Luke 8:5-8

The main focus of this parable in all the Synoptics is not on the sower (Jesus and His disciples) or the seed (the Word of God), as important as these are. It is the soils on which the seed falls. Evidently in Jesus’ day, at least in some situations, sowing preceded plowing. [Note: Liefeld, p. 906; Fitzmyer, p. 703; Morris, p. 151.] Consequently it is not unusual that the sower scattered his seed where he did. The presence of thorn seeds would not discourage the sower from sowing seed among them if he knew they were there. Rocks under the surface would only become visible when the farmer plowed the seed under.

Luke probably omitted the lesser harvests and mentioned the largest yield to encourage his disciples with the ultimate result of His and their work. Only Luke mentioned that people trampled the seed under foot (Luke 8:5) perhaps to indicate people’s contempt for God’s Word (cf. Hebrews 10:29). His unique reference to lack of moisture (Luke 8:6, cf. Jeremiah 17:8) explains why those plants had "no root" (Matthew 13:6; Mark 4:6). Jesus’ final appeal urged careful listening.