Luke 8:14-15

8:14 As for the seed that 1  fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but 2  as they go on their way they are choked 3  by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, 4  and their fruit does not mature. 5  8:15 But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing 6  the word, cling to it 7  with an honest and good 8  heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance. 9 

1 tn Grk “What”; the referent (the seed) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

3 sn That is, their concern for spiritual things is crowded out by material things.

4 sn On warnings about the dangers of excessive material attachments, described here as the worries and riches and pleasures of life, see Luke 12:12-21; 16:19-31.

5 tn The verb τελεσφορέω (telesforew) means “to produce mature or ripe fruit” (L&N 23.203). Once again the seed does not reach its goal.

6 tn The aorist participle ἀκούσαντες (akousante") has been taken temporally, reflecting action antecedent (prior to) that of the main verb.

7 sn There is a tenacity that is a part of spiritual fruitfulness.

8 sn In an ancient context, the qualifier good described the ethical person who possessed integrity. Here it is integrity concerning God’s revelation through Jesus.

9 sn Given the pressures noted in the previous soils, bearing fruit takes time (steadfast endurance), just as it does for the farmer. See Jas 1:2-4.