Luke 8:12

Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Those {G1161} by {G3844} the way side {G3598} are {G1526} they that hear {G191}; then {G1534} cometh {G2064} the devil {G1228}, and {G2532} taketh away {G142} the word {G3056} out of {G575} their {G846} hearts {G2588}, lest {G3363} they should believe {G4100} and be saved {G4982}.

The ones along the path are those who hear, but then the Adversary comes and takes the message out of their hearts, in order to keep them from being saved by trusting it.

The seeds along the path are those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.

Commentary

Commentary on Luke 8:12 (KJV)

Luke 8:12 is a pivotal verse within Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Sower, offering profound insight into why the message of the Kingdom of God may not take root in some hearts. It specifically addresses the first type of soil, the "way side," revealing the spiritual battle behind the lack of spiritual fruit.

Context

This verse comes directly after Jesus has told the parable to a large crowd and, in response to His disciples' query, begins to explain its meaning to them (Luke 8:9-10). The Parable of the Sower describes four types of ground upon which seed falls, each representing a different response to the "word of God." Luke 8:12 focuses on the first scenario, where the seed falls "by the way side." Parallel accounts of this parable and its explanation are found in Matthew 13:19 and Mark 4:15, consistently emphasizing the immediate destructive action of the devil.

Key Themes

  • The Vulnerability of Initial Hearing: The "way side" represents those who hear the word but do not truly receive it into their hearts. Their hearing is superficial, leaving the message exposed and easily snatched away. This highlights the importance of not just passive listening, but active engagement with spiritual truth.
  • The Devil's Immediate Opposition: The verse explicitly names "the devil" as the active agent who "taketh away the word." This underscores the reality of spiritual warfare and the enemy's direct and immediate efforts to prevent people from believing and experiencing salvation. The devil's primary tactic here is prevention, removing the very foundation of faith before it can even begin to grow.
  • The Goal of Belief and Salvation: The ultimate purpose of the word being sown is for people to "believe and be saved." The devil's intervention is precisely to thwart this divine purpose. This emphasizes the critical link between hearing the Gospel, believing it, and receiving the gift of salvation, as highlighted in verses like John 3:16 and Romans 10:9.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Greek word for "taketh away" is haireō (αἱρέω), which means to take, seize, or carry off. It implies a deliberate and often forceful act, emphasizing the devil's predatory nature in snatching the word from unsuspecting hearts.
  • The "word" is logos (λόγος), referring to the divine message, the Gospel, or the teaching of Christ.
  • "Believe" is pisteuō (πιστεύω), signifying trust, faith, and reliance upon the message and its sender. "Saved" is sōzō (σῴζω), meaning to be delivered, preserved, or made whole, often referring to spiritual deliverance from sin and its consequences.

Practical Application

Luke 8:12 serves as a powerful warning and a call to spiritual vigilance:

  • Guard Your Heart: It reminds us of the crucial need to prepare our hearts to receive God's word, ensuring it is not left exposed "by the way side." This involves actively engaging with Scripture, meditating on it, and allowing it to penetrate beyond mere intellectual hearing.
  • Recognize Spiritual Opposition: The verse reveals that spiritual attacks against the truth are immediate and direct. Believers must be aware of the enemy's schemes, as exhorted in Ephesians 6:11, and pray for protection over those who hear the Gospel.
  • Persevere in Faith: For those who have heard the word, it's a call to hold fast to it, ensuring that the devil does not succeed in snatching away the precious seed of faith. As James 1:22 teaches, we must be "doers of the word, and not hearers only."
  • Pray for New Hearers: For those sharing the Gospel, this verse underscores the reality of spiritual resistance. It encourages prayer for those who hear, that their hearts would be receptive and that the word would take root deeply, leading to genuine belief and salvation.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:9

    [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:14

    Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Mark 4:15

    And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

  • James 1:23

    For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

  • James 1:24

    For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

  • Matthew 13:19

    When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
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