Matthew 13:18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 


19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 


20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.


 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 


23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (NIV)

In this parable, Jesus describes four different reactions we can have when hearing the gospel. The first is that person whose heart has been taken over by evil so much so that “the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.” The result is that person does not understand the word of God and therefore rejects it.


The second reaction is to receive the word, but as soon as “trouble or persecution” comes along that person falls away from belief.


The third reaction is to receive the word, but then the worries and attractions of this world keep that person from fully understanding and acting on the word.


The fourth reaction is the person who fully hears and understands the word. This person does not let anything pull him, or her,  away from staying in the will of God. We call this fourth person a mature believer.


These reactions could also be stages in the life of a Christian; from unbelief, to a shaky faith, to a belief that is second to the things of the world, and, finally, to a mature belief.


What stage are you in? Are you moving along the “path” Jesus talks about, or are you stuck in a rut along the path. Are you never going to move from where you are bogged down? What will it take?


Jesus loves us so much that He causes or allows a tragedy in our lives to get us unstuck. Hopefully, we unstick ourselves before that is necessary.


I don’t even have the time to go into the eternal ramifications of being stuck along this path, but I believe they are obvious. This is a serious subject that needs our immediate attention.


I encourage you to identify where you are on this path and to take the necessary steps to move forward, if needed. May God bless you on your journey.  

Art Toombs Ministries 

Online Bible Commentary