Matthew 13:7

KJV

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} some {G243} fell {G4098} among {G1909} thorns {G173}; and {G2532} the thorns {G173} sprung up {G305}, and {G2532} choked {G638} them {G846}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

Berean Standard Bible

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.

American Standard Version

And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 13:7, a pivotal verse within Jesus' Parable of the Sower, vividly illustrates the fate of the "word of the kingdom" when it encounters a heart preoccupied with worldly concerns. It describes seeds falling among thorns, which subsequently grow and suffocate the nascent plants, preventing them from bearing fruit. This imagery serves as a profound warning about the spiritual dangers of distraction and the insidious nature of earthly anxieties and desires that can hinder genuine spiritual growth and fruitfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 13:7 is an integral part of the Parable of the Sower (or Soils), which Jesus delivers to the crowds from a boat by the sea, as recorded in [Matthew 13:1-9](/matthew/13-1-9 "Matthew 13:1-9 - The Parable of the Sower"). This parable is the first and foundational of seven parables in Matthew 13, often referred to as the "Kingdom Parables," which collectively reveal various aspects of the Kingdom of Heaven. Immediately following the parable, Jesus explains to His disciples why He teaches in parables, emphasizing that understanding the mysteries of the kingdom is granted to some but concealed from others ([Matthew 13:10-17](/matthew/13-10-17 "Matthew 13:10-17 - Why Jesus Taught in Parables")). Crucially, Jesus Himself provides the interpretation of the Parable of the Sower in [Matthew 13:18-23](/matthew/13-18-23 "Matthew 13:18-23 - Jesus Explains the Parable of the Sower"), directly explaining the meaning of the thorny ground in [Matthew 13:22](/matthew/13-22 "Matthew 13:22 - The Meaning of the Thorny Ground"). This immediate divine exposition underscores the theological weight and interpretive clarity Jesus intends for this specific illustration.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israelite agriculture, particularly dry farming, often involved sowing seeds directly onto unplowed or poorly prepared ground, where dormant weeds and thorns were common. Farmers would typically plow *after* sowing to cover the seeds, but this method could also bring up previously buried weed seeds or root systems. Thorns, such as thistles or brambles, were pervasive in the rocky and often neglected fields of Palestine. These plants were known for their rapid growth, deep root systems, and ability to outcompete cultivated crops for vital resources like water, sunlight, and nutrients. The imagery would have been instantly recognizable to Jesus' audience, many of whom were agrarian. Furthermore, the "cares of this world" and "deceitfulness of riches" ([Matthew 13:22](/matthew/13-22 "Matthew 13:22 - Jesus' Explanation of the Thorny Ground")) were ever-present realities. Life in the Roman Empire was often economically precarious, leading to significant anxiety about daily sustenance. Simultaneously, the pursuit of wealth, though perhaps less accessible to the common person, was a powerful temptation, promising security and status. Jesus' parable thus speaks to universal human struggles, rooted in the specific socio-economic conditions of His time.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 13:7 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Matthew's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the theme of **receptivity to the Word of God**, demonstrating that merely hearing the word is insufficient; the condition of the heart is paramount. The verse underscores the **obstacles to spiritual growth**, specifically identifying worldly anxieties and the allure of wealth as potent hindrances to genuine faith and fruitfulness. This aligns with Jesus' teaching on the impossibility of serving both God and money in [Matthew 6:24](/matthew/6-24 "Matthew 6:24 - No One Can Serve Two Masters"). Furthermore, the choking of the plants emphasizes the theme of **fruitfulness** as the ultimate evidence of true spiritual life, contrasting sharply with the good soil that yields a bountiful harvest ([Matthew 13:8](/matthew/13-8 "Matthew 13:8 - The Good Soil")). It also subtly introduces the theme of **spiritual warfare**, as the "thorns" represent forces (internal and external) that actively work against the flourishing of God's kingdom within an individual.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **thorns (Greek, _ákantha'_):** This word (G173) refers to any prickly plant, a thistle, or a bramble. In the context of the parable, thorns vividly symbolize the invasive, destructive elements that compete with and ultimately suffocate spiritual life. They represent the "cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches," as Jesus later explains, which are inherently thorny and painful in their long-term effects, despite their initial allure.
* **sprung up (Greek, _anabaínō'_):** This verb (G305) means "to go up," "arise," or "grow up." Its use here emphasizes the concurrent growth of the thorns alongside the sown seed. It's not that the thorns were absent, but rather that they were dormant or small, and with the same conditions (water, sun) that nourished the good seed, they also grew rapidly and vigorously, ultimately overpowering the tender plants. This suggests an insidious, often unnoticed, encroachment of worldly concerns.
* **choked (Greek, _apopnígō'_):** This powerful verb (G638) means "to stifle," "strangle," or "suffocate." It conveys the complete and fatal suppression of life. The thorns don't merely hinder growth; they actively cut off the life source (light, water, nutrients) from the plants, leading to their death. This illustrates the severe consequence of allowing worldly distractions to dominate one's heart—they effectively kill the potential for spiritual fruitfulness and vitality.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And some fell among thorns;":** This clause introduces the third type of soil, immediately signaling a challenging environment for the seed. The "thorns" are not just a passive obstacle but an active, competing force. The "some" refers to the seeds, representing the "word of the kingdom" ([Matthew 13:19](/matthew/13-19 "Matthew 13:19 - The Word of the Kingdom")), indicating that the message of God's reign is indeed sown in hearts that are already entangled with other growths.
* **"and the thorns sprung up,":** This part highlights the active, aggressive nature of the thorns. They don't remain dormant; they grow concurrently and vigorously with the sown seed. This signifies that worldly concerns, anxieties, and desires are not static but are dynamic forces that can quickly proliferate and intensify, especially when the "seed" of the Word begins to take root. Their growth is a natural process, but in this context, it is spiritually detrimental.
* **"and choked them:":** This final clause reveals the tragic outcome. The thorns, having grown alongside and outpaced the good plants, ultimately "choke" or suffocate them. This means the plants are deprived of essential resources like light and air, leading to their demise and, crucially, their inability to bear fruit. Spiritually, this signifies that the Word, though initially received, is rendered unfruitful because the heart is overwhelmed and consumed by the competing demands of the world, preventing genuine spiritual transformation and the production of righteous living.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Matthew 13:7 is **Symbolism**. The "thorns" are not merely literal plants but powerful symbols representing the "cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches" ([Matthew 13:22](/matthew/13-22 "Matthew 13:22 - Jesus' Explanation of the Thorny Ground")). This symbolic representation allows Jesus to convey complex spiritual truths through relatable agricultural imagery. Furthermore, there is an element of **Personification** in the phrase "choked them." While thorns literally hinder growth, the verb "choked" (apopnígō) carries a sense of active, almost malicious, strangulation, as if the thorns are intentionally suppressing the life out of the plants. This imbues the obstacles with a vivid, almost adversarial quality, emphasizing their destructive power. The entire parable itself is an **Allegory**, where each element (sower, seed, soils, thorns, birds, good soil, fruit) corresponds to a specific spiritual reality, making the abstract concept of spiritual receptivity tangible and memorable.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 13:7 serves as a poignant theological warning regarding the insidious nature of worldliness and its capacity to nullify the transformative power of God's Word. It underscores that spiritual growth and fruitfulness are not automatic outcomes of hearing the gospel, but require a heart diligently cultivated and guarded against competing allegiances. The "thorns" represent anything that diverts our primary devotion from God—be it anxieties about material provision, the deceptive allure of wealth, the pursuit of worldly status, or even seemingly benign distractions that consume our time and energy, ultimately suffocating our spiritual vitality and preventing us from bearing fruit for the Kingdom. This passage calls believers to a radical re-evaluation of their priorities, urging them to actively prune away those things that threaten to choke the life of Christ within them.

* [Mark 4:19](/mark/4-19 "Mark 4:19 - The Cares of the World and Riches")
* [Luke 8:14](/luke/8-14 "Luke 8:14 - Choked by Cares, Riches, and Pleasures")
* [1 Timothy 6:9-10](/1_timothy/6-9-10 "1 Timothy 6:9-10 - The Root of All Evil")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 13:7 challenges us to deeply examine the soil of our own hearts. It's not enough to simply hear the Word of God; we must actively cultivate an environment where it can thrive. What "thorns" are growing in your life, competing for your attention, energy, and devotion? Are the anxieties of daily life, the relentless pursuit of financial security, the allure of material possessions, or even the endless stream of entertainment and distractions, subtly choking the life out of your spiritual growth? This verse compels us to consider whether our priorities truly reflect a kingdom-first mindset, or if we are allowing the clamor of the world to drown out the quiet, life-giving voice of God. True spiritual fruitfulness requires intentional pruning, a deliberate choice to remove those competing growths that hinder the Word from taking deep root and yielding an abundant harvest. It calls for vigilance, self-assessment, and a courageous willingness to surrender our worldly attachments for the sake of eternal life and purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific "thorns" (cares, riches, pleasures, distractions) do I identify as actively competing with the Word of God in my life right now?**
* **In what practical ways can I "prune" these thorns to create more space and nourishment for spiritual growth?**
* **How does my daily schedule and financial stewardship reflect my true priorities? Am I investing in what truly lasts?**
* **What does "fruitfulness" look like in my life, and how can I intentionally cultivate it in light of this warning?**

### FAQ

**What does "choked them" mean in the context of the parable?**

Answer: In Matthew 13:7, "choked them" signifies the complete suppression and eventual death of the plants that sprouted among the thorns. Spiritually, as Jesus explains in [Matthew 13:22](/matthew/13-22 "Matthew 13:22 - The Meaning of the Thorny Ground"), it means that the "word of the kingdom" is stifled and rendered unfruitful in the hearts of those who receive it but allow the "cares of this world" and the "deceitfulness of riches" to dominate their lives. These worldly concerns act like the thorns, consuming the spiritual nourishment (time, energy, focus) that the Word needs to grow, preventing genuine transformation and the production of righteous fruit.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 13:7, while a warning, ultimately points to the necessity of a Christ-centered life as the only true antidote to the choking influence of the world. Jesus Himself is the ultimate Sower of the Word, and His life perfectly exemplifies a heart entirely free from the thorns of worldly anxiety and covetousness. He taught His disciples to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" ([Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seek First the Kingdom")), demonstrating through His own ministry and reliance on the Father that true life is found not in accumulating earthly treasures but in absolute surrender to God's will. The very "Word" that is sown is Christ Himself, the living Word of God ([John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - In the Beginning Was the Word")). For the seed to flourish, it requires not just a hearing, but a radical reorientation of the heart, made possible only through union with Christ. He is the one who empowers believers to "cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you" ([1 Peter 5:7](/1_peter/5-7 "1 Peter 5:7 - Cast Your Anxiety on Him")), and to find true riches in Him, rather than in the deceitful promises of the world ([Philippians 3:7-8](/philippians/3-7-8 "Philippians 3:7-8 - Loss for the Sake of Christ")). Only by abiding in Christ, the true vine, can we bear "much fruit" ([John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Abide in the Vine")), overcoming the choking power of the thorns through His indwelling Spirit.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 4:18

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

Mark 4:19

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Jeremiah 4:3

¶ For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Jeremiah 4:4

Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench [it], because of the evil of your doings.

Genesis 3:18

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Matthew 13:22

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