The parable of the seeds that landed on four kinds of ground is a familiar one. Sometimes it is instructive to rearrange the verses a little, like this:
| 11. The seed is the Word of God. |
| 5. A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
| 12. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. |
| 6. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
| 13. 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. |
| 7. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. | 14. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection. |
| 8. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. | 15. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience. |
The last three examples are all of people who have received the Word of God and believed it. They are all Christians. But the people in the first example are not believers, even though they have heard the Word. They have heard enough of the Word for it to enter their hearts. But before they can believe, the devil comes by and snatches it away.
It is shocking to realize how close these people are to salvation, before deception keeps them from it. Our adversary has the ability to deceive us, and to make the most attractive promise God has for us to appear worthless.
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