Every pious preacher, when he sees that things will not go forward, but seem to be growing worse, feels almost disgusted about his preaching, and yet he cannot and dare not desist, for the sake of even a few elect. And that is written for our consolation and admonition, that we should not be surprised or think it strange even though few people accept the benefit of our doctrine, and some even become worse. For commonly the preachers, especially when they are new and but recently come from the shop, believe that there should be success immediately, as soon as they have done speaking, and everything should be done and changed quickly. But that will miss the object far. The prophets and Christ Himself had that experience. (quoted in Besser, Bibelstunden, 1, 334. Quote from P.E. Kretzmann “Popular Commentary”, NT 1:307)
…the hearts [of the first group], hardened by worldly ideas and life, lose the Word and let it escape, that they never understand it, but also that in the place of the Word of God the devil sends false teachers that tread it down with doctrines of men. For both is here given, that the seed is trodden down on the path and that it is eaten by the birds…. [The second group] is also a great crowd, that hear the Word properly and accept it in its purity, without any sects and schismatics and enthusiasts; they are glad also that they may know the right truth and find how we may be saved without words through faith; also because they have been delivered from the imprisonment of the Law, the conscience, and human doctrine. But when it comes to the battle, that they should on that account suffer harm, contempt, loss of life and goods, then they fall away and deny it all…. Their number [the third group] is also very large; for though they do not establish heresies, as the first ones, but always have the pure Word, and also are not attacked on the left side by opposition and temptation, yet they fall on the right side, and that is their ruin, that they enjoy peace and good days. Therefore they do not earnestly regard the Word, but become lazy and sink into the care, riches, and lust of this life, that they are without use. (Kretzmann NT 1:308)
The main reason this seed is sown, that is, that the Gospel is proclaimed in all the world, is to create and work fruit in us which endures into eternity. (House Postil, Volume 5 [Red binding], 290)
…let everyone learn from this parable that it will always be this way with the Gospel: some will be converted but there are probably three times more who will take offense. (ibid 292)
Listen to God’s Word while you have it; the time may come when you would like to hear it, but it may not be there for you. (ibid 292)
One quote from Johann Gerhard’s Postilla, available through The Center for the Study of Lutheran Orthodoxy, page 199:
“Just as in nature it occurs in cultivation that the seed does not bring forth fruit in every place upon which it falls, so also in His Church it happens that the Word does not bear fruit with everybody; instead, it bears fruit only with a certain few.”
