Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 13:19

"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 13:19 (ASV)

Matthew plunges right into the significance of the various soils. The first soil (that which is “along the path”) refers to those who hear the message about the kingdom, but, like hardened paths, do not let the truth penetrate their hearts . Before they really understand it, the evil one (cf. 6:13; 12:45) or Satan (cf. Mark 4:15) has snatched it away. Close study of birds as symbols in the OT and especially in the literature of later Judaism shows that birds regularly symbolize evil and even demons or Satan (Revelation 18:2).