New International Version
Matthew 13:22
22The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Matthew 13:22 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
- English Standard Version (ESV)As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
Context of Matthew 13:22
20The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” 24Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
Read all of Matthew 13Matthew 13:22 word by word
ὁ δὲ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπαρείς, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τὸν λόγον ἀκούων, καὶ ἡ μέριμνα τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου συμπνίγει τὸν λόγον, καὶ ἄκαρπος γίνεται.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Heσπείρωspeirō · to sowG4687
- alsoδέde · thenG1161
- amongεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the thornsἄκανθαakantha · a thornG173
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- heοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- that hearethἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- the careμέριμναmerimna · concernG3308
- worldαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
- the deceitfulnessἀπάτηapatē · deceitG539
- of richesπλοῦτοςploutos · richesG4149
- chokeσυμπνίγωsumpnigō · to chokeG4846
- he becomethγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- unfruitfulἄκαρποςakarpos · unfruitfulG175
Cross-references for Matthew 13:22
- Matthew 13:7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
- Mark 4:18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;
- Luke 8:14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
- Luke 18:24Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
- 2 Timothy 4:10for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
- Matthew 19:16Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
- Genesis 13:10Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
- Joshua 7:20Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done:
- 2 Kings 5:20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
- Jeremiah 4:3This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.
- Mark 10:23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
- Luke 12:15Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
- Luke 14:16Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.
- Luke 21:34“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.
- Acts 5:1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
Commentaries on Matthew 13:22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22He 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, , the whole system of anxious carking cares. Lexicographers derive the word from , 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18-23Verses 18-23 See also Mark 4:13-20; Luke 8:11-15. “Hear ye, therefore, the parable of the sower.” That is, hear the “explanation” or the “spiritual meaning” of the narrative given before. Mark adds Mark 4:13, “Know ye not this parable? And how, then, shall ye know all parables?” By which it seems that the Saviour regarded this as one of the simplest and plainest of the parables, and gave an explanation of it that they might understand the general…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22Jesus talked about the competing demands in life (see also Matthew 8:18–22). The worries of life can become overwhelming and lead people away from faithful obedience (see 6:19–34). The temptation of wealth, especially its deceptive nature, is a common theme in Matthew (for example, 4:8–10; 6:24; 13:44–45). God values faith, obedience, and helping those in need more than wealth (for example, 19:21; 25:31–46).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-52Introduction (Mt 13:1-3). 1. The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the seaside.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 13:22
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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