Matthew 13:20 kjv
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Matthew 13:20 nkjv
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
Matthew 13:20 niv
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
Matthew 13:20 esv
As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,
Matthew 13:20 nlt
The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.
Matthew 13 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mark 4:16-17 | "And these are the ones sown on rocky ground... have no root in themselves, but are short-lived;" | Parallel account, emphasizing no root. |
| Luke 8:13 | "The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root..." | Parallel account, reiterates joy and lack of root. |
| Jeremiah 17:7-8 | "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD... He is like a tree planted by water..." | Contrasts deep roots with shallow ground. |
| Psalm 1:1-3 | "Blessed is the man... he is like a tree planted by streams of water..." | True spiritual flourishing requires deep nourishment. |
| Colossians 2:6-7 | "walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him..." | Calls for believers to be deeply rooted in Christ. |
| Hebrews 3:6 | "...if indeed we hold fast our confidence..." | True faith requires holding fast, persevering. |
| Hebrews 10:36 | "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God..." | Emphasizes the necessity of endurance. |
| 1 John 2:19 | "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us..." | Those who leave often lacked true spiritual connection. |
| Luke 6:49 | "But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation..." | Highlights the danger of hearing without deep foundation. |
| Romans 8:35-39 | "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution...?" | Assurance that true love/faith endures trials. |
| 1 Corinthians 15:58 | "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable..." | Call to unwavering commitment. |
| Galatians 6:9 | "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap..." | Encouragement to persevere in faith and works. |
| Revelation 2:10 | "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." | Promise of reward for ultimate faithfulness/perseverance. |
| Matthew 7:26-27 | "And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand." | Illustrates the outcome of a lack of foundation/obedience. |
| James 1:2-4 | "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." | Joy in trials for those with rooted faith. |
| 1 Peter 1:6-7 | "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith... may be found to result in praise..." | Testing proves the genuineness of faith. |
| Romans 5:3-5 | "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance..." | Perseverance is developed through suffering for believers. |
| 2 Timothy 3:12 | "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted..." | Expectation of persecution for the faithful. |
| James 1:22-25 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Differentiates true hearer from superficial. |
| John 15:1-8 | "Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away..." | True believers abide and bear fruit, implying depth and roots. |
| John 6:66 | "After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him." | Examples of those who left after hearing difficult truths. |
Matthew 13 verses
Matthew 13 20 Meaning
Matthew 13:20 describes the second type of hearer in the Parable of the Sower, the one represented by "rocky ground." This individual hears the word of God and immediately responds with great enthusiasm and joy. However, this reception is superficial, lacking spiritual depth and root because their heart, metaphorically speaking, is hard underneath. As a result, their initial excitement is fleeting and does not lead to enduring faith, leaving them unprepared for future challenges.
Matthew 13 20 Context
Matthew chapter 13 serves as a pivotal collection of parables presented by Jesus, specifically focusing on the Kingdom of Heaven. The chapter begins with the foundational Parable of the Sower (verses 3-9), illustrating how the word of God is received differently by various heart conditions, symbolized by types of soil. Before explaining the parable (verses 18-23), Jesus addresses why He speaks in parables, revealing mysteries of the Kingdom to His disciples while concealing them from those hardened in unbelief (verses 10-17). Verse 20 directly corresponds to the second type of soil, the "rocky ground," providing Jesus' interpretation of how the word is received and why it ultimately does not yield fruit. Agriculturally, rocky ground in ancient Israel referred to a thin layer of topsoil over bedrock (limestone), which allowed seeds to sprout quickly but prevented their roots from penetrating deeply for sustained growth.
Matthew 13 20 Word analysis
- "As for what was sown" (ὁ σπαρείς, ho spareis): This is a perfect passive participle, indicating the recipient of the action – the one on whom the seed (the word) was sown. It emphasizes that this is about a specific result from a past action, defining a particular group.
- "on rocky ground" (ἐπὶ τὰ πετρώδη, epi ta petrōdē): Refers to land with a layer of soil that covers an underlying bedrock or rock formations. The significant detail is the hidden rock, which prevents the roots from growing deep. It symbolizes a heart that has an underlying hardness, shallowness, or resistance that impedes genuine, deep transformation.
- "this is the one who hears" (οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ἀκούων, houtos estin ho akouōn): Clearly identifies the person. "Hears" (ἀκούων, akouōn) is a present active participle, implying an ongoing or habitual act of listening. Everyone has the opportunity to hear the message of the Kingdom.
- "the word" (τὸν λόγον, ton logon): Refers specifically to the message of God, the gospel concerning the Kingdom of Heaven.
- "and immediately" (καὶ εὐθύς, kai euthys): This adverb emphasizes the swiftness and quickness of the response. It suggests a lack of careful consideration, deep thought, or counting the cost involved in true discipleship. This immediate reception often implies a superficial reaction, born more of initial emotion or fleeting enthusiasm.
- "receives it" (λαμβάνων αὐτόν, lambanōn auton): "Receives" (λαμβάνων, lambanōn) is a present active participle, signifying the act of taking or accepting the word. The reception is active but, when coupled with "immediately," points to a shallow acceptance rather than a profound embracing.
- "with joy" (μετὰ χαρᾶς, meta charas): This indicates a strong positive emotional response. This joy is not necessarily wrong in itself, but in this context, it is disconnected from genuine repentance and deep-rooted faith. It might stem from the perceived benefits or initial excitement of the gospel, rather than from a Spirit-wrought transformation that endures through difficulty.
Words-group analysis
- "sown on rocky ground": This phrase metaphorically describes a spiritual disposition where the superficial outward reception of the gospel conceals a hardened, impenetrable core within. The lack of depth in the "soil" (the person's heart) prevents the word from genuinely taking root and drawing life.
- "hears the word and immediately receives it with joy": This encapsulates the core characteristic of this type of hearer. Their initial response is characterized by swiftness and an outpouring of positive emotion. However, the immediacy and the type of joy imply an uncritical acceptance, a lack of deep understanding of the commitment required, and a failure to count the cost of following Christ. This joy is not rooted in transformation but in temporary excitement.
Matthew 13 20 Bonus section
- The 'joy' here is a fleeting, surface-level emotion, distinct from the deep, abiding joy that perseveres through suffering, which characterizes true believers (cf. Rom 5:3, Phil 4:4, 1 Pet 1:8).
- The issue is not the word itself, nor the sower, but the condition of the heart, which Jesus presents as crucial to receiving and retaining the truth of the Kingdom.
- This particular type of hearer might often represent those who are easily excited by novelty or promises of blessings but shrink back when called to sacrifice or face the demanding aspects of discipleship.
Matthew 13 20 Commentary
Matthew 13:20 portrays a common pitfall in spiritual reception: an initial, enthusiastic acceptance of God's word that lacks the necessary depth to withstand trials. The "rocky ground" signifies a heart that, despite its initial fervor and "joy," is fundamentally shallow, containing underlying barriers that prevent the word from truly rooting. This hearer's delight is emotional and quick, but without the firm foundation of a yielded heart, they are unprepared for tribulation or persecution (as the next verse explains). Their faith is fragile and temporary, a mere "spring-up" without the sustenance needed for lasting growth or fruitfulness. True faith involves not just joy in receiving, but a deep commitment that perseveres through all circumstances.