In the Parable of the sower and seed, some seed fell on the footpath. Lord explained: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.” (Matthew 13:19) Does it mean he did not know the language? Or words? Or idea? Simply, he refuses the meaning and application of the Word.
1) Self-Pride: This is seen in abundance today. First, cultural pride keeps people away from truth. They think that their culture alone is supreme and divine, and all others are of low quality. Second, they have some spiritual experiences or concepts that emerge as their religious pride. Third, they have moral values, that should not be evaluated or judged, which is moral pride. Many times, their moral values are self-contradictory.
2) Shut your mind: A man was living in a stinking room that had two windows and doors. However, he tried to use different kind of perfumes to smell good. It became worse still. His friends advised him to instead open the windows and doors so that light and air could come and refresh the room. It is the same with people who have a closed mind. They do not allow light inside their mind or heart. Paul writes: “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (II Corinthians 4:6)
3) Self-content: There are many who are afraid of change. They become comfortable with a familiar life. Even when it is frustrating and distressful. In fact, they lose hope for the future, but hypocritically show off as self-content.
4) Self-righteous: Most people think that they are righteous than or better than someone – friends or relatives or even celebrities and say: “I am better than so and so.” They disregard God’s absolute standards and declare themselves as righteous.
Do I receive and understand His words?