Matthew 13:22 KJV
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.
Matthew 13:22 AMP As
for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the Word, but the cares of
the world and the pleasure and delight and glamour and deceitfulness of riches
choke and suffocate the Word, and it yields no fruit.
In the parable of
the sower, we see that the seed that is received into thorny ground is choked
and becomes unfruitful. Plants become unfruitful if they are attempting to grow
in a garden where the weeds are not removed.
In the same way in the life of a Christian unless we have the thorns/weeds
removed from our lives we can hear the Word of God over and over and it will
not bear fruit in our lives.
The care of this
world is one of the thorns/weeds that will choke the Word and lead to
unfruitfulness. Care can involve being
concerned and anxious. It can be the many distractions that can take our focus
away from the Lord.
This parable also
mentions the deceitfulness of riches. A
person may think, that cannot possibly apply to them, because they do not have
much money. But the deceitfulness of
riches can be a snare to anyone no matter how little or how much money a person
has. Our culture, in particular advertising, tells us that we have all these
“things” in order to be somebody or be valued in this life. That is a lie and many buy into it. It is a deception that is constantly put
before us. Our true value is found in
Christ not in whether we have the latest greatest whatever. This type of
thinking can choke out the Word of God and keep us from the true riches that
are in Christ. I am not saying having things chokes the Word, but how we think
about the things, what value we place on them is what can choke out the Word.
We may even bear
good fruit for a time, but then these thorns/weeds may begin to grow in our
lives. Like in a garden the weeds continue
to seek to grow and hinder our fruit bearing.
We must be vigilant to stay free from these things so we can bear much
fruit.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear
much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
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