“The seeds
On the path
Are those who have heard.
Then the devil comes,
He takes away
The word
From their hearts.
Thus,
They may not believe
And be saved.”
οἱ δὲ παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν εἰσιν οἱ ἀκούσαντες, εἶτα ἔρχεται ὁ διάβολος καὶ αἴρει τὸν λόγον ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν, ἵνα μὴ πιστεύσαντες σωθῶσιν.
Luke indicated that Jesus said that the seeds on the path (οἱ δὲ παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν) are like those people who have heard the word (εἰσιν οἱ ἀκούσαντες). However, the devil comes (εἶτα ἔρχεται ὁ διάβολος), and takes away this word (καὶ αἴρει τὸν λόγον) from their hearts (ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν). Thus, they do not believe (ἵνα μὴ πιστεύσαντες) and are not saved (σωθῶσιν). This explanation about the seeds on the path can be found in all 3 synoptic gospels. Matthew, chapter 13:19, Mark, chapter 4:15, and here. Mark indicated that Jesus explained that the seeds on the path or the road were the people who heard the word, but immediately Satan, and not the devil, came in the form of the birds. Satan or the birds took away the sown seeds or the words that had been sown in them, the holy words. Thus, the birds were the evil Satan that came and devoured them, because they did not understand the words within them. Matthew said that they did not understand what they heard, so that the birds or the evil one, not Satan or the devil, would come and seize or snatch away what had been sown in their hearts, the words of the kingdom. Once again, the birds were the evil ones that came and devoured the seeds, because they did not understand the words of the kingdom. All 3 synoptic gospels indicate that listening to the word was not enough. There had to be good circumstances or pre-depositions to hearing and understanding for the word or the seed to be effective. Have you let evil birds take away your belief in the word of God?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 