Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 13:4

"and as he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them:" — Matthew 13:4 (ASV)

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

When HE sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside: even when the Chief Sower is at work, some seed fails. We know he sows the best of seed, and in the best manner; but some of it falls on the trodden path, and so lies uncovered and unaccepted by the soil.

That soil was hard and beaten down by traffic. There, too, on the wayside, we encounter dust to blind, patches of mud to defile, and birds to pilfer: it is not a good place for good seed. No wonder, as the seeds lay all exposed, that the fowls came and devoured them up.

If truth does not enter the heart, evil influences soon remove it.

When HE sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside. Even when the Chief Sower is at work, some seed fails.

We know He sows the best of seed and in the best manner, but some of it falls on the trodden path and so lies uncovered and unaccepted by the soil. That soil was hard and beaten down by traffic. There, too, on the wayside, we meet with dust to blind, settlements of mud to foul, and birds to pilfer. It is not a good place for good seed.

No wonder, as the seeds lay all exposed, that the fowls came and devoured them up. If truth does not enter the heart, evil influences soon remove it.

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side,

He could not help that; he was not sent to pick the soil, as that would be too much responsibility for him. If we had to preach only to certain characters, we would be spending all our time picking out those characters, and we probably would make many mistakes while doing so. Our business is to scatter the good seed broadcast. We are not to dibble in the Word; we are to throw it as far as we can and let it fall wherever God pleases. Some seeds fell by the way side, – on ground trodden hard by the passers-by.

And the fowls came and devoured them up:

Those fowls are always ready to devour the good seed.

Wherever there is a congregation met to hear the Word, there are always plenty of devils ready to do their evil work. The fowls came, they did not have far to fly. The birds know a sower by the very look of him, so they hurry and come wherever the seed may be cast that they may devour it.

O Lord, keep the fowls away; or, better still, break up the soil so that the seed may enter and not lie upon the surface!