9 His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant . 10 And He said , " To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God , but to the rest it is in parables , so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE , AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND . 11 "Now the parable is this : the seed is the word of God . 12 "Those beside the road are those who have heard ; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart , so that they will not believe and be saved . 13 "Those on the rocky soil are those who , when they hear , receive the word with joy ; and these have no firm root ; they believe for a while , and in time of temptation fall away . 14 "The seed which fell among the thorns , these are the ones who have heard , and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life , and bring no fruit to maturity . 15 "But the seed in the good soil , these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart , and hold it fast , and bear fruit with perseverance .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 8:9-15
Commentary on Luke 8:4-21
(Read Luke 8:4-21)
There are many very needful and excellent rules and cautions for hearing the word, in the parable of the sower, and the application of it. Happy are we, and for ever indebted to free grace, if the same thing that is a parable to others, with which they are only amused, is a plain truth to us, by which we are taught and governed. We ought to take heed of the things that will hinder our profiting by the word we hear; to take heed lest we hear carelessly and slightly, lest we entertain prejudices against the word we hear; and to take heed to our spirits after we have heard the word, lest we lose what we have gained. The gifts we have, will be continued to us or not, as we use them for the glory of God, and the good of our brethren. Nor is it enough not to hold the truth in unrighteousness; we should desire to hold forth the word of life, and to shine, giving light to all around. Great encouragement is given to those who prove themselves faithful hearers of the word, by being doers of the work. Christ owns them as his relations.