because Herod was afraid of John and kept him safe. Herod knew John was a holy man who did what was right. When he listened to him, he always felt uncomfortable, but he still liked to hear John speak.
When people hear the message about the kingdom, but they don’t understand it, the evil one comes and steals what was planted in their hearts. Those people are like the seed that landed on the path.
But because they have no roots, they last only a short time. When trouble or suffering comes because of the message, they quickly fall away from the faith.