Mark 4:18-19
And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that even those who "hear the word" can be easily choked by the "cares of this life, and the deceitfulness of riches." It's a subtle but crucial distinction: hearing the word is only the beginning, not the guarantee of fruitfulness, as other things can overwhelm the seed before it even has a chance to grow.
Jesus is explaining his parable of the sower, detailing different kinds of soil that represent various responses to God's word. This verse describes the third type of hearer, those whose lives become choked by worldly concerns, preventing the word from bearing fruit.
You hear the Word, but something gets in the way. What is it that chokes out the life-giving seed of God's truth in your heart?
This parable warns us about a common spiritual danger: allowing the 'thorns' of this life to choke out God's Word. Jesus specifically mentions the 'care of this life,' the 'deceitfulness of riches,' and the 'desires for other things.' These aren't necessarily bad things in themselves, but when they become our primary focus, they can crowd out the space God's Word needs to grow.
Think of it like this: your heart is a garden. The Word of God is the seed. If the garden is overrun with weeds (thorns), the seed can't get the nourishment it needs and won't produce fruit.
It's not about avoiding worldly concerns altogether, but about keeping them in their proper place. When these 'thorns' take root and grow, they strangle the life out of the Word, leaving us unfruitful.
You can hear the Word of God every week, but does it actually change you? This parable reveals the difference between simply hearing and truly receiving.
The parable distinguishes between different types of hearers. While all four 'hear the word,' only the 'good soil' truly understands it and bears fruit. The thorny ground hearers hear, but their understanding and reception are compromised.
According to the commentators, this thorny ground represents those who appear to receive the Word, but their hearts are so preoccupied with worldly matters that the Word cannot take root deeply. It's not that the Word itself is flawed, but the soil of their hearts is choked. They may have initial interest, but the persistent 'cares, riches, and desires' prevent spiritual growth and lasting fruitfulness.
The key isn't just passive listening; it's active reception and understanding that leads to fruit. When the thorns dominate, the Word is rendered unfruitful, regardless of how attentively one might have initially listened.
Understand the original words
merimna · Greek Noun
Anxieties, worries, or worldly burdens that distract the heart from spiritual priorities and devotion to God.
apatē · Greek Noun
The inherent capacity of wealth to mislead or create a false sense of security, often distracting one from the truth of God.
This passage directly parallels the Parable of the Sower from Matthew's Gospel, explaining how the 'seeds sown among thorns' are choked by 'worldly cares and the deceitfulness of riches,' aligning perfectly with Mark's description.
Luke 8:14Luke's account of the same parable emphasizes that those who hear the word are 'choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life,' reinforcing the idea that these worldly distractions prevent the word from bearing fruit.
Hebrews 12:15This verse warns against a 'root of bitterness springing up' and causing trouble, which conceptually connects to the idea of thorns (representing worldly troubles and desires) choking out the good seed of God's word.
1 Timothy 6:10The warning that 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils' directly speaks to the 'deceitfulness of riches' mentioned in the parable, illustrating how the pursuit of wealth can hinder spiritual growth.
Philippians 4:6This passage offers the antidote to the 'anxieties of this life' by instructing believers to bring their requests to God, showing how a reliance on prayer can prevent worldly cares from choking the word.
calvinMark 4:13-20: "And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?"
- Hear therefore the parable of the sower. 19. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth not, that wicked one cometh, and taketh away what was sown in the heart. This is he who received seed near the road. 20. But he that received the seed thrown into stony places, is he that heareth the word, and immediately receiveth it with joy: 21. But hath not root in himself, bu…
jfbMark 4:18: "And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,"
- And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
This verse highlights that even those who "hear the word" can be easily choked by the "cares of this life, and the deceitfulness of riches." It's a subtle but crucial distinction: hearing the word is only the beginning, not the guarantee of fruitfulness, as other things can overwhelm the seed before it even has a chance to grow.
Jesus is explaining his parable of the sower, detailing different kinds of soil that represent various responses to God's word. This verse describes the third type of hearer, those whose lives become choked by worldly concerns, preventing the word from bearing fruit.
Jesus is explaining his parable of the sower, detailing different kinds of soil that represent various responses to God's word. This verse describes the third type of hearer, those whose lives become choked by worldly concerns, preventing the word from bearing fruit.
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"And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." — This verse highlights that even those who "hear the word" can be easily choked by the "cares of this life, and the deceitfulness of riches." It's a subtle but crucial distinction: hearing the word is…
