SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:22
Y el que fue sembrado entre espinos, ste es el que oye la Palabra; pero la congoja de este siglo y el engao de las riquezas, ahogan la Palabra, y se hace infructuosa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:22
Verse 22. He also that received seed among the thorns] In land ploughed, but not properly cleared and seeded. Is he] represents that person who heareth the word, but the cares, rather the anxiety, h merimna, the whole system of anxious carking cares. Lexicographers derive the word merimna from merizein ton noun, dividing, or distracting the mind. Thus a poet, Tot me impediunt curae quae meum animum diverse trahunt. "So many cares hinder me which draw my mind different ways." Terence.
The deceitfulness of riches] Which promise peace and pleasure, but can never give them.
Choke the word] The seed had taken root, and that these cares, &c., choked it in the root, before even the blade could show itself.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 22. He also that receiveth seed among the thorns , etc.] The hearer that is like to the thorny ground, on which the seed fell, is he that heareth the word ; not a profane sinner, nor a reviler of religion, or a persecutor of the saints; but one that not only shows a love to the word, but who seems to have his heart broken under it, and by it, his conscience tender, and his life outwardly reformed; one, who besides his being a settled, diligent, understanding, and affectionate hearer of the word, and a believing receiver and professor of it, seems to have a thorough work of grace upon him, to have the fallow ground of his heart ploughed up, and to be truly contrite; the thorns being under ground, and not yet to be seen, but afterwards appear: and the care of this world ; not the care of another world, nor a care about spiritual things in this world, nor even a proper, laudable care of the things of this present life, but an anxious and immoderate care of them; which, as thorns, is very perplexing and distressing to the persons themselves, and is what is vain and fruitless. And the deceitfulness of riches : in opposition to some riches, the riches of grace and glory, which have no deceit in them; and not riches themselves, bare worldly riches but the deceitfulness of them, is here taken notice of; for riches often delude, and lead persons out of the right way, out of Gods way; cause them to err from the faith; they do not give the satisfaction they promise, and often do not continue, as is expected: and are as thorns, pungent to the owners of them, who pierce themselves through with many sorrows in acquiring and keeping them; and are frequently injurious to others, their fellow creatures; and in the issue are useless and unprofitable, especially with respect to the concerns of another world. Mark adds, and the lusts of other things; besides riches; and Luke adds, and pleasures of this life; meaning divers other worldly lusts and pleasures, such as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life: which also, like thorns, are distracting and afflicting, sooner or later; are vain, and unprofitable, and lead to destruction: and these are called the pleasures of this life, in opposition to, and distinction from the pleasures of that which is to come, which are real and lasting: the phrase is Jewish f790 ; says R. Judah, the prince, whoever takes upon him, hzh lw[h ygwn[t , the pleasures of this world, to him are denied the pleasures of the world to come: and whoever does not take upon him the pleasures of this world, to him are given the pleasures of the world to come.
Now these, all, and each of them, choke the word : by overspreading all the powers and faculties of the soul, as thorns do a field; by overtopping the seed of the word, and by hiding it from the influences of the sun of righteousness, and rain of grace; and by attracting everything in the heart to themselves; and by bearing and pressing down all thought, concern, and care for the use, fruitfulness, and increase of the word. And he becometh unfruitful : as in such circumstances he must needs be; or if there be any show of fruit in outward respect to the word, in an historical faith of it, in an external profession, and outward reformation, yet brings not fruit to perfection, as Luke says; these in process of time shrivel up, wither away, and come to nothing.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-23 - Jesus entered into a boat that he might be the less pressed, and be the better heard by the people. By this he teaches us in the outwar circumstances of worship not to covet that which is stately, but to make the best of the conveniences God in his providence allots to us Christ taught in parables. Thereby the things of God were made mor plain and easy to those willing to be taught, and at the same time mor difficult and obscure to those who were willingly ignorant. The parabl of the sower is plain. The seed sown is the word of God. The sower in our Lord Jesus Christ, by himself, or by his ministers. Preaching to multitude is sowing the corn; we know not where it will light. Some sort of ground, though we take ever so much pains with it, brings fort no fruit to purpose, while the good soil brings forth plentifully. S it is with the hearts of men, whose different characters are her described by four sorts of ground. Careless, trifling hearers, are a easy prey to Satan; who, as he is the great murderer of souls, so he is the great thief of sermons, and will be sure to rob us of the word, i we take not care to keep it. Hypocrites, like the stony ground, ofte get the start of true Christians in the shows of profession. Many ar glad to hear a good sermon, who do not profit by it. They are told of free salvation, of the believer's privileges, and the happiness of heaven; and, without any change of heart, without any abidin conviction of their own depravity, their need of a Saviour, or the excellence of holiness, they soon profess an unwarranted assurance. But when some heavy trial threatens them, or some sinful advantage may be had, they give up or disguise their profession, or turn to some easie system. Worldly cares are fitly compared to thorns, for they came i with sin, and are a fruit of the curse; they are good in their place to stop a gap, but a man must be well armed that has much to do with them they are entangling, vexing, scratching, and their end is to be burned Heb 6:8. Worldly cares are great hinderances to our profiting by the word of God. The deceitfulness of riches does the mischief; they cannot be said to deceive us unless we put our trust in them, then they chok the good seed. What distinguished the good ground was fruitfulness. But these true Christians are distinguished from hypocrites. Christ does no say that this good ground has no stones in it, or no thorns; but non that could hinder its fruitfulness. All are not alike; we should aim a the highest, to bring forth most fruit. The sense of hearing cannot be better employed than in hearing God's word; and let us look to ourselves that we may know what sort of hearers we are.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ εις 1519 PREP τας 3588 T-APF ακανθας 173 N-APF σπαρεις 4687 5651 V-2APP-NSM ουτος 3778 D-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM τον 3588 T-ASM λογον 3056 N-ASM ακουων 191 5723 V-PAP-NSM και 2532 CONJ η 3588 T-NSF μεριμνα 3308 N-NSF του 3588 T-GSM αιωνος 165 N-GSM τουτου 5127 D-GSM και 2532 CONJ η 3588 T-NSF απατη 539 N-NSF του 3588 T-GSM πλουτου 4149 N-GSM συμπνιγει 4846 5719 V-PAI-3S τον 3588 T-ASM λογον 3056 N-ASM και 2532 CONJ ακαρπος 175 A-NSM γινεται 1096 5736 V-PNI-3S
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:22 {Choke the word} (sunpnigei ton logon). We had apepnixan (choked off) in #13:7. Here it is sunpnigei (choke together), historical present and singular with both subjects lumped together. "Lust for money and care go together and between them spoil many an earnest religious nature" (Bruce), "thorns" indeed. The thorns flourish and the character sickens and dies, choked to death for lack of spiritual food, air, sunshine.
