Hello ,

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Matthew 13:3-9

Among the Thorns

The Greek word for "thorns" in this passage is akantha, and it literally means any prickly plant, such as the “thistle.” Luke defines the “thorns” of the Christian life as the “cares and riches and pleasures of this life” (Luke 8:14)

The seed that was sown into this area of soil germinates and appears to have more of the chance of survival and maturity, but the thorns and thistles of things that are temporary choke the life out of the "gospel seed" that's growing.

Just like pulling weeds is beneficial to a vegetable garden, so is the removal of the weedy cares of this world in someone's life. If the weeds are left to grow and become large, they can choke the life out of the good news of the gospel in someone's spiritual journey.

Good soil is vital to growth, development, and maturity. Anything that stands in the way of that can be detrimental to our spiritual journey.

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word