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)
It's easy to read this as just a list of "bad things" that distract us, but Jesus actually highlights three distinct categories of things that choke the Word: worldly anxieties, the deceptive allure of wealth, and longing for anything else. This isn't just about avoiding sin; it's about how any deeply held desire or concern, even if not overtly sinful, can crowd out God's Word and leave us unfruitful.
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)
Jesus is explaining a parable about different kinds of soil where seed (the word of God) is sown, and this verse describes the thorny ground. Unlike the seed on the path or rocky ground, this seed actually starts to grow but is ultimately choked out by the overwhelming desires and distractions of everyday life, leading to no lasting spiritual fruit.
Ever feel like good intentions and spiritual desires get crowded out by the everyday? Jesus warns about this insidious threat.
Jesus describes three main intruders that choke out the word of God in our lives: 'the cares of the world,' 'the deceitfulness of riches,' and 'the desires for other things.'
These intruders don't usually attack violently; they 'enter in' subtly, growing like thorns to strangle the life out of the spiritual seed in our hearts.
What causes the vibrant 'seed' of God's Word to wither and die in our hearts?
The core issue in this parable is the fruitfulness of the Word. When the 'cares,' 'deceitfulness,' and 'desires' take root, they don't just sit alongside the Word; they actively it.
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Imagine a garden: if weeds grow unchecked, they steal sunlight, water, and nutrients from the young plants, eventually suffocating them. The Word of God, when received into our hearts, is meant to grow and produce fruit – a life reflecting God's character and purposes.
However, these 'thorns' of worldly concerns and misplaced desires crowd out the space for the Word to flourish. The result is spiritual unfruitfulness. It's not that the seed itself is bad, but the conditions in the soil of our hearts have become hostile to its growth.
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 describes the same parable but explicitly states that the thorny ground hearers are choked by 'the pleasures of life,' which aligns perfectly with the 'desires for other things' mentioned in Mark.
1 Timothy 6:10Paul's warning that 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils' strongly resonates with Mark's mention of 'the deceitfulness of riches' as a choking agent for the word of God.
Matthew 6:24Jesus' teaching that 'no one can serve two masters' directly addresses the conflict between devotion to God and the pursuit of wealth, highlighting how riches can compete with and ultimately choke out spiritual growth.
Philippians 4:6This verse encourages believers to present their requests to God, stating that 'the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds,' offering a direct antidote to the 'cares of the world' that choke the word.
1 John 2:15The exhortation 'Do not love the world or the things in the world' directly parallels Mark's warning about the 'cares of the world' and 'desires for other things' that can hinder spiritual fruitfulness.
vincentMark 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."
The lusts of other things entering in (αἱ περὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἐπιθυμίαι)Lusts, not in the limited sense of mere sexual desire, but in the general sense of longing. The word is also used of desire for good and lawful things (Luke 22:15; Philippians 1:23).
gillMark 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."
And the cares of this world,.... The perplexing and distressing cares of it to get as much of it as they can, for themselves and families, fill their minds, and possess their souls even when and while they are hearing the word: and the deceitfulness of riches; or riches which are deceitful, especially when trusted in, and being obtaine…
It's easy to read this as just a list of "bad things" that distract us, but Jesus actually highlights three distinct categories of things that choke the Word: worldly anxieties, the deceptive allure of wealth, and longing for anything else. This isn't just about avoiding sin; it's about how any deeply held desire or concern, even if not overtly sinful, can crowd out God's Word and leave us unfruitful.
Jesus is explaining a parable about different kinds of soil where seed (the word of God) is sown, and this verse describes the thorny ground. Unlike the seed on the path or rocky ground, this seed actually starts to grow but is ultimately choked out by the overwhelming desires and distractions of everyday life, leading to no lasting spiritual fruit.
Jesus is explaining a parable about different kinds of soil where seed (the word of God) is sown, and this verse describes the thorny ground. Unlike the seed on the path or rocky ground, this seed actually starts to grow but is ultimately choked out by the overwhelming desires and distractions of everyday life, leading to no lasting spiritual fruit.
"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." — It's easy to read this as just a list of "bad things" that distract us, but Jesus actually highlights three distinct categories of things that choke the Word: worldly anxieties, the deceptive allur…
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Last reviewed October 2026