by Rose Murdock

1. The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.  Matthew 13:1-9

Jesus spoke this parable to the multitude and when His disciples asked Him why He spoke in parables.  His reply was:

11. ...Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  Matthew 13:11

It is given to us to know they mysteries of the kingdom.  He wants us to understand what He says. Notice He didn’t say that to the multitude, but only to His disciples who asked Him about it.  He gives the meaning of the parable starting in verse 18.

Jesus said that the seed that was sown is the "word of the kingdom".   The same account of this parable in Mark 4 says, "the sower soweth the word."  The seed is the Word of the Kingdom or the Word of God.  It’s God’s Word or message to us.

The Seed is the Word of God and the soil is our heart.  We’re going to focus on the stony ground but there are four kinds of "soil" He talks about: wayside, stony places, thorns and good ground.  Before we talk about stony ground there are some important things to know about the seed sown by the wayside.

Matthew 13:19 says if you hear the Word and don’t understand then Satan will steal away that which was sown in your heart (Mark says he comes immediately to steal it).  First of all, he steals it from your heart.  The seed of God’s Word is planted into the soil of our heart.  God speaks to our heart, to our inner man.  He doesn’t speak to our intellect or emotions.  He speaks to our heart or our spirit.  But, if we don’t understand the Word He has spoken to us then Satan will be able to steal it away from our heart.  We won’t even be able to believe and be saved.  It’s stolen from us before we can even get started, (Luke 8:12).

We must understand the Word before it can ever take root in our heart.  How do we understand?  The Bible says the Lord gives wisdom and out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding, (Proverbs 2:6).  It also says that He will pour out His Spirit unto us and make known His Words to us (Proverbs 1:23).  God gives the understanding of His Word to us by His Holy Spirit.  Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus said.  He said the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth. (John 14:26 & John 16:13).

If you don’t understand ask God to show you.  Ask Him to give you understanding of His Word.  It comes from Him, not from anyone else.  You may be able to listen to teachers and preachers and God may use them to give you understanding of His Word but ultimately it is He who reveals those truths to you.  Understanding of His Word is vital.  That’s why it’s so important to be filled with His Spirit so we can have accurate understanding of His Word.

Now once the Word is sown in your heart and you understand it, Satan can’t steal it away (He may still try but you will be able to resist the doubts he brings).  As long as you have some understanding of the Word it is not seed sown by the wayside.   It’s not just laying on top of the ground with no depth.  This doesn’t mean you have to have total and complete understanding of the Word of God before you can start walking in it.  You go with what understanding you have.   You start with where you are and whatever understanding you have, no matter how small, start with that and it will grow.  You understand it enough to receive it and accept it into your heart, now it’s in a place where it will be able to take root and grow.  Remember this is a spiritual seed, not an intellectual one.

Why does it need to grow anyway?

You may be thinking, "Why is this seed so important anyway?  Why do I need to get the Seed in the soil, or the Word in my heart?"  We can read the end of the parable and see that you need it in your heart in order for it to grow and produce fruit.   That’s the whole purpose of a seed is to grow and produce something.  But let’s go a little further and see what exactly is being produced here.

We know it’s a Word-Seed that’s being planted.  It’s God’s Word that is being planted.  So what kind of fruit does God’s Word produce?   The Bible is full of the benefits of planting and harvesting the Word of God in our lives.  It’s really the whole story of the Bible.  But let’s look at a specific scripture.

20. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.  Proverbs 4:20-23

The Word is life and health.  How much is that one scripture worth alone?   Tons.  Life and health.  This doesn’t just mean physical life here.   It means God’s life.  Spiritual and eternal life.  The life of God includes so much both while we’re here on earth and while we’re in Heaven, but that’s a whole another subject.  This is just one scripture about why it’s important to have the Word of God in your heart and it includes enough for us to live on now and forever.  If you’re looking to produce abundant life and physical health then you begin by planting God’s Word in your heart.  Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, (John 1:14), and all that the Word is-is summed up in Him!

Anyway, this is why it’s so important to get the Word of God in our heart, to understand it, (and God will give understanding if you ask), and to be sure our hearts are good ground for the Word to grow in.

Stony Ground

5. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Matthew 13:5,6

Jesus said that the Word that was sown on stony ground did not have much earth. It sprang up immediately but when the sun was up it was scorched and withered away.

20. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21. 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.  Matthew 13:20-21

Mark says:

16. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17. And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.  Mark 4:16-17

Luke says:

13. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  Luke 8:13

Jesus said when tribulation or persecution or affliction come because of the Word this person is immediately offended.  During this time of temptation they fall away.   This trouble that comes is because of the Word.  It’s trouble because of their receiving the Word.  Not everyone is going to be as happy as you are when you get saved and start receiving truths from God’s Word.  There will be those who will try and convince you that what you think is true is totally wrong.  Be prepared for it.  Sometimes it comes from those you have a lot of respect for.   But The Word of God is the ultimate truth and once we accept that we will be on the way of fulfilling our ultimate purpose.  God’s Word is more true and more real then anything else.

So why do you think Jesus called this stony ground?  Why did He say they have no ‘deepness of earth’?  We hear in scripture about building on the rock so your house will stand.  We hear that Jesus is the rock, the chief corner stone.   Usually a rock seems like a good thing, something solid to build on and something to shelter us in times of trouble.  So what is the significance here of the stony or rocky ground?

A rock is good if it’s Jesus.  If it’s the Word. If it’s the Truth.   But a rock is not good if it’s not the Word.  If it’s not Jesus and if it’s not the Truth of the Word.  When it comes to our hearts, (the soil), we need to allow the Word free and full access.  All of the rocks and stones---which are the things that keep the Word from having full and free access to our heart---need to be removed.  Remember that.  The stones are those things that you’ve previously believed in your heart that are contrary to God’s Word and will not allow His Word to fully penetrate your heart.  Get rid of them!

It’s the people with stony hearts who say, "Well I tried that for a little while and it didn’t work."  Or "I believed that but nothing happened, nothing changed."  What happened is when the sun came up and the heat was on, they gave up.  You will have opportunity to prove whether you really believe God’s Word or not.  It says, when tribulation or persecution arose because of the Word.  The test is whether you really and truly believe His Word or not.   Ask yourself first of all, ‘am I willing to believe His Word?’   Or am I too comfortable or too stubborn with my own beliefs that I’m not really open to finding out the truth.  When we hang on to the stones we cut off our supply source.  Our roots can’t grow like they need to.  We can’t draw from His nourishment like we must in order to flourish.  The Lord can’t supply us like He wants to and during those tough times we need Him more then ever!

I want to know the truth don’t you?  And if the truth means I may have to give up a few stones--a few beliefs that are wrong--then I will do that.  I’d rather know the truth and be free then be deceived because of my pride, or fear of giving up something comfortable to me.  Thank God all it takes is a decision to be willing to have those stones removed and give the Word of God free and full access to your heart, God will do the rest!

Go to the crossword for this teaching