John Calvin 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)

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not. He mentions, in the first place, the barren and uncultivated, who do not receive the seed within, because there is no preparation in their hearts. Such persons he compares to a stiff and dry soil, like what we find on a public road, which is trodden down, and becomes hard, like a pavement. I wish that we did not have occasion to see so many of this class at the present day, who come forward to hear, but remain in a state of amazement, and acquire no relish for the word, and in the end differ little from blocks or stones. Need we wonder that they utterly vanish away?

That which was sown in their heart. This expression, which Christ employs, is not strictly accurate, and yet it is not without meaning; for the wickedness and depravity of men do not make the word lose its own nature, or cease to have the character of seed. This must be carefully observed, so that we do not suppose the favors of God to cease to be what they are, though their good effect does not reach us. With respect to God, the word is sown in the hearts, but it is far from being true that the hearts of all receive with meekness what is planted in them, as James 1:21 exhorts us to receive the word. So then the Gospel is always a fruitful seed as to its power, but not as to its produce.¹⁹⁹

Luke adds that the devil²⁰⁰ taketh away the seed out of their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. Hence we infer that, as hungry birds are accustomed to do at the time of sowing, this enemy of our salvation, as soon as the doctrine is delivered, watches and rushes forth to seize it, before it acquires moisture and springs up. It is no ordinary praise of the word, when it is pronounced to be the cause of our salvation.

¹⁹⁹ “Mais non pas a ce qui s’accomplit es hommes;” — “but not as to what is accomplished in men.”;” — “but not as to what is accomplished in men.”

²⁰⁰ “Le mauvais;” — “the wicked one.”;” — “the wicked one.”