Charles Spurgeon Commentary Mark 4:4

"and it came to pass, as he sowed, some [seed] fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured it." — Mark 4:4 (ASV)

And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

He could not help that; it was not his fault, but the fault of the way side and of the fowls. So, when the Word of God is denied entrance into human hearts, if it is faithfully preached, the preacher will not be blamed by his Master; the fault will lie between the hard heart that will not let the seed enter in and the devil who came and took it away.