Parable of the Sower: Those on the rock

Those on the rock

A. The Parable and the Interpretation in Matthew

1. Matthew 13:5, 6 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

a. In Matthew there was not much earth and no deepness of earth, and because of that they grew up. When the sun was up they were scorched, and they had no root, they withered away.

2. Matthew 13:20, 21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
13:21Yet 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.

a. Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies In The New Testament : There is not a contradiction on where the word fell. Matthew has “stony places”, Mark has “stony ground”, and Luke has “the rock”. It is not ground covered with loose stones, but a hard, rock surface, covered with a thin layer of soil.

b. These individuals receive the word with joy. They go on for a while telling folks, “Yes I believe the word, I am a Bible believer!” But then something happens. Tribulation comes, persecution comes, because of the word that previously they were joyful about receiving. The problem was there was no root system to support the plant. Every behavior pattern in our lives good or bad has a root system supporting it, to illustrate that we need only look at Contrast these Scriptures with the ones below.

1).  1) Hebrew 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

2) Deuteronomy 29:18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;

3) Isaiah 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

a. Believers need a root system.

1). Colossians 2:6, 7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

2). Ephesians 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…”

3. “… for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”

a. [Amplified Bible: “…when affliction or trouble or persecution comes on account of the Word, at once he is caused to stumble, he is repelled and begins to distrust and desert Him Whom he ought to trust and obey, and he falls away.”

b. tribulation [Strong: 2347 thlipsis thlip'-sis from 2346; pressure (literally or figuratively):--afflicted(-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.]  [Zodhiates: Tribulation, trouble, affliction. In a figurative manner, pressure from evils, affliction, distress.]

1). The Thessalonians received the word with much affliction (tribulation), 1 Thessalonians 1:6. See Acts 17:1-10.

2). Sometimes tribulation is the reaping and sowing for sin, 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Romans 2:9; Revelation 2:22.

3). 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

4). Sometimes just being obedient to the word of God will bring affliction.

c. persecution [Strong: 1375 diogmos dee-ogue-mos' from 1377; persecution:--persecution. ] [Zodhiates: Pursuit, especially of enemies.

d. David wrote of afflictions.

1). Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

e. The Apostle Paul wrote of the persecutions that accompanied him.

1). 2 Timothy 3:10-12 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

f. The persecutions and afflictions that come because of the word being sown in our heart are snares and traps laid by the devil to cause us to stumble and fall and give up. They are the trials of our faith in this Church age proving ground.

1). 1 Peter 1:5-7 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

B. The Parable and the Interpretation in Mark

1. Mark 4:5, 6 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
1:6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.”

a. In Mark it says there was not much earth, thee seed sprang up immediately because there was no deepness of earth; and when the sun was up, it was scorched, and because it had no root, it withered away.

2. Mark 4:16, 17 “And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time…”

a. These hearers receive the word with gladness, but there is no trust/root in their Covenant God .

1) Jeremiah 17:5, 6 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
17:6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

2). As trust in the flesh/man grows, the heart departs from God. Life becomes a desert of sorts, withering from lack of water in a parched wilderness. Even if good comes he will never see it.

3. “…afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.”

a. We are to resist in faith, the attempts of the devil to devour us.

1). 1 Peter 5:8-10 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

b. Some affliction appears to be a choice, that if we want to be faithful and obedient to God in our relationship, the result will be affliction.

1). Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

2). 2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

c. One of the things Peter is referring to is the shield of faith in the armor of God.

1). Ephesians 6:10-17 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

2). Paul says “Above all” use your faith to quench the fiery darts, of the wicked.

d. When persecution and affliction comes because of the word, they are offended.

1). offended [Strong: 4624  skandalizo skan-dal-id'-zo from 4625; to entrap, i.e. trip up (figuratively, stumble (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure):--(make to) offend.] [Zodhiates: to cause to stumble and fall. In the NT, figuratively to be a stumbling block to someone, to cause to stumble at or in something, lead astray.] [Thayer: to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey.]

2). Too many Christians through a shallow relationship with Christ, a lack of trust and faith in God, allow persecution, affliction which are the fiery darts of the wicked to cause them to begin to distrust and desert Jesus.

C. The Parable and the Interpretation in Luke

1. Luke 8:6 And some fell upon the rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

a. [NIV Note on Luke 8:6 “…a thin layer of soil that covered solid rock. Any moisture that fell there soon evaporated, and the germinating seed withered and died.]

b. In Luke’s account of the parable Jesus mentioned “…it withered away because it lacked moisture.”

1). Just as plants need water to survive, our spirits need spiritual water in order to be the productive ground.

a). John 4:13, 14 “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again.
4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give me shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

b). Psalm 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, of God.

c). John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them unto the fire, and they are burned.

2. Luke 8:13 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.

a. We have already discussed the result of no root/trust/relationship with God. Another characteristic of that is weakness in resisting temptation, i.e., no shield or a weak shield of faith producing an inability to resist temptation.

b. “…which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”

1). believe [Strong: 4100 pisteuo pist-yoo'-o from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.] [Zodhiates: to believe, have faith.]

2). temptation [3986 peirasmos pi-ras-mos' from 3985; a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity:--temptation, X try.] [Zodhiates: a putting to the test, proof, trial. In a bad sense, temptation.]

3). fall away [Strong: 868 aphistemi af-is'-tay-mee from 575 and 2476; to remove, i.e. (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.:--depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self.] [Zodhiates: to put away, to remove.]

c. The Covenant we have in God through Jesus Christ enables us to resist every temptation.

1). 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

d. When we are overcome by temptation, we have failed to use the tools God has given us to resist. We have neglected this great salvation which includes within it the ability to overcome temptation, the fiery darts of the devil.

1). Hebrews 2:3 “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”

D. Summary

1. Those on the rock are those who have a very shallow relationship with God. They are not rooted in Christ and are constantly moved by circumstances.