Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
Matthew 13:5 NIVUK
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 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.
Matthew 13:20-21 NIVUK
We are blessed to live in a neighbourhood that once belonged to a Duke. When he sold off the land, as part of the contract he stipulated that a third of the land remained green – not built over with asphalt or houses. So in the middle of the neighbourhood there is a large green area containing several ancient oak trees.
They say that the depth and width of a tree’s roots are two and a half times its height, and I can quite believe it. Those oak trees would definitely need it to survive the highly changeable, cold, windy and rainy weather we have in Scotland.
Jesus is talking here not just about crops but resilient crops: crops that survive the changing season. Or in this case, don’t.
A number of years ago we were hugely privileged to visit the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia. It’s a completely charming place – totally stunning. But when you head out of the old town and cruise along the shore to the islands, something strikes you very quickly:
The hills are bare.
There is hardly any vegetation.
It’s something that’s common to many places on the Eastern Adriatic coast.
The cause for it is simple. The elements can be harsh, particularly the heat, and the topsoil is thin, so few plants find enough nutrients to grow.
This is what Jesus means. He refers to plants that are in thin topsoil over rocky surfaces that have immediate and ready access to nutrients, but only for a short time. Eventually the nutrients run dry, they have no root and quickly shrivel up.
Who, or what, could He be talking about?
I believe it’s those whose faith is based solely on a feeling: a feeling they get from being in a certain gathering, or with certain people, or singing certain songs, or listening to certain music, or being regarded a certain way, or having certain resources available to them.
It’s those whose faith is not based on knowing God through His Word, but simply hearing of it through other people, or reading what others have written about it.
It’s people whose faith is vicarious – through other people such as a parent or pastor or youth leader, but falls apart when they leave.
In the main, it's those whose faith is in anyone, or anything, else, other than God.
It's also those who compartmentalise their lives: who close off parts of it to the influence of Biblical teaching. For example:
‘You can have my Sundays, God, but stay out of my work.’
‘You can have me in church, God, but what I do outside is mine.’
‘You can have my theology, God, but my morality is my problem.’
A great oak needs a huge amount of space to grow and strong. But I was amazed to hear that Bonzai trees are not a specific species of ‘dwarf’ trees. They are instead species that are usually normal sized, but when grown in a small pot and trimmed regularly become small.
Jesus is talking here about a Bonzai faith in God and His Word – one in which the believer gives it no room to grow in depth or influence in their life.
What happens as a result?
At the first sign of trouble, these believers are gone.
Their Christian life had no deep roots. It was all superficial. Just for show.
They are like Jesus’ followers who disappeared when His teaching became hard (John 6:60-69). Even Jesus was clear that many would desert Him (Matthew 24:12).
The church in the Western world is going through a refinement at the moment. Christianity has fallen badly out of fashion. Far from being a good thing, there are many people today who see religions in general, and Christianity in particular, as a force for evil and not good.
This is not usually related to any particular teaching per se, more to how people apply the teachings and live out their lives.
Quite interestingly, the Greek word Jesus uses for ‘falling away’ also implies frustration or anger at something that has happened – something that is all too common with those who fall away.
Paul spoke of this when He wrote these words:
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
1 Corinthians 10:12 NIVUK
So how can we do that? How can we make sure that we don’t fall?
Firstly, we need to not be satisfied with a second hand, vicarious faith. We need to get into the Word of God for ourselves: read it, memorise it, study it, learn it. There aren’t any shortcuts. Only doing this will make us strong.
Secondly, we need to let the roots of the Word of God grow deeply into us, touching and changing every part of our lives. We cannot compartmentalise or hold anything back from God. We need to put into practice and live out what we read.
Thirdly, we need to spend time with people who are seeking to do the same thing and receive encouragement from them, but not depend on it.
We should take this parable as a warning. It’s so easy to have a superficial faith. In fact, in many ways, it’s easier than having a deep faith.
But Jesus is telling us plainly: a superficial faith is no help at all in times of trouble.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, these are challenging words. Help me to take them in and do to everything I can to strengthen my faith. I don’t want to ever fall away from you. Work with me, I pray, to make me stronger and more mature. Amen.
Questions
1. Why does quick growth happen in those who have a superficial faith? Why does it then fail so quickly?
2. What things can lead to our faith becoming superficial?
3. What can you do to make your faith stronger?
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