5Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.
This is the second kind of reception to the Word illustrated by stony soil.
13:5
Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth;
Palestine is very rocky where rocks lie just below the surface of the ground.
and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.
The second illustration depicts a shallow person. Other seed fell on shallow ground where stones lay just beneath of the surface. This shallow ground produced a crop that had very little root.
13:6
But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.
The shallow root exposed seed to the sun so that the plant withered away. The seed fell just below the surface in the second sowing. The seed took frail root and sprang up too quickly.
We find the interpretation of the second response in verses 20 and 21.
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Mt 13:21
Jesus’ interpretation says in effect that this is a superficial believer (12:20-21). This person is enthusiastic about Christ when things go well but falls away then things go badly.
PRINCIPLE:
God does not accept superficiality.
APPLICATION:
A superficial person is faddish picking up every trend that comes down the pike. When difficulty comes, he gives up on the Word. His understanding of the issues of the Word of God is so shallow that the least countervailing challenge blows him away. This is a person who has no staying power under pressure; the word “tribulation” means pressure. He cannot stand pressure.
