Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 13:20-21

"And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth." — Matthew 13:20-21 (ASV)

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

A straw fire blazes fiercely, but does not last long. And so there are some that we hope are converts who show an extraordinary zeal. You would imagine that, surely, they would outrun all Christians, but they lack stamina. They lack staying power. They soon cease in the race. They are soon hot — soon cold. And we may expect to have many disappointments from persons of this character, and all the more so among children — readily impressed, but easily do they lose the impression.

Here the seed was the same and the sower the same, but the result somewhat different. In this case there was earth enough to cover the seed and heat enough to make it grow quickly. The convert was attentive and easily persuaded. He seemed glad to accept the Gospel at once. He was even eager and enthusiastic, joyful and demonstrative.

He heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it. Surely this looked very promising! But the soil was essentially evil, hard, barren, superficial. The man had no living entrance into the mystery of the Gospel, no root in himself, no principle, no hold of the truth with a renewed heart, and so he flourished hurriedly and showily for a season, and only for a season.

It is tersely put, He dureth for a while. That “while” may be longer or shorter according to circumstances. When matters grow hot with Christians, either through affliction from the Lord or persecution from the world, the temporary believer is so sapless, so rootless, so deficient in moisture of grace, that he dries up and his profession withers.

Thus, again, the sower’s hopes are disappointed and his labor is lost. Till stony hearts are changed it must always be so.

We meet with many who are soon hot and as soon cold. They receive the Gospel “anon,” and leave it “by-and-by.” Everything is on the surface and therefore is hasty and unreal. May we all have broken hearts and prepared minds that when truth comes to us it may take root in us and abide.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it; Yet he has not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he is offended.

Here the seed was the same and the sower the same, but the result somewhat different. In this case there was earth enough to cover the seed, and heat enough to make it grow quickly. The convert was attentive, and easily persuaded; he seemed glad to accept the gospel at once, he was even eager and enthusiastic, joyful and demonstrative. He hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it. Surely this looked very promising!

But the soil was essentially evil, hard, barren, superficial. The man had no living entrance into the mystery of the gospel, no root in himself, no principle, no hold of the truth with a renewed heart; and so he flourished hurriedly and showily for a season, and only for a season.

It is tersely put, "He endures for a while." That "while" may be longer or shorter according to circumstances. When matters grow hot with Christians, either through affliction from the Lord, or persecution from the world, the temporary believer is so sapless, so rootless, so deficient in moisture of grace, that he dries up, and his profession withers. Thus, again, the sower's hopes are disappointed, and his labour is lost.

Until stony hearts are changed, it must always be so. We meet with many who are soon hot and as soon cold. They receive the gospel "anon," and leave it "by-and-by." Everything is on the surface, and therefore is hasty and unreal. May we all have broken hearts and prepared minds, that when truth comes to us it may take root in us and abide.

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

He soon ceases even to profess to be a Christian; he jumped into religion, and he jumps out again. Revival always produces a large quantity of such people, and yet, if there is one soul truly saved, the revival is a success so far as that one is concerned.