Charles Ellicott Commentary Luke 8:14

"And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection." — Luke 8:14 (ASV)

Cares and riches and pleasures of this life.—A better rendering is simply of life, as St. Luke’s word (bios) is different from that in the other two Gospels (œon, a time or period—and so used for “the world”). The insertion of pleasures is unique to St. Luke, as is also the specific bring no fruit to perfection instead of becometh unfruitful. The one Greek word that St. Luke uses (and for which the English version substitutes five words) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. Belonging as it does to the vocabulary of a more polished literature, this word is characteristic of his general culture.