It is not because men receive the word immediately, nor because they rejoice in it, that they fall away. As soon 47 as Matthew heard the Saviour's call, immediately he rose up, left all, and followed Him. As soon as the divine word comes to our hearts, God desires us to receive it; and it is right to accept it with joy. "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:7. And there is joy in the soul that believes on Christ. But those who in the parable are said to receive the word immediately, do not count the cost. They do not consider what the word of God requires of them. They do not bring it face to face with all their habits of life, and yield themselves fully to its control.

Det er ikke, fordi mennesker tager imod ordet med det samme, eller fordi de glæder sig over at have modtaget det, at de kun holder ud en tid. Så snart Mattæus hørte Frelserens kald, stod han op, forlod alt og fulgte ham. Så snart det guddommelige ord taler til vort hjerte, ønsker Gud, at vi skal tage imod det, og det er rigtigt at tage imod det med glæde. "Således bliver der ..... glæde i Himmelen over én synder som omvender sig." Og der er glæde hos den sjæl, der tror på Kristus. Men de, som i lignelsen straks modtager ordet, beregner ikke omkostningerne. De tænker ikke på, hvad Guds ord kræver af dem. De sammenligner ikke deres livsvaner med ordet og overgiver sig ikke helt til dets vejledning.