Matthew 13:21
in Matthew 13But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.
KJV
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
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This verse in Matthew 13
Commentary
14 notes on this verseNote that which is said, is straightway offended. There is then some difference between him who, by many tribulations and torments, is driven to deny Christ, and him who at the first persecution is offended, and falls away...
This site's exposition
with joy receiveth it
on Matthew 13:20-21
The stony ground hearer receives the word with joy and dureth for a while, and the bench reads the failure not in the initial response, which is genuine and glad, but in the shallow root, no depth of earth beneath the emotion to sustain it under tribulation or persecution. Barnes and Henry both note this hearer is the hardest to distinguish from the good ground in the early going, since the outward signs of reception look identical until the sun of testing rises.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Not all the Gospel writers use the same terms in reporting this parable. Matthew wrote of "the evil one," Mark of "Satan," and Luke of "the devil." The phrases "by the wayside" and "in the path" are not quite the same thing. Weigh in the allusion of the statement "I am the way." Both Matthew and Mark say, most felicitously, that the word was sowed "on stony ground," not upon a "stone."Now to all that which is "by the wayside," the words "those who do not understand" apply. But to the good ground these words apply: "This is he who hears the word and understands it." Perhaps then those seeds that fall "on stony ground" and those that fall "among thorns" fall between the people without knowledge and those who understand. This then is an exhortation to meditate diligently upon the faculty of perception. If the seed of the one who is dense is snatched away, the seed of intellect ought to be taken up and covered in the ground of memory, so that it may spread forth roots and may not be found naked or snatched away by the spirits of wickedness.
It follows, That which is sown upon the rock, is he that heareth the word, &c. For the seed or word of God, which is sown in the rock, that is, in the hard and untamed heart, can bring forth no fruit, inasmuch as its hardness is great, and its desire of heavenly things small; and because of this great hardness, it has no root in itself.
He comes, the wicked one, and snatches away what was sown in his heart; this is the one who was sown along the path. And as for the one sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. The wicked one snatches away the good seed.
A commentator
John ChrysostomHomily on the Gospel of Matthew 44 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
"That which is sown upon the stony places," saith He, "the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while; but when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended! When any one," so He saith, "heareth the word of truth and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth that which was sown out of his heart. This is he that is sown by the wayside." Now it is not the same thing for the doctrine to wither away, when no man is evil entreating, or disturbing its foundations, as when temptations press upon one. But they that are likened to the thorns, are much more inexcusable than these. In order then that none of these things may befall us, let us by zeal and continual remembrance cover up the things that are told us. For though the devil do catch them away, yet it rests with us, whether they be caught away; though the plants wither, yet it is not from the heat this takes place (for He did not say, because of the heat it withered, but, "because it had no root"); although His sayings are choked, it is not because of the thorns, but of them who suffer them to spring up. For there is a way, if thou wilt, to check this evil growth, and to make the right use of our wealth. Therefore He said not, "the world," but "the care of the world;" nor "riches," but "the deceitfulness of riches." Let us not then blame the things, but the corrupt mind. For it is possible to be rich and not to be deceived; and to be in this world, and not to be choked with its cares. For indeed riches have two contrary disadvantages; one, care, wearing us out, and bringing a darkness over us; the other, luxury, making us effeminate. And well hath He said, "The deceitfulness of riches." For all that pertains to riches is deceit; they are names only, not attached to things. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
He speaks of tribulation because there are many who, when they are hard-pressed by their parents, or by some misfortunes, immediately blaspheme. And of persecution, on account of those who fall into the hands of tyrants.
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
But the root is charity. Ephesians 3:17: rooted and grounded in charity etc. But he is only for a time, and rejoices for a time; Sirach 6:10: there is a friend, a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Note, It is possible we may be a great deal better than some others, and yet not be so good as we should be; may go beyond our neighbours, and yet come short of heaven. Now observe, concerning these hearers that are represented by the stony ground, First, How far they went.
Here are two parables intended to show that there would be a mixture of good and bad in the gospel church, which would continue till the great separation between them in the judgment day: the parable of the tares put forth (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
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: 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.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Yet hath he not root in himself - His soul is not deeply convinced of its guilt and depravity; the fallow ground is not properly ploughed up, nor the rock broken. When persecution, etc., ariseth, which he did not expect, he is soon stumbled - seeks some pretext to abandon both the doctrine and followers of Christ.
The chapter which these verses begin is remarkable for the number of parables which it contains. Seven striking illustrations of spiritual truth are here drawn by the great head of the church from the book of nature. By so doing he shows us that religious teaching may draw help from everything in creation. Those that would “find out acceptable words” should not forget this.(Eccl 12:10) The parable of the sower, which begins this chapter, is one of those parables which admit of a very wide application. It is being continually verified under our own eyes.
The chapter which these verses begin is remarkable for the number of parables which it contains. Seven striking illustrations of spiritual truth are here drawn by the great head of the church from the book of nature. By so doing he shows us that religious teaching may draw help from everything in creation. Those that would “find out acceptable words” should not forget this.(Eccl 12:10) The parable of the sower, which begins this chapter, is one of those parables which admit of a very wide application. It is being continually verified under our own eyes. Wherever the Word of God is preached or expounded and people are assembled to hear it, the sayings of our Lord in this parable are found to be true. It describes what goes on, as a general rule, in all congregations. Let us learn in the first place, from this parable that the work of the preacher resembles that of the sower. Like the sower, the preacher must sow good seed if he wants to see fruit. He must sow the pure Word of God, and not the traditions of the church or the doctrines of men. Without this, his labor will be vain. He may go to and fro, and seem to say much, and to work much in his weekly round of ministerial duty, but there will be no harvest of souls for heaven, no living results, and no conversions. Like the sower, the preacher must be diligent. He must spare no pains; he must use every possible means to make his work prosper; he must patiently sow beside all waters, and sow in hope. He must “instant in season and out of season,” he must not be deterred by difficulties and discouragements; “he that observeth the wind shall not sow.” No doubt his success does not entirely depend upon his labor and diligence, but without labor and diligence success will not be obtained.(Isa 32:20 2 Tim 4:2 Eccl 11:4 ) Like the sower, the preacher cannot give life.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐκ | ouk | no | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔχει | echei | he has | G2192 → | 707 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ῥίζαν | rhizan | root | G4491 → | 17 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἑαυτῷ | he'auto | himself | G1438 → | 322 times |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| πρόσκαιρός | proskairos | temporary | G4340 → | |
| ἐστιν. | estin | is. | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| γενομένης | genomenes | when is coming | G1096 → | 667 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| θλίψεως | thlipseos | tribulation | G2347 → | 44 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| διωγμοῦ | diogmou | persecution | G1375 → | |
| διὰ | dia | on account of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγον | logon | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| εὐθὺς | euthus | immediately | G2112 → | 87 times |
| σκανδαλίζεται. | skandalizetai | he falls away. | G4624 → | 29 times |
οὐκno
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔχειhe has
echeiG2192 →707 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ῥίζανroot
rhizanG4491 →17 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἑαυτῷhimself
he'autoG1438 →322 times
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
πρόσκαιρόςtemporary
proskairosG4340 →
ἐστιν.is.
estinG1510 →2333 times
γενομένηςwhen is coming
genomenesG1096 →667 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
θλίψεωςtribulation
thlipseosG2347 →44 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
διωγμοῦpersecution
diogmouG1375 →
διὰon account of
diaG1223 →664 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
λόγονword
logonG3056 →329 times
εὐθὺςimmediately
euthusG2112 →87 times
σκανδαλίζεται.he falls away.
skandalizetaiG4624 →29 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 3:17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
it leads to
- Colossians 2:7
rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
- John 14:23
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
- 1 John 4:16
And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
- Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved…
- Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
- Colossians 2:7
Through
Matthew 11:6Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Isaiah 8:14–15
And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
- Matthew 26:31
Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be…
- 1 Corinthians 2:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Matthew
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 44; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, FRAGMENT 291; Remigius of Rheims, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Matthew and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew.