Matthew 13:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

NASB: yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away.

CSB: But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.

NLT: But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

Jesus is describing the meaning of the parable of the sower to His disciples (Matthew 13:1–9), something He did not provide to the crowds to whom He taught the parable (Matthew 13:10–17). In the parable, a sower scatters seed across different kinds of soil. Jesus has shown that those seeds represent the "word of the kingdom," or the good news of the coming kingdom of heaven. Jesus, as the Messiah, is the one who will bring that kingdom to reality.

Those represented by rocky soil (Matthew 13:5–6) like the idea of the coming kingdom of heaven. They respond to that news with joy. They seem to immediately understand and accept the truth. Their early growth looks exactly like that found in richer soils. However, persecution and difficult circumstances are like the sun coming out to scorch a plant. Only those with roots providing water and support can survive hardship. Trials expose those whose belief was merely emotional with no real commitment to Jesus. The pressure causes them to quickly fall away from belief in Jesus as the Messiah.

As with all verses in this passage, eternal salvation does not seem to be the main point in question. Jesus' primary lesson here is about how the nation of Israel will respond to His ministry (Matthew 13:10–17). There are clear, useful parallels here to how some people react to the gospel. However, most scholars advise caution about trying to apply this parable as a way of determining whether a particular person is saved.

Matthew 13:18–23 explains the lesson behind the parable of the seed-thrower who dropped seeds on four different types of soil (Matthew 13:1–9). The hardpacked soil of the path represents those who don't understand teaching about the kingdom of heaven, so the evil one steals it away. The rocky soil is those who receive the Word gladly but fall away under pressure. The thorny soil is those who are unproductive because of the cares of life and lies about money. Only those who receive the Word and reproduce it represent the good soil. While this is an important explanation, Christians often differ about how those categories relate to specific issues such as salvation. The four groups represented are not necessarily meant to form a spectrum; each has its own lessons to teach.

Matthew 13 focuses mainly on a series of parables. Jesus first describes these to a large crowd along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Later, in a house, He explains to the disciples the meanings of the parables of the sower, the weeds, and the fish caught in the net. Jesus then travels to Nazareth, teaches in the synagogue, and is rejected by the people of His original hometown.

Matthew 13 follows Jesus from the overcrowded house at the end of the previous chapter to a crowded beach on the Sea of Galilee. He teaches a large crowd in a series of parables, which He doesn't fully explain. However, He reveals their meaning to His disciples inside a nearby house. Jesus pictures the kingdom of heaven as a sower, a sabotaged field of wheat, a mustard seed, and a pearl dealer, among other things. He then travels to His original hometown of Nazareth where He is rejected by the people He grew up with. This leads Matthew back to depictions of Jesus' miracles, after sadly recording John the Baptist's death.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.