Matthew 13:7

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

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

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

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

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

Matthew 13:7 is a crucial part of Jesus' Parable of the Sower, detailing the fate of seeds that fall among thorns.

Context

This verse is found within the Parable of the Sower (or Soils), one of Jesus' most significant parables, recorded also in Mark 4:7 and Luke 8:7. Jesus used familiar agricultural imagery to explain how people receive and respond to the "word of the kingdom." In ancient Israel, it was common for fields to contain dormant weeds or thorns that would sprout alongside newly sown crops, competing for vital resources like water, nutrients, and sunlight.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Spiritual Obstacles: The thorns represent the various hindrances that prevent the Word of God from taking deep root and bearing fruit in a person's life.
  • Worldly Cares and Riches: Jesus later explains in Matthew 13:22 that these thorns symbolize "the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches," which choke the word. This highlights the danger of prioritizing worldly concerns over spiritual growth, echoing warnings against the love of money.
  • Lack of Fruitfulness: The outcome is that the plants are "choked," meaning they fail to produce any spiritual fruit, signifying a life that does not fully manifest the transformation offered by the Gospel. This contrasts sharply with the call to bear much fruit as followers of Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "choked" is apoknigo (ἀποπνίγω), which means to strangle or suffocate, emphasizing the complete suppression of life. The "thorns" (Greek: akantha, ἄκανθα) represent any prickly, hindering growth, vividly illustrating the invasive nature of worldly distractions and spiritual impediments.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful warning for believers to examine their own hearts and lives. What "thorns" might be growing alongside the seed of God's Word? It encourages introspection regarding:

  • Priorities: Are the cares of daily life, the pursuit of wealth, or worldly pleasures overshadowing our commitment to God's Word and kingdom? We are called to seek first the kingdom of God.
  • Vigilance: Just as a farmer must clear thorns, believers must actively identify and remove spiritual impediments that threaten their spiritual nourishment and growth.
  • Fruitfulness: The ultimate goal is to bear fruit for God's glory, which requires a receptive and cultivated heart, free from the choking influence of the world.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

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