The Year of our Lord, Jesus Christ
Matthew 13:5,6
Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Mark 4:5,6
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
Luke 8:6
And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
The second type of soil that the Lord includes in this parable is the stony ground. Jesus explains more in Matthew 13:20-21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. Mark pretty much says the same, while Luke adds that…in time of temptation fall away.
Consider the conditions surrounding the shallow, or stony, ground. They have no root, they wither away, tribulation, persecution, temptation, offended. Happens all the time. A person comes to a church service, hears the Word of God preached, receives it, and goes home excited about their new found truth. But, however, upon attempting to live it they find difficulties, real and imagined. They endure for a while but ultimately fall away. Why? Basically, Jesus said it like this Yet hath not root in himself…. Meaning there is nothing deep going on inside. Not deep like complicated, deep like in the soul deep, in the heart deep, ingrained in the mind deep. They receive the truth of the Word (seed), but it is shallow, just a thought, a whimsy, a consideration. In the light of the real world their passing fancy passes away.
In considering a root understand this truth, there cannot be two roots of any growing plant. The root may have various branches, but the root is one. In other words an apple tree cannot have the natural root of an apple tree and the natural root of an orange tree. Likewise, those who receive the seed of the Word of God cannot also receive the root of, let’s say, the love of money. The love of money root will ultimately choke out the root of the Word of God, or the root of the Word of God will ultimately choke out the root of the love of money. 1 Timothy 6:10 proves this…For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Endeavor then to be like the prophecy of the remnant of Judah as given by Isaiah; Take root downward and bear fruit upward. (Isaiah 37:31)
Until Next Time,
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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