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MATTHEW 13:21 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 13:20Matt 13:22
“Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”
Yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. The rootlessness is the defining condition of the rocky-ground person: no root means no capacity to sustain through the drought of persecution. The immediately falls away mirrors the immediately receives in verse 20 — the same emotional immediacy that characterized the initial reception characterizes the falling away. Depth of root, not height of initial excitement, determines the response to tribulation.

Church Fathers on Matthew 13:21

He had said above, that it was not given to Jews to know the kingdom of God, but to the Apostles, and therefore He now concludes, saying, 'Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower, ye to whom are committed the mysteries of heaven.'

Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · ap. Anselm

It is certain that the Lord spoke the things which the Evangelist has recorded; but what the Lord spake was a parable, in which it is never required that the things contained should have actually taken place.

Augustine · 4th century · De Gen. ad lit., viii, 4

In these words the Lord explains what the seed is, to wit, the word of the kingdom, that is of the Gospel teaching. For there are some that receive the word of the Lord with no devotion of heart, and so that seed of God’s word which is sown in their heart, is by demons straightway carried off, as it were the seed dropped by the way side. It follows, 'That which is sown upon the rock, is he that heareth the word, &c.' For the seed or word of God, which is sown in the rock,…

Remigius · 9th century
Read all 14 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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Matthew 13:21 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy