Luke 8:15 — Community Reflections

LUKE 8:15 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop — the good soil people have a noble and good heart (kardia kalē kai agathē) — an ideal from Greek moral philosophy that Luke applies to the kingdom. Retain (kateochousin, hold firm) and persevering (en hypomonē, in patience/endurance) communicate the sustained faithfulness that produces fruit. Endurance through the trials that destroyed the rocky-ground faith is the distinctive characteristic.

Church Fathers on Luke 8:15

That which David had foretold in the person of Christ, I will open my mouth in parables, the Lord here fulfills; as it is said, And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spoke by a parable. But the Lord speaks by a parable, first indeed that He may make His hearers more attentive. For men were accustomed to exercise their minds on dark sayings, and to despise what was plain; and next, that the unworthy might not receive what was…
Theophylact · 11th century

And therefore it is significantly said, When much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city. For not many but few there are who walk the strait road, and find the way which leads to life. Hence Matthew says, that He taught without the house by parables, but within the house explained the parable to His disciples.
Origen · 3rd century

Now Christ most fitly puts forth His first parable to the multitude not only of those who then stood by, but of those also who were to come after them, inducing them to listen to His words, saying, A sower went out to sow his seed.
Eusebius of Caesarea · 4th century

Read all 36 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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