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Luke 8 · a question people ask

Jesus says those on the rock "believe for a while" (8:13). What kind of believing is that?

In the text

Jesus says no more about it than these words. In the parable, "Some seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture" (8:6). In his explanation, "Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation." (8:13). Christians read these words in more than one way. These notes quote them as they stand and choose no reading.

The verses

“Some seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.”
Luke 8:6 · World English Bible
“Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation.”
Luke 8:13 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Luke 8

Luke 8: How you hear

In Luke, Jesus answers about his mother and brothers in the words of his own explanation: "The seed is the word of God" (8:11), and "My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it" (8:21). And "Only believe, and she will be healed" (8:50) has the same two Greek verbs as "that they may not believe and be saved" (8:12).

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Last reviewed October 2, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions