The Thorns That Choke the Word

The third soil Jesus describes is thorny ground—soil that initially receives the Word but fails to produce lasting fruit. The issue is not reception, but competition. The seed of the Word is planted, but it must now grow alongside thorns—things that choke and suffocate its life. This is a picture of divided affections.

The thorns represent the cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, and other desires that infiltrate the heart. These are not necessarily sinful things, but they become thorns when they occupy the space meant for the Word. When our attention, energy, and passion are consumed by temporary matters, the eternal is smothered.

This soil is particularly dangerous because it appears healthy on the surface. The person attends church, listens to the Word, and may even begin to grow. But over time, the thorns crowd the seed. Busyness replaces devotion. Anxiety replaces faith. Success becomes a god. The Word is still there—but it’s unfruitful, because it has no room to thrive.

Jesus does not say riches are the problem—but their deceitfulness. Riches promise security, joy, and identity, but deliver bondage, fear, and pride when prioritized above the kingdom. When the pursuit of wealth becomes your driving force, the Word becomes just another voice among many—choked by competing agendas.

Likewise, the cares of this life—worry about bills, health, reputation, relationships—can consume the heart and rob it of spiritual capacity. Worry is like a weed: it grows fast and overtakes everything. When we are full of anxious thoughts, we leave no space for the seed to expand.

Thorny ground is not just a heart issue—it’s a priority issue. What has the most access to your mind and heart? What dominates your decisions and schedules? The principle of sowing and reaping teaches that we will bear fruit in the areas we give the most of ourselves. If we want a harvest from God’s Word, we must guard our ground.

To overcome thorny soil, we must weed the garden of our soul regularly. This means discerning what is stealing your spiritual oxygen. It may mean unplugging from certain entertainment, simplifying your schedule, reordering your budget, or confronting unhealthy desires. Growth is not just about addition—it’s also about subtraction.

God is not content with partial fruit—He desires abundant fruit. If your life feels spiritually stagnant, it may be that the Word is being choked by too many other priorities. Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight the thorns and partner with Him to clear the ground. You were designed to live a life overflowing with fruitfulness.

Reflection Questions:

1. What “thorns” in your life are currently competing with the Word of God?
2. Are there specific cares, desires, or pursuits that dominate your thoughts and time?
3. How can you begin to clear space for God’s Word to breathe and grow?
4. What would it look like for you to seek first the Kingdom in this season?

Action Step:

Make a list of the top 5 things occupying your time, attention, and energy. Ask God to reveal which of these are thorns, and which are aligned with His Word. Commit to weeding out one distraction this week to create more room for the Word to grow.