“They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” (Luke 8:13)
In the parable of The Sower, Jesus explained how seeds grow when they fall on different kinds of soil. He made an analogy comparing these seeds to different kinds of hearts which receive the Word of God. He explains what happens to the Word of God, represented by the seed that falls on a shallow and hard heart represented by rocky soil. “And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.” (Luke 8:6) Matthew also writes about the Word of God which is received by a heart like rocky soil.“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.” (Matthew 13:20-21) And Mark also writes the parable. About the heart like rocky soil, he writes: “And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.” (Mark 4:16-17)
Each writer gives the same account but gives us a little different insight into this kind of heart. In Luke the heart lacks moisture to sustain it when temptation comes, and it falls away. It has no root. In Matthew, the Word of God cannot take root and is offended when tribulation or persecution comes because of the Word because there is no room in that heart for the Word of God. It has no deepness. And in Mark’s account the heart that is like rocky soil has no root in itself and is offended when affliction or persecution comes because of the Word. It has no depth.
In all three accounts the heart is hard and shallow. It lacks what it needs to sustain the Word of God. This kind of heart may assent to the Word, but it’s still depending on self, caring for self and is not ready to surrender to God’s authority. It believes the Word, rejoices over it and agrees with the Word. But in all three accounts the Word cannot take root. The Word of God cannot fulfill what its purpose is. It cannot give the light and life to grow and bear fruit. So, it withers and dies.
The things of God are deep things which only the Holy Spirit can reveal. A heart must be pliable, soft and able to sustain the deep things of God. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1Corintians 2:9-10) A shallow and hard heart cannot support the deep roots the Word of God needs. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33) With our limited capabilities we cannot know the things of God. But His Spirit will reveal them to us. And our hearts must be pliable and have room to sustain the Word from the Spirit. It cannot be filled with self and things pertaining to the world.
We may think that that it’s our ability and insight to understand the things of God, but we keep hearing that it’s all God. It’s the Lord, the One Who gives us all, even the desire and ability to understand the things of God. (Philippians 2:13) It’s His mercy on us. We have nothing to boast of. “For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Romans 9:15-16) When we pray for the lost, we must pray that the Lord would show mercy and compassion to them. Yes, God’s mercy has been shed on mankind. It’s available to all. But it’s not shown to all. It’s for all and any because of the words that it’s for “whosoever.” But not all will receive this mercy. And the shallow and hard heart will not be shown mercy.
Paul prayed that God would grant the Ephesians what they needed to receive God’s mercy, strength or that supernatural and miraculous power of faith in their hearts to understand the deep things of the Lord and that they would become rooted in His love. “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19) We can pray this prayer for a lost person. We can pray that God in His mercy would grant them what they need to understand His Word.
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