Discovery BoxLuke 8:13-15 
Context8:13 Those 1 on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, 2 but 3 in a time of testing 4 fall away. 5 8:14 As for the seed that 6 fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but 7 as they go on their way they are choked 8 by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, 9 and their fruit does not mature. 10 8:15 But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing 11 the word, cling to it 12 with an honest and good 13 heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance. 14
1 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
2 sn This time of temporary faith represented by the description believe for a while is presented rather tragically in the passage. The seed does not get a chance to do all it can.
3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
4 tn Traditionally, “temptation.” Such a translation puts the emphasis on temptation to sin rather than testing of faith, which is what the context seems to indicate.
5 sn Fall away. On the idea of falling away and the warnings against it, see 2 Tim 3:1; Heb 3:12; Jer 3:14; Dan 9:9.
6 tn Grk “What”; the referent (the seed) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
8 sn That is, their concern for spiritual things is crowded out by material things.
9 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.
10 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.
11 tn The aorist participle ἀκούσαντες (akousante") has been taken temporally, reflecting action antecedent (prior to) that of the main verb.
12 sn There is a tenacity that is a part of spiritual fruitfulness.
13 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.
14 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.
