And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
7. thorns sprung up ] The scholar will remember that Vergil mentions among the “plagues” of the wheat,
“Ut mala culmos
Esset robigo segnisque horreret in
arvis Carduus.”
Georg. i:150 153.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mat 13:7; Mat 13:22
And some fell among thorns.
1. Thorns and thistles occupying the field suck in the sap which should go to nourish the good seed. The capability of the ground is limited.
2. Thorns and thistles favoured as indigenous plants by the suitability of soil and climate outgrow the grain. The thorns are at home, the wheat is an exotic.
3. Anxieties about work, clothes, etc., become the thorn plants, harmless in appearance at first, which in the end may choke the seed of grace in your heart.
4. Worldly cares nursed by indulgence into a dangerous strength are further like thorns growing in a corn field, in that they interpose a veil between the ace of Jesus and the opening, trustful look of a longing soul. The seed must be exposed to the sun.
5. As long as weeds live they grow. They must be cast out of the field.
6. The thorn is a prickly thing; it tears the husbandmans flesh, as well as destroys the fruit of his field. (W. Arnot.)
The deceitfulness of riches
Greek mythology tells of one who, being offererd a valuable reward if successful in a race, resolved to outstrip all competitors. But, alas I she did not, and why? Because enemies ever and anon flung pieces of gold just before her. The temptation was too strong; as often as she saw the glittering coins she stopped to pick them up, and so lost the prize. A picture that of some who start on the spiritual course; they forfeit the recompense because they stop to pick up gold. The deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
The deceitfulness of riches
1. Riches are deceitful in the insidious growth which they promote of the desire for wealth, quite independent of what it is worth in its positive power.
2. In the transition from a normal desire for wealth to the fervour of avarice, there is great danger of deception among men.
3. Wealth is deceitful in taking the place of legitimate enjoyments in life.
4. The relative growth of the selfish over the generous.
5. In the gradual development of self-esteem and self-sufficiency.
6. In an entire perversion which takes place in the minds of men.
7. Wealth deceives men by promises. (H. W. Beecher.)
Worldliness
In gold there is a halter: in silver there is bird-lime; in the farm there is a bond; in the love of the world there is a chain. While we search for gold we are strangled; while for silver we stick fast; while we seize upon the farm, we are taken prisoners. (Ambrose.)
The soul has a limited capacity for growth
There is nutriment enough in the ground for thorns, and enough for wheat; but not enough, in any ground, for both wheat and thorns. The agriculturist thins his nursery-ground, and the farmer weeds his field, and the gardener removes the superfluous grapes, for that very reason: in order that the dissipated sap may be concentrated in a few plants vigorously. So in the same way, the heart has a certain power of loving. But love, dissipated on many objects, concentrates itself on none. God or the world-not both. No man can serve two masters. If any man love the world, the love of the ]Father is not in him. He that has learned many accomplishments or sciences, generally knows none thoroughly. Multifariousness of knowledge is commonly opposed to depth-variety of affections is generally not found with intensity. (F. W. Robertson.)
The word choked
A merchant of-, engaged in a lucrative trade, was convinced by the Spirit of God that he was an heir of hell, but might, by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, become an heir of heaven. The god of this world tempted him with much earthly gain; and God, in the Person of the Holy Ghost, offered him durable riches and righteousness. He was fully convinced, as he said, that the riches of earth and the riches of heaven were set before him, and that he could not obtain both, but might take his choice. He glanced at heavens durable riches, and then settled his covetous gaze on earths glittering tinsel. He paused, feeling his choice was for eternity; but, at length, strangely, madly cried, Give me my portion here. His prayer was answered-his fiches were multiplied; but, said he, I know that to gain the world, I have lost my soul.
Deceitfulness of riches
Some years ago, when preaching at Bristol, amongst other notes I received to pray for individuals, one was this: A person earnestly desires the prayers of the congregation, who is prospering in trade. Ah, said I to myself, here is a man who knows something of his own heart, and who has read the Scriptures to some purpose. (W. Jay.)
Riches like thorns
Riches are like thorns: they may be touched, but not rested upon. Canst thou set thy heart upon a thorn without piercing thyself through with many sorrows? (Venning.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 7. Among thorns] Where the earth was ploughed up, but the brambles and weeds had not been cleared away.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And some fell among thorns,…. On a spot of ground which was full of the roots of thorns, and briars, which was not cleared of them as it should be. We often read e of , “a field cleared of thorns”; but such was not this piece of ground, it was overrun with them, not on the surface of the earth, but within it: for it follows,
and the thorns sprung up: naturally, being neither sown nor planted; either before the seed, or, at least, as soon; and however grew faster, and higher,
and choked them; so that they came to nothing; hence the advice, “sow not among thorns”, Jer 4:3 and a lost kindness, or what is bestowed in vain, is expressed in this proverbial manner f,
, “thy beneficence is taken away, and cast among thorns”: these point out such hearers who seemed to be contrite, to have the low ground of their hearts broken up, their consciences tender, and to have a true sense of sin, as well as to be outwardly reformed; and yet inwardly were full of the thorns of sinful lusts, particularly of the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, the lusts of other things, and the pleasures of this life, which rendered the word useless and unfruitful; see Mt 13:22 all which are comparable to thorns; it is hardly possible to be in the midst of, and meddle with these, without being scratched by them; they pierce, afflict, and wound, even where they have not their greatest power and influence; and where they do prevail, and get the ascendant, as they are fruitless themselves, they make others so too; they choke the word, and make that, and all ordinances, and opportunities, useless, and unserviceable. Thorns are a part of the earth’s curse for the sin of man; and such persons in whom thorny cares and lusts prevail, as they are like unto the earth which beareth thorns, so, as that, they are rejected, and nigh to cursing, whose end is to be burned in everlasting flames of divine wrath and fury, Heb 6:8.
e Misn. Sheviith, c. 4. sect. 2. T. Hieros. Sheviith, fol. 34. 3. & 35. 1. T. Bab. Bechorot, fol. 34. 2. f T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 63. 2. Bava Kama, fol. 83. 1. Cetubot, fol. 53. 2. & Betza, fol. 29. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The thorns grew up ( ). Not “sprang up” as in verse 5, for a different verb occurs meaning “came up” out of the ground, the seeds of the thorns being already in the soil, “upon the thorns” ( ) rather than “among the thorns.” But the thorns got a quick start as weeds somehow do and “choked them” ( , effective aorist of ), “choked them off” literally. Luke (Lu 8:33) uses it of the hogs in the water. Who has not seen vegetables and flowers and corn made yellow by thorns and weeds till they sicken and die?
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Sprang up. The seed, therefore, fell, not among standing thorns, but among those beneath the surface, ready to spring up.
Trench (” Parables “) cites a striking parallel from Ovid, describing the obstacles to the growth of the grain :
“Now the too ardent sun, now furious showers, With baleful stars and bitter winds combine The crop to ravage; while the greedy fowl Snatch the strown seeds; and grass with stubborn roots, And thorn and darnel plague the ripening grain.”
Metamorposes, 5, 486.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And some fell among thorns;” (alla de epesen epi tas akanthas) “Then others fell upon the thorns,” or among the thorn patches, where thorns grew on the hillsides nearby, familiar to His hearers.
2) “And the thorns sprung up, and choked them:” (kai anebesan hai akanthai kai apepniksan auta) “And the thorns came up and choked them,” the seed-plants from the sowers sowing. The thorns choked or shaded out the sun and exhausted the soil and moisture that hindered, prevented any growth, real productivity from the seed that fell there.
The meaning is, that some hear the word, then the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, that appeal to the covetous and selfish nature of man, chokes the word and one becomes unfruitful, Mat 13:22; 2Pe 1:4-8.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(7) Among thorns.Literally, the thorns, so familiar to the husbandman. These were not visible at the time of sowing. The ground had been so far cleared, but the roots were left below the surface, and their growth and that of the grain went on simultaneously, and ended in the survival, not of the fittest, but of the strongest. The ears shot up, and did not die suddenly, as in the preceding case, but were slowly strangled till they died away.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Some fell among thorns Briers and brambles in hot countries have a quick and plentiful overgrowth. They crowd and choke every other form of vegetation.
“Every one who has been in Palestine must have been struck with the number of thorny shrubs and plants that abound there. The traveller finds them in his path, go where he may. Many of them are small, but some grow as high as a man’s head. The Rabbinical writers say that there are no less than twenty-two words in the Hebrew Bible denoting thorny and prickly plants. The prevalence of such shrubs, say agriculturists, shows a luxuriant soil. If proper care be not taken they soon get the upper hand, and spread in every direction. ‘I went by the field of the slothful; and lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof.’ Pro 24:30-31.” Prof. Hackett.
“And others fell on the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.”
Other seed would fall in places where, try as he would, the sower had been unable to eradicate the weeds. He had cut them back, and even possibly ploughed the ground, but he could do little else with regard to them, for his tools were primitive.
And many a listener would inevitably turn his thoughts towards Jer 4:3, ‘sow not among thorns’, which was immediately followed by a call for a change of heart. So even before reaching the final phase many diverse thoughts would be possessing the minds of the listeners.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
Ver. 7. See Trapp on “ Mat 13:5 “
7. ] . . = . Mark; = . Luke. In places where were the roots of thorns, beds of thistles, or such like.
. = Luke; . = , Mark, who adds .
Mat 13:7 . . Fritzsche prefers the reading because the seed fell not on thorns already sprung up, but on ground full of thorn seeds or roots. But the latter idea, which is the true one, can be expressed also by . : the thorns sprang up as well as the corn, and growing more vigorously gained the upper hand. . Euthy. Zig. finds this idea in , for which he gives as synonym .
among = upon. Greek. epi. App-104.
7.] . . = . Mark; = . Luke. In places where were the roots of thorns, beds of thistles, or such like.
. = Luke; . = , Mark, who adds .
Mat 13:7. , the thorns sprang up) beyond the crop itself. They had not before then grown so high. Those who have heard the Word, yet do not grow in good, turn their strength to increase in evil.
Mat 13:22, Gen 3:18, Jer 4:3, Jer 4:4, Mar 4:18, Mar 4:19
Reciprocal: Pro 24:31 – it Mar 4:7 – General Luk 8:7 – thorns
13:7
Thorn is from AKANTHA which Thayer defines, “A thorn, bramble-bush, brier.” It is a plant that grows near the ground in the nature of coarse grass. That is why the soldiers could plat it into a wreath or crown to place on the head of Jesus (Mat 27:29). The seeds of this plant were not visible at the time of the sower’s work, but when the growing season came they sprang up with all other vegetation. Being more rugged and wild than the good seed deposited by the farmer, they soon choked out all the other plants just as weeds will often smother out the good grass today.
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
[Others fell among thorns.] Here the distinction comes into my mind of a white field; that is, which is all sown; and of a woody field; that is, in which trees and bushes grow here and there: concerning which see the tract Sheviith. So there is very frequent mention in the Talmudists of beds; in fields and vineyards, which speaks the same thing. And of baldness in a field; that is, when some places are left not sown, and some places lying between are.
Mat 13:7. Upon the thorns, i.e., upon soil where there were roots of thorns, etc., not necessarily among thorn-bushes.
And the thorns grew up and choked them. The thorns were of ranker growth. Both ideas are implied in the phrase sprung up. Mat 13:8.
Good ground. The proportion of the harvest is large, but not unexampled. Palestine was once exceedingly fertile. The remarkable variety in the form of the parallel passages shows independence.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament