are to be found in every assembly which hears the word. These circumstances should make us always read the parable with a deep sense of its importance. We should say to ourselves, as we read it, "This concerns me! My heart is to be seen in this parable. I, too, am here!" The passage itself requires little explanation. In fact, the meaning of the whole picture is so fully explained by our Lord — that no exposition of man can throw much additional light on it. The parable is preeminently a parable of caution — and caution about a most important subject — the way of hearing the word of God . It was meant to be a warning to the apostles — not to expect too much from hearers. It was meant to be a warning to all ministers of the Gospel — not to look for too great results from their sermons. It was meant, not least, to be a warning to hearers — to take heed how they hear. Preaching is an ordinance of which the value can never be overrated in the Church of Christ. But it should never be forgotten, that there must not only be good preaching — but good hearing. The first caution that we learn from the parable of the sower — is to beware of the devil when we hear the Word. Our Lord tells us that the hearts of some hearers are like "the WAYSIDE." The seed of the Gospel is plucked away from them by the devil almost as soon as it is sown. It does not sink down into their consciences. It does not make the least impression on their minds. That malicious devil is unwearied in his efforts to do us harm.