Seed on Rocky Soil

...and other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had not depth of soil, it withered away, Mark 4:5-6.

INTERPRETATION:

These are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away, Mk. 4:17.

EXPOSITION: In this verse, Mark and Matthew give us a fuller exposition of the seed on rocky ground. Keys words in this verse are immediately sprang up, rocky ground and no depth of soil. Here Christ expounds upon the believer who has no objectivity, or no depth. This is a believer guided and directed by the unreliability of his or her emotions. He is incapable of critical thinking and is unable or unwilling to test the spirits. These tend to find churches whose pastors have no knowledge of the mystery doctrines of God's Word. Their knowledge is superficial, shallow, and by most measures, highly shady. Such men are more entertainment directors than teachers of God's Word.

Believers characterized by seed upon rocky soil seek to be entertained, tantalized by sensational experiences, and thrilled by those who portend and pretend to be prophets, seers, and visionaries. Such individuals are unstable (rocky) in their thinking. These judge and measure their so-called spirituality on the basis of their emotional reaction. The greater their reaction, the greater they believe they are in touch with God.

These believers are highly susceptible to spiritual con men and their empty messages, which I call spiritual junkfood. And sadly, when they are emptied of their last dollar and give their final "Amen", they return to their ho-hum lives. In so doing, they are quickly overcome by the trials and difficulties of life in Satan's cosmos. So they wither and wait for their next emotional fix.

But for these, there is hope. To overcome a sinful fixation or addiction, we need only fix upon Christ. We need to keep our focus on Him.

And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:3

Copyright ©1996 Robert W. Case Jr.,