The parable of the sower is not difficult to understand. There are more parables that need more explanation. The principle that Scripture interprets itself also applies to the parables, because we find certain principles explained in one parable and not in another.
19 To everyone who hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart: this is the one who is sown beside the road.
birds
Birds move in the air and are a representation of spiritual powers. These can be good powers, think of the spirit that descended on Jesus like a dove (Mark 1:10). But in this parable it concerns birds that pick the seed (:4) and they are a representation of the evil (powers). Most birds in the Bible are unclean and they are a representation of the evil spiritual powers in the air (Eph.612).
The third parable that the Lord speaks in this series is that of the mustard seed. When we discuss that, we will come back to these birds, because they also play a role there (Matt.13:31-32).
20 Now the one who receives seed on rocky places is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.
21 But he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he is ensnared.
no root
On rocky places the seed does not have much soil (:5). The seed sprouts immediately, but when the sun rises it is scorched, because it has no root. There was a group of people who heard the word of the kingdom and for a while it seemed promising. They received it with joy, but it turned out to have no root and when they encountered resistance it was quickly extinguished.
22 The one who receives seed among thorns is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
the anxiety of the aeon
The thorns are a representation of ‘the anxiety of this aeon’. That is all that one is occupied with and concerned about in this aeon. And that is quite a lot. Politics, wars, climate problems, etc. In this evil aeon (Gal. 1:4) it is the god of this aeon who blinds the mind (2 Cor. 4:4) and confuses people by mixing things up and loading them with disinformation and half-truths.
temptation of wealth
The temptation of wealth is not about wealth in itself. There is nothing wrong with that and in Scripture we also know rich people, such as Abraham, David and Joseph of Arimathea. The temptation of wealth is the pursuit of wealth and that one places one’s trust in that wealth.
The Greek word that is translated as greed (pleonexia, G4214) is made up of the word parts: more + have. Whoever wants to have more has set his heart on that, instead of on the Word of God.
23 But the one who is sown on good soil is the one who hears the word, and understands it, and who indeed bears fruit, and produces, one a hundredfold, another sixtyfold, and another thirtyfold.
fruit
Only a very small group received the word of the Kingdom, such as the disciples. They believed that the Lord was the Messiah and He made the secrets of the Kingdom known to them. If the seed falls on good soil, it will always bear fruit.
The point in Scripture is never how much fruit someone bears, but that they bear fruit. God gives to each according to his ability (Matt. 25:15) and in accordance with one’s disposition and personality. Then the Word will always do His work.