But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
20. anon ] = immediately; the same Greek word is translated by and by in the next verse. Cp. “Then I will come to my mother by and by.” Shaksp. Hamlet, Act iii. sc. 2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mat 13:5; Mat 13:20-21
Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth.
–
Stony places
I. The nature of the ground.
1. Stony ground wants breaking up. These persons enter into a profession of religion before their hearts are thoroughly broken in the sense of sin.
2. Stony ground is cold; what colder than a stone? These persons are without spiritual warmth.
3. Their hearts may be compared to stony ground from the heaviness or lumpishness of their spirits. These hearts are heavy and not soon removed out of their evil course.
4. Stony ground doth not drink in the rain that falls from heaven.
5. All the hearts of men are naturally hard.
6. Stony ground seems to be the fruit of the curse for mans sin. So these persons seem still to be under the curse.
7. Stony ground by reason of the little earth that is found there, never brings forth fruit to perfection. So these persons only bring forth the externals of religion.
8. Stony ground, when the sun rises high and begins to shine hot upon it, the scorching beams thereof soon causes the blade to wither away.
II. The success of the seed. Stony or hard hearted hearers may go a great way in the profession of religion.
1. They may hear the Word of God with diligence.
2. They may be zealous hearers.
3. They may receive the Word into their hearts.
4. They receive it with joy.
5. They believe for a while.
6. They may yield obedience to all external duties.
7. They may become members of a visible church.
8. They may leave all gross acts of sin.
9. They may have some inward joy as to the hopes they have of heaven.
Why they go so far?
1. From the common illuminations of Gods Word and Spirit.
2. Because a temporary faith is not wholly without product.
3. It may arise from regard for some ministers.
4. Self-respect and honour may cause them to go so far.
5. It may be self-profit.
6. It may arise from that seeming sweetness and satisfaction they meet with from within themselves whilst they continue in the profession of religion.
7. It may be from a natural desire of being saved.
8. It may be from the shame and reproach which are attached to open wickedness.
From whence it arises that these hearers go no further:
1. It may arise from the great ignorance that is in them.
2. It ariseth from the unsoundness of their hearts, the ground is not good.
3. It ariseth from the deceitfulness of their hearts.
4. They go no further because of their pride.
5. Because they had no vital but artificial principle ill them.
6. Because there is some secret sin hid in their hearts. (B. Keach.)
Withering is the fearful fate of all stony-ground hearers
I. As to the evil of the cause that produces such evil effects.
1. The principal cause is the stoniness of their hearts.
2. Privative cause.
(1) Want of moisture.
(2) Want of earth.
(3) Want of taking root.
II. The badness of those effects that proceed from such evil causes.
1. Barrenness.
2. Another effect that attends these professors is earthliness.
3. Lukewarmness in religious duties.
4. Pride.
5. Uncharitableness.
6. Contention.
7. Inconstancy.
8. Apostacy.
(1) In judgment.
(2) In affection.
(3) In practice.
(4) In respect of means.
III. The danger and fearful condition of such that wither
1. They disappoint God of His expectation.
2. These persons are hateful to God, as they seem to declare to all the world that there is not that good to be found in God which the Word and ministers do affirm.
3. They bring scandal upon the Church.
4. In respect of the world these mens sin and danger is also aggravated.
5. In respect to the sin itself, none is more odious and dangerous. Relapse more dangerous than the disease.
6. This sin of withering is generally punished with other sins,
(1) with blindness of mind;
(2) with judicial hardness of heart;
(3) with a seared conscience;
(4) with final impenitence.
7. How may it be known that a man is withering?
1. Self-confidence.
2. When he cannot bear a searching doctrine.
3. When his conscience is not so tender as it was.
4. When a mans prayers are short.
5. When he cannot stand in the hour of temptation.
6. Deadness of spirit. (B. Keach.)
The temporary Christian
This mans faith has five stages:
1. He knows the Word.
2. He assents to it.
3. He professes it.
4. He rejoices inwardly in it.
5. He brings forth some kind of fruit; and yet for all this, hath no more fruit in him than a faith that will fail in the end; because he wants the effectual application of the promise of the gospel, and is without all manner of sound conversation.
This faith is like corn on the housetop, which grows for a while; but, when the heat of summer comes, it withers. (W. Perkins)
.
An easily-moved susceptibility
There is deep knowledge of human nature and exquisite fidelity to truth in the single touch by which the impression of religion on them is described. The seed sprang up quickly; and then withered away as quickly, because it had no depth of root. There is a quick, easily-moved susceptibility, that rapidly exhibits the slightest breath of those emotions which play upon the surface of the soul, and then as rapidly passes off. In such persons words are ever at command-voluble and impassioned words. Tears flow readily. The expressive features exhibit every passing shade of thought. Every thought and every feeling plays upon the surface-everything that is sown springs up at once with vehement vegetation. But slightness and inconstancy go together with violence. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. True; but also out of the emptiness of the heart the mouth can speak even more volubly. He who can always find the word which is appropriate and adequate to his emotion,, is not the man whose emotions are deepest; warmth of feeling is one thing-permanence is another. (F. W. Robertson.)
Shallow soil like superficial character
You meet with such persons in life. There is nothing deep about them-all they do and all they have is on the surface. The superficial servants work is done: but lazily, partially-not thoroughly. The superficial workmans labour will not bear looking into-but it bears a showy outside. The very dress of such persons betrays the slatternly, incomplete character of their minds. When religion comes in contact with persons of this stamp, it shares the fate of everything else. (F. W. Robertson.)
The superficial character connected with the hard heart
Beneath the light thin surface of easily stirred dust lies the bed of rock. The shallow ground was stony ground. And it is among the children of light enjoyment and unsettled life that we must look for stony heartlessness-not in the world of business-not among the poor, crushed to the earth by privation and suffering. These harden the character, but often leave the heart soft. If you wish to know what hollowness and heartlessness are, you must seek for them in the world of light, elegant, superficial Fashion-where frivolity has turned the heart into a rockbed of selfishness. Say what men will of the heartlessness of Trade, it is nothing compared with the heartlessness of Fashion. Say what they will of the atheism of Science, it is nothing to the atheism of that round of pleasure in which many a heart lives: dead while it lives. (F. W. Robertson)
.
Warm affections easily moved
Among the affections, when they are warm and newly stirred, the seed speedily springs. (W. Arnot.)
Christ not to be on the surface
Do not keep Christ on the surface; let Him possess the centre, and thence direct all the circumference of your life. (W. Arnot.)
Hasty, but not lasting
The marked antithesis between the immediate reception and the immediate rejection is to be carefully observed. That which is hasty is not lasting. Grace, in almost every case, is slow and progressive; for, in the human heart, it has much to contend against; and God treats us as free agents, putting no force on any mans will, (J. Ford,)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 20. But he that received the seed into stony places – is he] That is, is a fit emblem of that man who, hearing the Gospel, is affected with its beauty and excellency, and immediately receiveth it with joy – is glad to hear what God has done to make man happy.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Both Mark and Luke have this with no difference, save only in words, Mar 4:16,17; Lu 8:13. What Matthew calleth stony ground, Luke calls the rock. By the sun being up, and scorching the seed, in the parable, our Saviour meant tribulation or persecution, which Luke calleth a time of temptation, Luk 8:13.
Stony places are places where may be a little earth, but not much; he is here likened to such ground, who heareth the word, and anon (the Greek is , which signifieth presently) with joy receiveth it, as Herod is said to have heard John the Baptist gladly. The word of God (as some other objects) doth often on the sudden affect some persons in whom it doth not take any deep root. A sudden passion surprises them, which is but like the overflowing of a brook, which is quickly down.
Yet hath he not root in himself, &c. Our Saviour here assigns two causes of such hearers falling away, the one internal, the other external; the former is the great cause of the latter. By root in himself some understand constancy, or a serious resolution and purpose of heart; but this is doubtless but the product of this root, which is the same thing which the apostle calls the seed of God, Job calls the root of the matter; a principle of grace in a heart truly touched with the love of God and of his truth.
But dureth for a while; no longer than he thinks that he can by his profession attain the end he aimed at and propounded to himself, be it riches, or honour and reputation.
But when tribulation or persecution ariseth for the words sake, or because of the word, when he seeth that he cannot own his profession without the danger of his estate, life, liberty, places, and preferments, &c.
by and by he is offended, made to stumble and fall, he falls off from all his former profession of the gospel.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But he that receiveth the seed into stony places,…. Such a hearer, who is like to the stony ground on which the seed fell, is one that is not an accidental hearer of the word, as the former, but a settled constant hearer of it; and not one that is careless and negligent, but diligent and attentive, and has some understanding of what he hears;
the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it: he is one that not only constantly attends upon it, but he receives it; he gives an assent to it, he believes in it historically, makes a profession of his faith in it, and holds it for a while, being under some convictions of the truth of it: and having some speculative notions of it, and light in his understanding and judgment in it, he has some flashes of natural affection for it, and delivers some outward expressions of pleasure and delight in it, like Herod, and the hearers of John the Baptist; but has no heart work, and so is like to the rock in stony ground; the natural hardness of his heart continues, it remains unbroken by the word, without any true sense of sin, and repentance for it, and destitute of spiritual life, and of true faith, love, and joy: hence, as his profession is taken up in haste, immediately, upon a flash of affection, and a little head knowledge, it does not last long, nor prove honourable.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “But he that received the seed into stony places,” (ho de epi ta petrode spareis) “Then the seed-word that was sown upon the rocky places,” Mat 13:5.
2) “The same is he that heareth the word,” (houtos estin ho ton logon akouon) “This is the one hearing or giving heed (to) the word,” Mr 4:16, responding to the word, as follows:
3) “And anon with joy receiveth it;” (kai euthus meta charas lambanon auton) “And instantly (immediately) at once, he receives it with joy;” He is the shallow, easily impressed, an emotionally responsive hearer, impressed by pomp, noise, and promises, excited about the crown, with no perception of the cross; As some for a time received John the Baptist, Joh 5:35; Mr 6:20; Act 26:28.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
20. But he that received the seed thrown into stony places. This class differs from the former; for temporary faith, being a sort of vegetation of the seed, (201) promises at first some fruit; but their hearts are not so properly and thoroughly subdued, as to have the softness necessary for their continued nourishment. (202) We see too many of this class in our own day, who eagerly embrace the Gospel, and shortly afterwards fall off; for they have not the lively affection that is necessary to give them firmness and perseverance. Let every one then examine himself thoroughly, that the alacrity which gives out a bright flame may not quickly go out, as the saying is, like a fire of tow; (203) for if the word does not fully penetrate the whole heart, and strike its roots deep, faith will want the supply of moisture that is necessary for perseverance. Great commendation is due, no doubt, to that promptitude, which receives the word of God with joy, and without delay, as soon as it is published; but let us learn, that nothing has been done, till faith acquires true firmness, that it may not wither in the first blade.
(201) “ La foy temporelle, qui est comme le germe de la semence;”— “temporary faith, which is as it were the germ of the seed.”
(202) “ Mais les coeurs ne sont point tellement cultivez et preparez, qu’ils ayant une douceur pour nourrir et entretenir ce qui est commence;” — “but the hearts are not so cultivated and prepared, as to have a softness for nourishing and supporting what is begun.”
(203) “ De peur que ceste ardeur et alaigrete qui est de grand monstre pour le commencement, ne s’en aille bien tost en fumee comme un feu d’estouppes, ainsi que porte le proverbe commun;” — “lest that ardor and alacrity, which makes a great show at the beginning, may soon vanish into smoke, like a fire of tow, as the common proverb goes.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(20) Anon with joy receiveth it.The second type of character stands in marked contrast with the first. Rapid change, strong emotion, a quicker show of conversion than in the case where it is more real.such results, it need hardly be said, come under the notice of every earnest preacher. In proportion to the tendency of any systemsuch as the revivalist meetings of one school, the mission services of anotherto cause excitement, are those results likely to be frequent.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. Stony places Rocky surfaces covered with thin soil. There is many a soul with a surface soft and yielding, but a nature truly hard at bottom. In such the shallow emotions are quickly stirred, but their deeper nature remains untouched. The Jews were full of a joyous excitement at John’s first preaching the Messiah. But it was a superficial arousement; the heart was not truly converted. When the Messiah’s true nature was disclosed, they soon showed that the subsoil was unchanged rock. Such prove apparent apostates; but they are not really such. They never had the reality to apostatize from.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“And he who 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, and when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
The second example is the man in whom the seed was sown who was like the thin covering of soil over a limestone rock formation. Just as that soil received the seed, which sprang up quickly because it was in surface soil, and died as quickly, so it is with this man. He hears the word of the Kingly Rule of God and receives it with delight. He is looking forward with anticipation to the Messianic Banquet. But the word itself has not taken root. Thus it persists for a time until obstacles arise. But as soon as there is trouble and persecution (Mat 5:10-12; Mat 10:17), he backs down. This was not what he had bargained for at all. He had wanted a grand party, not problems. For that was what it all was to him, a bargain which would lead him into luxury and pleasure. So ‘he stumbles.’ That is, he finds it unacceptable and turns away from it as quickly as he had embraced it. He does not want something that will disturb the pattern of his life.
To suggest that there was no persecution or tribulation before it was suffered by the early church is clearly folly. In a society like that of the Jews, where feelings were strong, the introduction of new ideas, especially ideas as revolutionary as those of Jesus would inevitably produce a reaction. The Pharisees were more prominent in that regard because they saw themselves in their own way as ‘defenders of the faith’ but many a household would have reacted against Jesus’ ideas, and many a strict Jewish father would frown on any response to Jesus from his ‘children’, and it is not surprising that we therefore have constant reference to such persecution and tribulation (Mat 5:10-12; Mat 5:43-44; Mat 10:16-25; Mat 10:35-36).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 13:20-21. But he that receivedinto stony places The stony, or rocky ground, represents those hearers, who so far receive the word into their hearts, that it springs up in good resolutions, which perhaps are accompanied with a partial reformation of some sins, and a temporary practice of some virtues. Nevertheless, they are not thoroughly affected with the word; it does not sink deep enough to remain in their minds; and therefore, when persecution arises for the sake of the Gospel, and such hearers areexposed to fines, imprisonments, corporal punishments, banishment, and death, or even to any great temptation of an ordinary kind, which requires firmness to repel it, those good resolutions, which the warmth of the passions had raised so quickly in hearing, do as quickly wither, because they are not rooted in just apprehensions of the nature of the Gospel, and in genuine Christian experience; just like vegetables, which, not having depth of soil sufficient to nourish them, are soon burnt up by the scorching heat of the mid-day sun.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Ver. 20. And anon with joy receiveth it ] Anon, or immediately. Temporaries are too sudden and, or e’er they be soundly humbled, will be catching at the comforts, as children do at deserts, stuffing themselves pillows with the promises, that they may sin more securely: Praesumendo sperant, et sperando pereunt, as one saith. These are your leap Christians, so hot at first that they can never hold out.
“Swift at hand gives in ere night,
When soft and fair goes far.”
With joy receiveth it ] Or with grief, if the nature of the doctrine require it. For by one affection we are to understand the rest also. There is no grace but hath a counterfeit: faciunt et vespae fuvos, et simiae imitantur homines. The sorcerers seemed to do as much as Moses. Many apostates have had many meltings, and much sudden strong joy, so, as they have professed, the joy they have found at the hearing of the word hath been so great, that if it had continued but awhile, they could not have lived, but their spirits would have expired. Many examples there are of such. Howbeit in these flashings the truths of God (saith Sir Burroughs) pass by them, as water through a conduit, and leave a dew; but soak not, as water into the earth.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
20, 21. ] In this second case, the surface of the mind and disposition is easily stirred, soon excited: but beneath lies a heart even harder than the trodden way. So the plant, springing up under the false heat of excitement, having no root struck down into the depths of the being, is, when the real heat from without arises which is intended to strengthen and forward the healthy-rooted plant, withered and destroyed.
, not only ‘endureth for a while,’ but also ‘is the creature of circumstances,’ changing as they change. Both ideas are included.
. = Luke, thus accommodating themselves to that .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 13:20 . .: this is the new feature in the second type added to the hearing of the first; hearing and receiving with joy characteristic of quick emotional shallow natures, but not of them only. Deep earnest natures also have joy in truth found, but with a difference.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
anon = immediately. The same word as “by and by” in Mat 13:21.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
20, 21.] In this second case, the surface of the mind and disposition is easily stirred, soon excited: but beneath lies a heart even harder than the trodden way. So the plant, springing up under the false heat of excitement, having no root struck down into the depths of the being, is, when the real heat from without arises which is intended to strengthen and forward the healthy-rooted plant, withered and destroyed.
, not only endureth for a while, but also is the creature of circumstances, changing as they change. Both ideas are included.
. = Luke, thus accommodating themselves to that .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 13:20. , …, but he, etc.) In every individual soul one distinguishing characteristic is especially conspicuous.-, immediately) Too great haste and joyfulness is not always the best sign, when the whole strength pours itself forth in outward demonstrations, and consumes itself in them.- , with joy receiving) see Gal 4:14-15.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
received: Mat 13:5, Mat 13:6
anon: 1Sa 11:13-15, 2Ch 24:2, 2Ch 24:6, 2Ch 24:14, Psa 78:34-37, Psa 106:12, Psa 106:13, Isa 58:2, Eze 33:31, Eze 33:32, Mar 4:16, Mar 4:17, Mar 6:20, Joh 5:35, Act 8:13, Gal 4:14, Gal 4:15
Reciprocal: Rth 1:15 – gone back 2Ch 11:17 – three years Job 8:12 – General Job 8:19 – this is the joy Job 20:5 – the joy Eze 3:20 – When Eze 18:24 – when Eze 36:26 – the stony Mat 12:44 – he findeth Mat 25:8 – for Mar 4:5 – General Luk 6:49 – against Luk 8:6 – General Luk 8:13 – receive Joh 1:38 – Rabbi Joh 2:23 – many Joh 6:66 – of his Heb 6:5 – tasted 1Jo 2:19 – went out
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Anon is from a word that is defined “immediately” in Thay-er’s lexicon. It does not indicate that one can be too ready to accept the word, but he may be influenced more by enthusiasm than serious consideration. Such a person may be sincere in his motives, but he has failed to consider that the same word that he received with so much joy for the present, will need to be retained as firmly in the future. He will have to endure opposition from the enemies because of his devotion to the truth, and when that comes if he yields to the foe he becomes offended which means to stumble and reject the word he had heard so joyfully.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 13:20. Forthwith receiveth it with joy. The effect is immediate and apparently good; but beneath the surface easily stirred, is a soil harder than the trodden path. Great joy without deep spiritual conviction or conflict.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Mat 13:20-21. He that received the seed into stony, rather, rocky, places Where the bed of earth was very shallow, is he that heareth the word Hears it with attention, and in a spirit of prayer, sincerely desiring that the eyes of his understanding may be opened; nay, and understands what he hears, and even seriously considers it afterward. For he is said, Luk 8:13, to believe for a while, and here to receive it with joy; being struck, doubtless, with the beauty of the truth, and drawn by the preventing grace of God. Yet hath he not root in himself No deep work of grace in his soul; no real change in the ground of his heart. He is not truly regenerated and made a new creature in Christ. The consequence is, he only endureth for a while Continues to profess an attachment to the truth, as long as the truth is held in esteem, and proceeds on, apparently, in the way of the kingdom, while the way is smooth, and no stumbling-block, or difficulty, occurs therein. But when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word When the truth and its professors are exposed to reproach and infamy, and the disciples of Jesus are called to drink of his cup of suffering, by and by, Greek , immediately, he is offended, , he is stumbled. He finds a thousand pretences for leaving so narrow and rugged a way. Luke has it, , In time of temptation, or trial, they fall off, namely, as blossoms from the trees, through a frost in the spring. It has been observed above, that the warmth of the suns beams will rather promote than hinder the growth of the corn, if it hath sufficient depth of earth, wherein to take root, and sufficient moisture; in like manner, if a deep work of grace be wrought in a mans heart, and he be really born from above, tribulation, persecution, and other trials and temptations will be so far from destroying his piety, or even obstructing the growth of grace in his soul, that they will rather promote it, and though not joyous but grievous while they continue, yet will afterward yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness, to those that are exercised thereby; and will tend to perfect their faith and patience, and other graces, and prepare them for heaven, as hot weather before the harvest ripens the corn, when full in the ear, for the sickle.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Verse 20
Anon; immediately.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
The second type of soil stands for those whose initial response to the message Jesus preached was enthusiastic reception. This reception gave hope for much fruit to follow. However external pressures inhibit growth, and because they do not have an adequate rooting in the truth they soon fade and wither (cf. Mat 5:29). These people are disciples who begin well but fail to continue to follow the Lord faithfully. Whether they are saved or lost is beside the point. However some expositors have restricted the meaning to either saved or lost disciples. [Note: E.g., Robert N. Wilkin, "The Parable of the Four Soils: Do the Middle Two Soils Represent Believers or Unbelievers? (Mat 13:20-21)," The Grace Evangelical Society News 3:8 (August-September 1988):2.]
"It is important to understand the explanation of the parable of the soils in its context and with the purpose of the original parable particularly in mind. The key issue is responsiveness or non-responsiveness to the message of the kingdom." [Note: Hagner, p. 381.]