COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 39
“ Mark 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17And 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; Matthew 13:20-21; Luke 8:13)
SEED SOWN ON THE STONY GROUND
INTRODUCTION
In this parable, Jesus is not expounding human duty, but revealing the cause for various responses to the Gospel. He is explaining why some people have no preference for the Gospel at all. Their hearts are like a path that is close to the way leading to destruction. There is so much carnal activity in their hearts and minds that even the Gospel of salvation sounds unimportant and irrelevant. How we ought to thank God for tender hearts that are sensitive to the Good News of salvation! Such are hearts that have been opened by the Lord, and upon which the Holy Spirit has brooded and worked, even as He did upon the “face of the deep” in the creation (Gen 1:2). The teaching to which we are being exposed was not intended for the multitudes, and that is why it was not given to them. This word is for the seekers, who dare to press in and inquire within the Lord’s temple (Psa 27:4). The Lord Jesus is forward to divulge His truth to those who have a love and appetite for it. If it is true that “the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant” (Psa 25:14), what will be the experience of those who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, been made a “new creation,” and are now reconciled ton God! We must come to this text with ready hearts, expecting our Lord to open up matters that would otherwise be a mystery to us, even as they were to those who left after He had spoken to them the parable. Let us culture inquiring hearts and minds that are not content with shallow and momentary exposures to the truth of God. May we have hearts that demand spiritual depth.
THE WORD RECEIVED WITH GLADNESS
“ 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness.”
THEY LIKEWISE. This reference is to the “seed” that is sown – “the ones sown upon.” AMPLIFIED In this parable, therefore, Jesus is not commenting on people, but explaining why the Word of God is productive, and why it is not. In all of these cases, the Word is accomplishing what God has sent it to do. As it is written, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa 55:11). In the verses before us we have another explanation of why the Word did not bear fruit. There are some soils, or “ground,” in which it will not bear fruit – and that is by Divine determination.
STONY GROUND. Other versions read “rocky places” NASB/NIV and “planted on rocks” IE Matthew views the one receiving the Word, while Mark speaks the Word itself. Matthew refers to “stony places” (Matt 13:20), or “rocky places.” NASB Luke is even more precise in his expression: “on the rock” Lk 8:13). This is ground where there is more rock than soil. The rock was beneath the soil, and not apparent to the eye. It probably refers to a ledge of rock – a large layer of rock covered with a thin layer of soil. It could also be all manner of rocks that amounted to an impenetrable area beneath the ground.
This speaks of people with fundamentally hard hearts, yet which have a veneer of sensitivity, although it does not go deep into their spirits. The Word cannot “sink down” into their ears (Luke 9:44). Their interest in the things of God cannot be sustained because of the condition of their hearts. Their hearts are, in fact, “firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of nether millstone” (Job 41:24) – even though a cultural veneer covers those hard hearts.
WHEN THEY HAVE HEARD THE WORD. The “stony ground” hearer does have a capacity to hear the Word of God, and to do so with some degree of frequency. This person is a little better than the “by the wayside” hearer, who cannot entertain a single sustained thought about the things of God. These are able to do something with the Word when they hear it, and thus the devil does not immediately take it from them.
IMMEDIATELY RECEIVE IT WITH GLADNESS. As soon as this person hears the Word of God, he receives it with gladness. It sounds good to him. He hears a message that promises more happiness, more success, and greater ease in life. “At once,” he receives the Word “with joy.” NIV This is the answer to his problems. At last he has found the secret to happiness and success! Matthew says, “and anon (immediately) with joy receiveth it” (Matt 13:20). Luke reads, “when they hear, receive the word with joy” (Lk 8:13a).
These are people who hear the word like Herod heard John the Baptist – a sort of novel hearing that was close to the surface – closer to the intellect and the emotion than to the conscience and will. It is said of Herod, “For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly” (Mark 6:20). It is said of the people who listened to Jesus, “And the common people heard Him gladly” (Mk 12:37).
Because we live during decadent spiritual times, it might be thought that such hearers are much to be desired, for they are unusual, to say the least. To be faced with those who “immediately” receive the word “with gladness” does tend to lift the heart. These might be prone to ask such questions as, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life” (Matt 19:16). He was certainly hearing what Jesus was saying with some degree of interest and joy.
The Gospel of Christ, which is the heart of “the Seed,” does have a good sound to it. It speaks of the remission of sins (Acts 10:43), peace within (Acts 10:36), strength for the inner man (Eph 3:16), newness of life (Rom 6:4), and being reconciled to God (Rom 5:10). It announces the destruction of the devil (Heb 2:14), the spoiling of principalities and powers (Col 2:15), and the healing of the brokenhearted (Lk 4:18). It is essentially a good message, and even a surface understanding and casual interest in it will produce joy. There are people who therefore “immediately receive” the word “with gladness.”
Such people fulfill the objectives of those who imagine that the fundamental thing is to begin newness of life. They would write the names of the “stony ground” hearers in their books and go on their way, imagining that the main thing had now been fulfilled. However, as we will see, this is not a proper assessment of the case. These people are not ultimately acceptable to God. They hear the Word, receive it immediately, and do so with gladness. But that is not enough, and we dare not imagine that it is. A considerable amount of sustained activity is expected to take place after the Word is received.
THEY HAVE NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES
“ 17a And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time . . . ”
Here the Lord explains why the seed does not produce fruit in the individual described – even though the word was immediately received with gladness.
NO ROOT! Other versions read, “no firm root in themselves,” NASB and “no real root in themselves.” AMPLIFIED Matthew speaks of the individual who is hearing: “Yet hath he not root in himself” (Matt 13:21). Luke simply says they “have no root” (Lk 8:13).
In its downward progress toward stability, the root confronted the concealed “rock,” and could not penetrate it. This person heard the word but did not perceive, or probe into, its implications. Their view of the whole matter of salvation is too shallow and too simplistic. These lack commitment as well as understanding, and are content to frolic about on the surface of life as though there were no real dangers or challenges. Who does not know that this is speaking of the vast majority of professing “Christians.” In fact, there is a form of religion that has arisen that actually promotes and cultures this kind of hearer. A message is being delivered that is not conducive to deep roots, and such roots are not even expected.
These are persons who can jump and shout, but cannot live unto God. They can praise and worship, but are not devoted to crucifying the flesh or “comprehending with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge” (Eph 3:18-19). Grace does not effectively teach them to deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts,” living “soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Tit 2:12). They “have no root in themselves.”
How important is it to be “rooted.” Is salvation calculated to produce an “unrooted” situation? Is having “root” something that is optional? Does the salvation and grace of God allow for people to be perpetually unrooted, living only on the surface of spiritual life? Is that really acceptable to the Lord? Will He bless such a person, or conform them to the image of His Son? Will the Lord work “to will and to do” in a person which who “has no root in himself?” Is there the slightest suggestion in this explanation that such postulates are true?
Is not salvation described as being a “partaker of the ROOT and fatness of the olive tree” (Rom 11:17). Is not the revealed aim of God in Christ Jesus that we might be “rooted and grounded in love” (Eph 3:17). Are we not solemnly admonished, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Col 2:6-7)?
What would lead any person to imagine that “having no root” is not a dangerous condition? What kind of understanding would lead a person to think that nothing was wrong with being unstable, ungrounded, and without a deeper understanding of the things of God? Where did such a notion originate?
FOR A TIME. And what is the outcome of “having no root?” There is no question about this, nor is it possible for this word to be successfully contradicted. Such people “endure but for a time,” or “are only temporary,” NASB or “last only a short time.” NIV Do you wonder why the book of Hebrews solemnly admonishes us to “go on to perfection,” becoming “rooted and grounded?” It is because immature spiritual life will eventually die. It cannot last! The person with no roots will fall away, and the cause of their falling is their lack of deep roots. Matthew says of such a person, “but endures only for a while” (Matt 13:21). Luke is even more specific: “which for a while believe” (Lk 8:13).
So much for the heresy that “once” we are saved we are “always saved.” Faith does not continue on its own, and once you believe, that “believing” does not automatically continue. If a person does not “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18), that person will eventually stop believing! He will fall into the category of those who “for a while believe.”
I do not believe this is generally taught, and it is certainly evident that it is not the persuasion of many professing believers. Infantile faith cannot be sustained. There is nothing about salvation, the grace of God, or the Spirit of God that will allow a person to remain on the surface of spiritual life. Everything is calculated to cause the believer to “take root downward” (Isa 37:31). If this does not happen, believing, at the very best, is only temporary – and who is the person who can find a single syllable of good promise to the person who believes only “for a while.”
Jesus is speaking of a “Word” that tends to produce deep roots. Only “rock” can stop this from happening. Let me be quite clear about this. A message that produces shallow Christians is not the Gospel of Christ. It is a spurious word that has not come from God. The Gospel message itself is the “seed,” and it is calculated to grow deep roots.
AFTERWARD . . . THEY ARE OFFENDED
“ 17b . . . afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.”
Here Jesus comes to grips with the means of discovering the “unrooted” condition. Spiritual life is so designed as to ultimately uncover unacceptable deficiencies. If a person has “no root,” it will be discovered. Something will occur in that individual’s life that will cause the absence of root to become very apparent. It is not possible to avoid this happening.
AFTERWARD. Although this word is omitted in several translations, it does belong in the text: “afterward.” This addresses life after receiving the Word “with gladness.” It is what follows our spiritual beginning that tells the real story. Men keep logs of those beginning the race. The heavenly role lists those who finish it, for, with God, an unfinished race is not a race at all. Now, there are certain things that do happen “afterward.”
AFFLICTION AND PERSECUTION. Matthew says “tribulation or persecution ariseth” (Matt 13:21). Luke says this is the “time of temptation.” This is the world’s reaction to the person who received the Word of God “with gladness.” It means that it has become apparent to the world that the individual who receives the Word is at a variance with the world – even in an immature state. If God is really taking a people “out of the world” (John 15:19; 17:6), you may be sure that it will be sensed by that world, and they will eventually do something about it. The world will be aggressive against the believer, causing trouble, affliction, burden, and anguish. They will attack the person who receives the Word, persecuting, opposing, and maligning. That is how the world responded to Jesus, and it does the same to those who believe on Him. Thus Jesus said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).
As Luke affirms, this is the “time of temptation” – a time when the person is being tested to see how precious the Word of God really is to him, and how deeply it has been rooted in the heart. The real condition will be discovered by “affliction and persecution.”
FOR THE WORD’S SAKE. Jesus is very specific about the reason for the opposition. This is not simply a clash of personalities. The conflict has arisen “for the Word’s sake,” or “because of the Word” (Matt 13:21). It is the Word that aggravates the world, for it is a “discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12). All of this presumes that the person is talking about the Word, in some way sharing what has been received “with gladness.”
THEY ARE OFFENDED. Their falling was as quick as their reception of the Word: “immediately they are offended.” Other versions read, “immediately they stumble,” NKJV “immediately they fall away,” NASB “they quickly fall away,” NIV and “they immediately are offended (become displeased, indignant, resentful) and they stumble and fall away.” AMPLIFIED Luke says that in that time of temptation they “fall away” (Lk 8:13).
To be “offended” is to be enticed to return to sin by means of a stumbling block – something the person is not able to resist. Thus, the person who, because of the Word, is subjected to displeasure, inward and outward pain, and any other unfavorable experience, is moved to abandon the Word, and crucify Jesus afresh. To such a person, receiving the Word is not worth such pain and hardship. It is not worth losing a friend, or being ignored, or being treated as an enemy. It is not worth being rejected, or having to give up a close friendship. For such a person, believing would be fine if it only involved pleasantries. But, alas, it is not worth being treated and rejected as a fool – or so the unrooted person reasons.
This experience is so common in our day, that “church” people have grown accustomed to it. However, we dare not fall into such indifference, for falling away is the prelude to hell! It is a state that leads to sure condemnation.
Let us not be naive about this situation. Jesus has told us why this falling away happened. It is because the people “have no root in themselves.” It is because they are immature, and are thus unstable. There is a ledge of rock in their hearts that the Word cannot penetrate. They have affections that make them hard against God and tender and sensitive to the world. When they “fall away,” it is not because they made a mistake, or confronted impossible situations. It is because they “have no root in themselves.” They have been living on the surface, content with a little exposure to the things of God, that allows them to be uninvolved with Him. Now, God is truly able to “make” a person “stand” – even when they are “weak in the faith” (Rom 14:1-4). But do not imagine that this is a perpetual circumstance. Jesus has affirmed the inevitability of falling away for those in whom the Word cannot become rooted. When someone who has received the Word leaves the faith, ceases to believe, or returns to the world, it is because – and always because – they “had no root in themselves.” There was a rock in them beyond which the Word could not grow.