Mark 4:15

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

And these are they by the way-side, where the word is sown; but, when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts - or, more fully, Matthew 13:19, "When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which wee sown in his heart." The great truth here taught is, that Hearts all unbroken and hard are no fit soil for saving truth. They apprehend it not (Matthew 13:19), as God's means of restoring them to Himself; it penetrates not, makes no impression, but lies loosely on the surface of the heart, until the wicked one-afraid of losing a victim by his "believing to salvation," Luke 8:12) - finds some frivolous subject by whose greater attractions to draw off the attention, and straightway it is gone. Of how many hearers of the word is this the graphic but painful history!

SECOND CASE: THE STONY, OR RATHER, ROCKY GROUND

In Mark 4:5 it reads: "And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth" [ to (G3588) petroodes (G4075)] - 'the rocky ground;' in Matthew (Matthew 13:5), 'the rocky places' [ ta (G3588) petroodee (G4075)]; in Luke, 'the rock' [ teen (G3588) petran (G4073)]. The thing intended is, not ground with stones in it, which would not prevent the roots striking downward, but ground where a quite thin surface of earth covers a rock. What means this?