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What does the parable of the sower say about those who believe for a while and then fall away?

Direct

A clear verse states this directly, and no higher-or-equal-authority text overturns it.

The parable says directly that the rocky-ground hearers receive the word with joy and believe for a time, but because they have no root, they fall away when testing or persecution comes, and they bear no lasting fruit.

Jesus himself interprets the rocky-ground hearer in all three accounts: they hear the word, receive it with joy, believe for a season (Luke 8:13 uses pisteúousin, "they believe"), but have no root in themselves, and when pressure arrives they fall away (aphístantai, "they depart/withdraw"). This is stated plainly in Jesus' own words, not inferred.

Key texts:
Luke 8:13Tier 2 · Jesus
“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 8:11Tier 2 · Jesus
““Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”
Luke 8:12Tier 2 · Jesus
“Those along the road are those who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.”

…and 22 more verses weighed in the full analysis.

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