The Explanation of The Gospel According to St. Mark:
St. Mark Chapter Four, Ver. 13-2O:
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Here are three types of those who destroy the word: the inattentive, who are on the trodden path, preoccupied with pleasure-seekers, who are among the thorns. There are also three types of those who acceoted and preserved the seed: those who bear fruit a hundredfold, who lead a life at the pinnacle of perfection; those who bear fruit sixtyfold, who live a life of moderate achievement; and those who bear thirtyfold, who achieve small things, yet they too contribute according to their strength. For example, some are virgins and desert dwellers, others are monastics who live together in communities, while others are laity who are married. But the Lord accepts them all as good ground which bears fruit. Thanks be to His love for Man!
Blessed Theophylact, The The Explanation of The Gospel According to St. Mark
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Here are three types of those who destroy the word: the inattentive, who are on the trodden path, preoccupied with pleasure-seekers, who are among the thorns. There are also three types of those who acceoted and preserved the seed: those who bear fruit a hundredfold, who lead a life at the pinnacle of perfection; those who bear fruit sixtyfold, who live a life of moderate achievement; and those who bear thirtyfold, who achieve small things, yet they too contribute according to their strength. For example, some are virgins and desert dwellers, others are monastics who live together in communities, while others are laity who are married. But the Lord accepts them all as good ground which bears fruit. Thanks be to His love for Man!
Blessed Theophylact, The The Explanation of The Gospel According to St. Mark
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