Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 13:17-19

"For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not. Hear then ye the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, [then] cometh the evil [one], and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side." — Matthew 13:17-19 (ASV)

For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Do you notice here the importance of the word? But when it is heard but not understood, you would suppose that the devil might as well let it remain where it was. For what harm could it do to his kingdom if a person hears it and does not understand it? But he is so frightened by the word of God that he comes, like an evil bird, and takes it away, for fear that even lying in the dull heart without understanding, it might somehow still cultivate understanding there.

And so he takes it away from the thoughts and the memory, so fearful is he of it. "Nothing makes the devil tremble like the gospel," said Martin Luther; and I do not doubt that all the churches in the world, with all their ceremonies, are less feared by the devil than one single doctrine or text out of the Word of God. So he comes, like an evil bird, and catches away that which was sown in the heart. You must expect to lose a good deal of your teaching.

As farmers drop several beans in the hole and say, "That one is for the worm; this one is for the crow," then there is another which they hope will spring up, so must we expect it to be with our teaching, much of which will be lost.