Luke 8:6

6 Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn't have good roots.

Luke 8:6 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 8:6

And some fell upon a rock
Which the other evangelists call "stony places", and "stony ground"; by which are meant such hearers whose hearts are, hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and continue so notwithstanding the preaching of the word unto them.

And as soon as it sprung up;
as it did immediately, as the other evangelists say; and that for this reason, which they give, "because it had no depth of earth"; only a small crust, or shell of earth over the rock; and signifies, that these hearers had only a superficial knowledge of the word, and hastily made a profession of it, which soon came to nothing:

it withered away, because it lacked moisture;
the other evangelists say, "when the sun was up, it was scorched"; meaning tribulation and persecution, the grace of God being wanting to support under fiery trials: the reason given in Matthew and Mark why it withered, is,

because it had no root;
and so read the Persic and Ethiopic versions here.

Luke 8:6 In-Context

4 As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along. He addressed them, using this story:

5 "A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it.

6 Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn't have good roots.

7 Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it.

8 Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop. "Are you listening to this? Really listening?"