This parable exposes the means by which the devil snatches the word from hearts. He uses ignorance. People in the church may be familiar with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but beyond that they are totally illiterate. Ignorance is a result of the devil snatching the word from their hearts through: 1) Temptation. 2) Tribulation or persecution. 3) The cares of the world. 4) The deceitfulness of riches. 5) And unique to some, a substitute bible. 

In the church, I've never received any kind of encouragement to read regularly the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles, and the Revelation of Jesus Christ. I've never heard anyone confess the bible to be true! I have heard people express a lot of doubt about it. We have been distracted from reading the bible by a lack of emphasis. Most have discarded the Word of God! It is alarming that it doesn't concern you! Unbelief interferes with getting understanding of the new covenant. 

Jesus said to his disciples that unto them was given to know this mystery of the Kingdom of God. It is a mystery because they can't see, though they have eyes, and can't hear, though they have ears. The mystery given is that the bible is the seed, or the word of God. Those who refuse it, or distrust it; will not see; and will not hear. To his disciples Verse 10 reads, 'Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.' And Verse 11, 'The parable is this: the seed is the word of God.' 

Within the church, there is a tool the devil has used to promote ignorance. It is the 8th Article of Faith which says, 'we believe the bible to be the Word of God as far as it is translated correctly.' That's an Article of Doubt in that it plants a seed of doubt in members of the church. They dismiss it, or disregard it, or they just don't trust it. The Word has not been sewn in their hearts. They refuse to read beyond the gospels.