The Seed Sown Among Thorns Explained - Matthew 13:22

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” Jesus continued, “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy receives it. Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-two of his book, Matthew wrote how Jesus tells His disciples about, “he also that received seed among the thorns” where we read:

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

The verse reads, “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word;” Matthew began with the words, “He also” which means “the person moreover” “that received seed” or “who got, acquired and obtained the scattered seed” “among the thorns” which means “into and towards the bramble bushes, briars and thorny plants” “is he” or “is the person” “that hears” which means “who is given the faculty of hearing, perceiving understanding and comprehending” “the word” or “the speech, utterance and declaration”. Matthew shared how Jesus next referred to the person who “obtained” the gospel of the kingdom and were like the “seed” which was sown in “briar bushes or thorny plants”.

The verse goes on to say, “and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” Matthew continued with the words, “and the care” which means “and the anxiety, distraction and solicitude” “of this world” or “belonging to this certain age, period of time and age”, “and the deceitfulness” which refers to “and the delusion” “of riches” or “pertaining to wealth, money, possessions, abundance and valuable bestowment”, “choke” which means “press round or throng so as almost to suffocate” “the word” or “the speech, utterance and declaration”, “and he” which refers to “and the person who is like the seed sown among thorns” “becomes unfruitful” or “arises, appears and happens as barren, without fruit and not yielding what they ought to yield”. Matthew shared how Jesus declared the person who receives God's gospel and then involves themselves in the “cares, wealth and riches” of the “world” are suffocated by those things and become “barren” and without “fruit bearing”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the thorny bushes are likened to the “cares and wealth” of the world. Sometimes people receive the “good news” of salvation through Jesus Christ, and they begin to live their lives with the knowledge of Him. However, they involve themselves in “worldly” activities and gains, and their time, efforts, energy and monies go to those things. This makes them spiritually bankrupt, and rather than bearing fruit in God's eternal Kingdom, they are “choked” out by the “temporary” earthly ones. Perhaps it will help all who read these words to examine whether they truly have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and then take a look at the “fruit” in their own lives. The test is easy: What do you think about the most? What do you spend your time on? What do you spend your energy doing? And what do you spend your money on? These four questions are enough to begin to examine whether one is “choked” or bearing fruit in the Kingdom of God.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples about, “he that received seed into the good ground”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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