“The seeds
On the rock
Are those who,
When they hear
The word,
Receive it with joy.
But they have no roots.
They believe
Only for a while.
In a time of temptation,
They fall away.”
οἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τῆς πέτρας οἳ ὅταν ἀκούσωσιν μετὰ χαρᾶς δέχονται τὸν λόγον, καὶ οὗτοι ῥίζαν οὐκ ἔχουσιν, οἳ πρὸς καιρὸν πιστεύουσιν καὶ ἐν καιρῷ πειρασμοῦ ἀφίστανται.
Luke said that that the seeds on the rock (οἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τῆς πέτρας) are like those who, when they heard (οἳ ὅταν ἀκούσωσιν) the word (τὸν λόγον), received it with joy (μετὰ χαρᾶς δέχονται). However, they did not have any roots (καὶ οὗτοι ῥίζαν οὐκ ἔχουσιν). They believed, but only for a while (οἳ πρὸς καιρὸν πιστεύουσιν). In a time of temptation or testing (καὶ ἐν καιρῷ πειρασμοῦ), they would fall away (ἀφίστανται). This explanation of the seeds sown on the rocky ground can be found in all 3 synoptic gospels, Matthew, chapter 13:20-21, Mark, chapter 4:16-17, and here, almost word for word. Mark and Matthew said that Jesus explained that the seeds sown on the rocky ground were like the people who heard the word and immediately received it with joy. Yet these seedlings did not have their own roots, but only temporary roots. When trouble, tribulation, or persecution arose, because of the word, they immediately stumbled and fell away. Once again, the seeds were the word. Listening to the word was not enough, if it did not resonate or take root. Due to this rocky ground, the early excitement of receiving the word was not good enough to sustain a continual adherence to the word. There had to be good circumstances or pre-depositions to hearing and understanding for the word or the seed to be effective. How deep are your believing roots?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 