What does it mean to hear the word gladly?

Hearing the word gladly signifies an emotional or intellectual reception of the message, which may appear genuine on the surface. As seen in the case of Herod, he was intrigued and fearful of John's preaching, yet he ultimately lacked true repentance and faith. Jesus illustrates this in the Parable of the Sower, where those who received the word with joy fell away when faced with trials or persecution. This serves as a warning for believers to not only hear but to hold fast to the word in their hearts for genuine faith to take root (Matthew 13:20-21).