Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 8].
8:12 {Those by the wayside} (\hoi para t•n hodon\). As in Mr
4:15; Mt 13:19 so here the people who hear the word = the seed
are discussed by metonymy. {The devil} (\ho diabolos\). The
slanderer. Here Mr 4:15 has Satan. {From their heart} (\apo t•s
kardias aut•n\). Here Mark has "in them." It is the devil's
business to snatch up the seed from the heart before it sprouts
and takes root. Every preacher knows how successful the devil is
with his auditors. Mt 13:19 has it "sown in the heart." {That
they may not believe and be saved} (\hina m• pisteusantes
s•th•sin\). Peculiar to Luke. Negative purpose with aorist active
participle and first aorist (ingressive) passive subjunctive.
Many reasons are offered today for the failure of preachers to
win souls. Here is the main one, the activity of the devil during
and after the preaching of the sermon. No wonder then that the
sower must have good seed and sow wisely, for even then he can
only win partial success.
8:13 {Which for a while believe} (\hoi pros kairon pisteuousin\).
Ostensibly they are sincere and have made a real start in the
life of faith. {They fall away} (\aphistantai\). Present middle
indicative. They stand off, lose interest, stop coming to church,
drop out of sight. It is positively amazing the number of new
church members who "stumble" as Mr 4:17 has it
(\skandalizontai\), do not like the pastor, take offence at
something said or done by somebody, object to the appeals for
money, feel slighted. The "season of trial" becomes a "season of
temptation" (\en kair•i peirasmou\) for these superficial,
emotional people who have to be periodically rounded up if kept
within the fold.
8:14 {They are choked} (\sunpnigontai\). Present passive
indicative of this powerfully vivid compound verb \sunpnig•\ used
in Mr 4:19; Mt 13:22, only there these worldly weeds choke the
word while here the victims themselves are choked. Both are true.
Diphtheria will choke and strangle the victim. Who has not seen
the promise of fair flower and fruit choked into yellow withered
stalk without fruit "as they go on their way" (\poreuomenoi\).
{Bring no fruit to perfection} (\ou telesphorousin\). Compound
verb common in the late writers (\telos, phore•\). To bring to
completion. Used of fruits, animals, pregnant women. Only here in
the N.T.
8:15 {In an honest and good heart} (\en kardi•i kal•i kai
agath•i\). Peculiar to Luke. In verse 8 the land (\g•n\) is
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