And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. The thorny soil represents divided hearts where God's word competes with worldly concerns. The verb are choked (sumpnigontai, συμπνίγονται, present passive) indicates ongoing strangulation—the word is progressively suffocated by competing priorities. Three specific threats are named: cares (merimnōn, μεριμνῶν, anxieties, worries), riches (ploutou, πλούτου, wealth), and pleasures (hēdonōn, ἡδονῶν, sensual gratifications).
These three cover life's major distractions: anxiety about necessities (cares), obsession with accumulation (riches), and indulgence in gratification (pleasures). The phrase of this life (tou biou, τοῦ βίου) emphasizes temporal, earthly existence opposed to eternal priorities. The result is tragic: they bring no fruit to perfection (ou telesphorousin, οὐ τελεσφοροῦσιν)—no mature, complete harvest. Unlike rocky-soil hearers who fall away, thorny-soil hearers continue but remain fruitless, their spiritual lives strangled by worldliness. This may be the most dangerous soil—religious profession coexisting with practical worldliness, appearing alive but spiritually barren.
Historical Context
Thorns and thistles plagued Palestinian agriculture, growing vigorously alongside crops and competing for nutrients, moisture, and sunlight. Farmers knew that unless weeds were removed, crops would be choked out. Jesus lived in an occupied land where Roman taxation created economic anxiety ('cares'), Greek commerce promoted materialism ('riches'), and Hellenistic culture celebrated sensual pleasure ('pleasures'). His audience understood these pressures intimately. The warning particularly challenged wealthy members of the early church (Luke 6:24, 12:13-21, 16:19-31, 18:18-25; James 5:1-6). Luke's Gospel repeatedly warns against wealth's spiritual dangers—more than any other Gospel. First-century believers faced the constant temptation to compromise faith for economic security or social acceptance, making this parable urgently relevant.
Questions for Reflection
Which of the three thorns—cares, riches, or pleasures—most threatens to choke out spiritual fruitfulness in your life?
How can believers with significant wealth or responsibilities avoid becoming thorny-soil hearers?
What does 'bringing fruit to perfection' look like practically, and how can we assess whether our lives are bearing mature spiritual fruit?
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Analysis & Commentary
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. The thorny soil represents divided hearts where God's word competes with worldly concerns. The verb are choked (sumpnigontai, συμπνίγονται, present passive) indicates ongoing strangulation—the word is progressively suffocated by competing priorities. Three specific threats are named: cares (merimnōn, μεριμνῶν, anxieties, worries), riches (ploutou, πλούτου, wealth), and pleasures (hēdonōn, ἡδονῶν, sensual gratifications).
These three cover life's major distractions: anxiety about necessities (cares), obsession with accumulation (riches), and indulgence in gratification (pleasures). The phrase of this life (tou biou, τοῦ βίου) emphasizes temporal, earthly existence opposed to eternal priorities. The result is tragic: they bring no fruit to perfection (ou telesphorousin, οὐ τελεσφοροῦσιν)—no mature, complete harvest. Unlike rocky-soil hearers who fall away, thorny-soil hearers continue but remain fruitless, their spiritual lives strangled by worldliness. This may be the most dangerous soil—religious profession coexisting with practical worldliness, appearing alive but spiritually barren.