Hebrews 6:7-8

 

 

Home
Site Index
Inductive Bible Study
Greek Word Studies
Commentaries by Verse
Area Precept Classes
Reference Search
Bible Dictionaries
Bible Maps & Pictures
It's Greek to Me
Bible Commentaries
Discipline Yourself
Christian Biography
Wailing Wall
Bible Prophecy

Search by Verse
Word or Phrase:

 

 

Study Tools

 
 

INDEX
PREVIOUS NEXT

COLLECTIONS
Commentaries, Word Studies, Devotionals, Sermons, Illustrations
Old and New Testament.

   
  

   

 

Search Every Word on Preceptaustin
PicoSearch
    Help

 

Hebrews 6:7  For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: ge gar e piousa (AAPFSN) ton ep' autes erchomenon (PMPMSA) pollakis hueton, kai tiktousa (PAPFSN) botanen eutheton ekeinois di' ous kai georgeitai, (3SPPI) metalambanei (3SPAI) eulogias apo tou theou;
Amplified: For the soil which has drunk the rain that repeatedly falls upon it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated partakes of a blessing from God.
(Amplified Bible - Lockman)
Barclay: For when the earth has drunk the rain that comes often times upon it and when it brings forth herbage useful to those who cultivate it, it receives a share of blessing from God;  (Westminster Press)
ESV: For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. (
ESV)
KJV: For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
NET: For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God.
 (NET Bible)
NIV
: Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.  (
NIV - IBS)
NLT: When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. (
NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: Ground which absorbs the rain that is constantly falling upon it and produces plants which are useful to those who cultivate it, is ground which has the blessing of God. (
Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest:  For land which drank in the rain that comes often upon it and produces herbage suitable for those on whose account it is also tilled, partakes of a blessing from God. (
Erdmans
Weymouth: For land which has drunk in the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sakes, indeed, it is tilled, has a share in God’s blessing.
Young's Literal: For earth, that is drinking in the rain many times coming upon it, and is bringing forth herbs fit for those because of whom also it is dressed, doth partake of blessing from God,

References

Albert Barnes
Brian Bell
John Calvin
Rich Cathers
Adam Clarke
Steven Cole
Thomas Constable
Bob DeWaay
Explore the Bible
Dan Fortner
Scott Grant
Dave Guzik
Hebrews Project
Matthew Henry
F B Hole
Jamieson, F, B
S Lewis Johnson
S Lewis Johnson
William Kelly
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
Alexander Maclaren
J Vernon McGee
F B Meyer
Phil Newton
Phil Newton
A W Pink
A W Pink
John Piper
A T Robertson
Gil Rugh
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
Ray Stedman
Ray Stedman
Ray Stedman
Today in the Word
Marvin Vincent
Drew Worthen
Precept Ministries

Hebrews 6
Hebrews 6:1-8
Hebrews 6
Hebrews 6:1-9
Hebrews 6
Hebrews 6:4-8 When Repentance Becomes Impossible

Hebrews 6
Hebrews 6:4-8 Can True Christians Commit Apostasy?
Hebrews 5:11-14; 6:1-12 Determine to Mature

Hebrews 6:4-20 If They Shall Fall Away
Hebrews 5:11-6:12 Chewing on Meat
Hebrews 6
Hebrews 6:4-8
Hebrews 6
Hebrews Commentary Notes
Hebrews 6
Hebrews 6:1-12 The Thing God Cannot Permit (audio)
Hebrews 6:1-12 Peril of Apostasy (audio)
Hebrews 1-6 Commentary
Hebrews 6:1-8 Tragedy of Rejecting Full Revelation-2

Hebrews 6:9-12 Tragedy of Rejecting Full Revelation-3

Hebrews 6:13-20 The Securities of God's Promise
Hebrews 6:7 A Field Which The Lord Hath Blessed

Hebrews - 115 Mp3's Thru the Bible Commentary
Hebrews 6:4-6: Impossible to Renew to Repentance

Hebrews 6:1-8 Can a Believer Lose His Salvation? (1) 
Hebrews 6:1-8 Can a Believer Lose His Salvation? (2) 
Hebrews 6:7, 8 Two Classes of Professors
Hebrews 6:9-11 Two Christians Described
Hebrews 6:4-8 When is saving repentance impossible?
Hebrews 6 Word Pictures
Hebrews 6:4-8 Once Enlightened

Hebrews 6:4-6 Final Perseverance
Hebrews 6 Exposition
Hebrews 6:1-20 Repentance Can Be Impossible!

Hebrews 5:11-6:12 Let's Get On with It

Hebrews 6:4-8 The Danger of Knowledge Without Faith
Hebrews 6:4-12;
Hebrews 6:4-20
Hebrews 6: Word Studies
Hebrews 6:7-12 Christ's Flock Will Persevere
Hebrews Inductive Study Pt 1; Part 2

FOR GROUND THAT DRINKS THE RAIN WHICH OFTEN FALLS ON IT: ge gar e piousa (AAPFSN) ton ep autes erchomenon (PMPMSA): (Deut 28:11,12 Ps 65:9-13, Ps 104:11-13 Isaiah 55:10-13 Joel 2:21-26 James 5:7)

To review remember that there are 4 Interpretative Views of Hebrews 6:4-8...

1). Saved, but lose salvation thru deliberate apostasy:

The Whole Counsel of God refutes the idea that one can lose his salvation. (Read passages like Jn 10:27-30; see notes on following passages Romans 8:35; 8:36; 8:37; 8:39; Ephesians 1:13, 1:14; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 10:14; 1 Peter 1:3; 1:4; 1:5.)

2). Professors but not truly saved.

They clearly see the Truth ("enlightened"), experience the power to a degree ("tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come"), like Judas Iscariot (Mt 10:1-8) but they are like the rocky soil (see Lk 8:13), soil with thorns (Lk 8:14), who for a time conform to truth but in face of persecution (Lk 8:13), utterly and completely renounce the faith, falling away to perdition (Hebrews 3:12 see note, Hebrews 10:39 -note, Jn 17:12) (cf. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews, pp. 118-125).

3). Saved persons who have fallen beyond repentance:

Falling into sin so that they are at the point of divine chastisement, having gone so far they cannot repent again of their sin. That they lose all their rewards.

4). Hypothetical case:

The proponents of this view feel that writer is presenting this hypothetical example to illustrate the folly of apostasy.

Ground that drinks the rain - The contrasting issue is either usefulness or worthlessness. The initial advantage described is the same and it is only the final result that is different. Agricultural illustrations are frequent in Scripture (Isaiah 5:1-7 [Israel compared to a vineyard cultivated by God and yet did not yield fruit] ; Isaiah 28:23-29; Ezek 19:10-14 [Judah prospered like a luxuriant vine but God plucked the vine in judgment]]; Mt 3:10 [Divine judgment > fruitless persons would be destroyed like fruitless trees]; Matthew 7:16 see note).

John Piper writes concerning these verses that...

The two fields represent two kinds of persons: one a fruitful person. The other a fruitless person. Three words point to the final condemnation and lostness of the fruitless person. The fruitless field is worthless (Cf. Ro 1:28-note; 2Cor 13:5-7; 1Cor 9:24-25, 26-27; 2 Timothy 3:8-note; Titus 1:16-note - these verses all use adokimos - see notes Hebrews 6:8 ), and it is about to be cursed, and it's end (not means but end) is burning. Worthless, cursed, destined for burning. That is the language of final condemnation...The whole context tells us that more than a simple change of mind is involved (in their "falling away" in Hebrews 6:6). What's involved is a life that is persistently fruitless. That's the point of verse 7 -- the fruitless field. What brings the curse of God down on a person in this text is that they have drunk the rain of God's goodness year after year but have not brought forth any fruit.

The issue of apostasy is not primarily doctrinal, but practical. It's the problem of Hebrews 5:14  (note) where they are unwilling to put there faith into practice, and so their faculties are getting dull, right and wrong are becoming hazy, and the writer says, if you don't stop drifting (Hebrews 2:1-note) and neglecting your salvation (Hebrews 2:3 note) and forsaking the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25-note) you are going to be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin and fall away from the living God (Hebrews 3:12-note; Heb 3:13-note).

What exposes a person to the danger of eternal loss in this text is the persistent failure to exercise the organ of faith in pumping the blood of obedience (see notes
Hebrews 3:18; 4:11; 5:7; 5:8, 5:9; 10:36; 12:14). The issue at every point in Hebrews 5:11 to Hebrews 6:12 is the neglect of practical holiness not the abandonment doctrinal orthodoxy (as important as that is). And the falling away referred to in Hebrews 6:6 is the point at which the heart becomes so hardened and indifferent that it is beyond help any more.

If you allow yourself to drift down the river of sin with no zealous pursuit of holiness and growth in grace, there will come a point of no return." This is the great folly of those who profess to be Christians but live a carnal life thinking that they will clean things up in their old age.

I've told the story once before of the vulture who spotted the corpse of a fox on a big hunk of ice floating down the river toward Niagara Falls. He flies to the ice, lands and begins to eat the fox. He watches the falls approaching and hears the warnings of danger, but he tells himself that he has wings and is free and does not need to pay attention to such warnings. He is destined for the sky. At the last minute he finishes his feast and spreads his wings but he can't fly because his talons have frozen in the ice and he is dragged over the falls to his destruction.

And so it will be with people who have heard the warnings of scripture to abandon their worldly lusts and pursue holiness, but who say, "I have wings, I am a Christian. I can fly anytime I want to." The day will come when they may try and will not be able to repent because they are so hardened and addicted to the world they can't even feel one genuine spiritual affection (referring to Esau's regret without repentance - example of exposure to the Truth and yet their hardness - Hebrews 12:17
note). (See Piper's full pithy discussion The Doctrine of Perseverance)

F B Hole (Biographical Note) writes that...

The contrast in verses 7 and 8 is not, you notice, between ground which this season is fruitful and the same ground which another season is unfruitful, but between ground which is essentially good and another piece which is essentially bad. The very form of this illustration supports the explanation just given of verses 4 to 6. Judas enjoyed "the rain that cometh oft," yet he only brought forth thorns and briars and was rejected.  (Hebrews Commentary Notes)

Expositor's Bible Commentary writes that...

The process is illustrated from agriculture. There is land that frequently drinks in rain and as a result brings forth a crop. The rain comes first. The land does not produce the crop of itself. The spiritual parallel should not be overlooked. The word translated "a crop" (botane) is a general term for herbage; it does not mean any specific crop. "Useful to those for whom it is farmed" means that the beneficiaries are people in general and not only those who actually work on the farm. This land, then, receives God's blessing. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing)

AND BRINGS FORTH VEGETATION USEFUL TO THOSE FOR WHOSE SAKE IT IS ALSO TILLED, RECEIVES A BLESSING FROM GOD:  pollakis hueton kai tiktousa (PAPFSN) botanen eutheton ekeinois di ous kai georgeitai (3SPPI) , metalambanei (3SPAI) eulogias apo tou theou: (Ge 27:27 Lev 25:21 Ps 24:5 Ps 65:10 Ps 126:6 Isaiah 44:3 Ezek 34:26 Hosea 10:12 Mal 3:10)

The rain comes first. The land does not produce the crop of itself. The spiritual parallel is that fruit-bearing is the evidence of a genuine faith and regeneration. Fruit-bearing (cf. John 15:5-6) is the evidence of a true relationship with Christ. The fruit of course is the evidence of and not the means of salvation.

It should be noted that some evangelical commentators like Dr Charles Ryrie feel that the writer is describing loss of rewards in Hebrews 6:6-7.

Brings forth (5088) (tikto) means to be born (of children in Mt 1:21 speaking of Mary declaring "she will bear a Son..."), here of course describing the earth producing or yielding vegetation. The present tense describes ground that continually (as a "lifestyle") gives "birth" to useful vegetation.

Receives  (3335) (metalambano from meta = with, denoting association + lambáno =  receive) means to receive as one's share in or as one's part of. The idea is to share or participate in something.

Blessing (2129) (eulogia from eu = good, well + lógos = word) is literally a good word and by metonymy (figure of speech consisting of use of name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated - e.g., "Washington" for the US government), blessing, favor conferred, gift, benefit, bounty.

Eulogia is the act of speaking in favorable terms (praise) or the benefit of blessing. Here it speaks primarily of the spiritual benefits bestowed by God upon His family members. He blesses because He is ready, willing and able to do so, not because we deserve His blessings or have earned them (it is all of grace). He is the source of all blessing, of every good thing. Goodness can only come from God because there is no source of goodness outside of God (the natural man bristles at truths such as this).

Jon Courson writes that...

Just as rain falls on both briars and fruit-bearing plants, the glorious news of salvation would have been refreshing and renewing to those who understood that salvation is based solely and completely on the finished work of the Cross. But to those who insisted on returning to a works-based relationship with God, the same Word would be damning. (Courson, J: Jon Courson's Application Commentary: NT. Nelson. 2004 or Logos

Wycliffe Bible Commentary writes that...

In choosing to reject Christ, the apostates most resembled a field that yields only thorns and thistles, though the rains falling upon it and the farmers tilling were intended to produce beneficial herbs. There can be no mistaking the direct and strong warning to readers tempted to turn away from Christ. Indeed, what was true for these first century believers is still true for believers today. (Pfeiffer, C F: Wycliffe Bible Commentary. 1981. Moody or Logos)

KJV Bible Commentary writes that...

 It should also be noticed that the illustration does not speak of a parcel of land that first produces and later becomes void of life; so it does not illustrate someone saved then lost. (Dobson, E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV Bible Commentary: Nelson or Logos)

Wuest explains that...

In these verses the writer presents an analogy in nature. The abundant and frequently renewed rain, represents the free and reiterated bestowal of spiritual enlightenment and impulse to these Hebrews. One piece of ground reacts by producing herbage good for food. This is the Hebrew who accepts the New Testament by faith. On the other hand, the ground that receives the same rain, but produces thorns and briers, is likened to the Hebrew who being the recipient of the pre-salvation work of the Spirit, yet turns his back on Him and goes back to the First Testament sacrifices, the apostate who can look for nothing but certain judgment (Hebrews 10:26-31). (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos)

 

Hebrews 6:8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned  (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: ekpherousa (PAPFSN) de akanthas kai tribolous adokimos kai kataras eggus, es to telos eis kausin.
Amplified: But if [that same soil] persistently bears thorns and thistles, it is considered worthless and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. [Gen. 3:17, 18.]
(Amplified Bible - Lockman)
Barclay: but if it produces thorns and thistles it is rejected and is in imminent danger of a curse, and its end is to be appointed for burning.  (Westminster Press)
ESV: But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.  (
ESV)
KJV: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
NET:  But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned.
 (NET Bible)
NIV
: But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.  (
NIV - IBS)
NLT: But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it. (
NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: But ground which produces nothing but thorns and thistles is of no value and is bound sooner or later to be condemned - the only thing to do is to burn it clean. (
Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest:  But if it brings forth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and almost cursed, and its end is burning. (
Erdmans
Weymouth: But if it only yields a mass of thorns and briers, it is considered worthless, and is in danger of being cursed, and in the end will be destroyed by fire.
Young's Literal: and that which is bearing thorns and briers is disapproved of, and nigh to cursing, whose end is for burning;

BUT IF IT YIELDS THORNS AND THISTLES IT IS WORTHLESS: ekpherousa (PAPFSN) de akanthas kai tribolous adokimos : (Heb 12:17 Ge 3:17,18 4:11 5:29 De 29:28 Job 31:40 Ps 107:34 Isaiah 5:1-7 Jer 17:6, 44:22 Mark 11:14,21 Lk 13:7-9 )

Yields (1627) (ekphero from ek = out + phéro = bring, bear, carry) means to bear or carry out, bring forth, or yield. Note the present tense which means if it continually (as a "lifestyle") yields thorns and thistles.

Thorns (173) (akantha from ake = a point or prick) refers to a thorn plant, thistle or brier which abounds with pricks

Thistles (5146) (tribolos from treís = three + bélos = an arrow, dart, or bolís = dart) means three-pointed or three-pronged.

Vincent notes that the tribolos described...

A ball with sharp iron spikes, on three of which it rested, while the fourth projected upward, was called tribulus or tribolos, or caltrop. These were scattered over the ground by Roman soldiers in order to impede the enemy’s cavalry. A kind of thorn or thistle, a land-caltrop, was called tribulus. (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament 4:447)

Worthless (96) (adokimos from a = without + dokimos = tested and thus reliable or acceptable) refers to that which is rejected after a trial or examination because it fails the test. It means to put to the test for the purpose of being approved, but failing to meet the requirements.

The basic meaning of adokimos is that of failing to meet the test or not standing the test. It describes that  which does not prove itself to be such as it ought and which is therefore disapproved and useless. Worthless land does not produce fruit and does does not stand God's test. Adokimos a strong word and most of the NT's 8 usages (see below) refer to non-believers. In short adokimos describes that which is worthless, spurious, unqualified, disqualified, corrupted, not approved.

Adokimos was commonly used of metals that were rejected by refiners because of impurities. The impure metals were discarded, and adokimos therefore came to include the ideas of worthlessness and uselessness.

In relation to God, the rejecting mind becomes a rejected mind (Ro 1:28) and thereby becomes spiritually depraved, worthless and useless. Thus Paul records

Romans 1:28 And just as they did not see fit (dokimazo) to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved (adokimos) mind, to do those things which are not proper. (Comment: This is literally a disapproved mind or a mind which is no mind and cannot discharge the functions of one, a mind in which the divine distinctions of right and wrong are confused and lost, so that God’s condemnation cannot but fall on it at last). (see note Romans 1:28)

Study (and ponder) these other 6 NT uses of this picturesque adjective adokimos...

1Corinthians 9:27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified (adokimos). (Comment:  Here adokimos presents a metaphor from the Isthmian games. A contestant who failed to meet the training requirements was disqualified from engaging in the athletic contest. Thus he could not even run, much less win. Note that Paul was not speaking of being disqualified from salvation, but of being disqualified as a usable instrument, a vessel of honor, of the Lord in ministry.)

 2 Corinthians 13:5 Test (peirazo - present imperative) yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine (dokimazo - present imperative) yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test (adokimos)?

2 Corinthians 13:6 But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test  (adokimos).

2 Corinthians 13:7 Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we should appear unapproved (adokimos).

2 Timothy 3:8 And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected (adokimos) as regards the faith. (see note)

Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed. (see note)

Hebrews 6:8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless (adokimos) and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

There are 2 uses of adokimos in the Septuagint (LXX), Pr 25:4 and Isaiah 1:22.

Isaiah 1:22 Your (speaking of unfaithful Israel) silver has become dross (Septuagint = adokimos = worthless), Your drink diluted with water.

Of unbelievers, Jeremiah wrote,

“They call them rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected them” (Jer 6:30).

The mind that finds God worthless becomes worthless itself. It is debauched, deceived, and deserving only of God’s divine wrath. The sinful, depraved mind says to God, “Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Thy ways."

This group in Hebrews 6:4-6 (see Group 2) are professor whose deeds substantiate that their profession is false and their destiny is eternal burning in the Lake of fire.

Adam Clarke has a comment appropriate to these who fall away...

"Adulterate; like bad coin, deficient both in the weight and goodness of the metal, and without the proper sterling stamp; and consequently not current. If they did a good work, they did not do it in the spirit in which it should be performed. They had the name of God’s people; but they were counterfeit. The prophet said; Reprobate silver shall men call them." (Titus 1)

Adokimos was used to describe a counterfeit coin that fell below the standard weight, the worthless money being called adokimos. The word also was used of counterfeits of various sorts. Adokimos was used to describe a cowardly soldier who failed the test in the hour of battle. Adokimos described a candidate for office who the citizens regarded as useless. Finally a stone rejected by builders because of a flaw which made it unfit for construction, the rejected stone being clearly marked by a capital "A" (for adokimos) on it's surface. The ultimate test of life is usefulness, and the man whose influence is ever towards that which is unclean is of no use to God or to his fellow-men. Instead of helping God’s work in the world, he hinders it and uselessness always invites disaster.

It is as if these unsaved men profess Christ but in actuality deny Him and then have a giant "A" stamped on their head and heart. They stand forever rejected by the Master Architect and of no eternal value to Him in building His kingdom. This should break our hearts that these men and women are so deceived. Doubtless they will be among the

"Many (who) will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' (see note Matthew 7:22) to whom He declares "I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS." (see note Matthew 7:23

The ultimate test in this life is usefulness to God and the man whose influence is ever towards that which is unclean is of no use to God or to his fellow men. Instead of helping God's work in the world, he hinders it and uselessness always invites disaster.

For many years John Wesley professed to be a Christian and yet when he truly examined himself realized he was not "in the faith" as illustrated by this brief excerpt from his sermon entitled "The Almost Christian":

I did go thus for many years, as many of this place can testify; using diligence to eschew all evil, and to have a conscience void of offence; redeeming the time; buying up every opportunity of doing all good to all men; constantly and carefully using all the public and all the private means of grace; endeavoring, after a steady seriousness of behavior, at all times, and in all places: and God is my record, before whom I stand, doing all this in sincerity; having a real design to serve God; a hearty desire to do his will in all things; to please him who had called me to “fight the good fight,” and to “lay hold on eternal life.” Yet my own conscience bears me witness, in the Holy Ghost, that all this time I was but almost a Christian.''

Fruitfulness is a test of genuine nature of a tree or plant and is a metaphor which Jesus Himself frequently used...

Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance (Mt 3:8)

Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. (see note Matthew 7:17)

And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. (Mt 13:20,21)

And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 "And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. (Luke 8:13-14)

And in a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 "And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (Mk 4:16-19)

See related notes on assessing the genuineness of one's faith - James 2:14