“As for what was sown
Among the thorns,
This is the one
Who hears the word,
But the cares of the world
With the lure of wealth
Choke the word.
It yields nothing.”
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.
This explanation of the sower parable was about the seeds among the thorns that can be found in all 3 synoptic gospels, Mark, chapter 4:18-19, and Luke, chapter 8:14, with Matthew closer to Mark. As for the seeds that were sown among the thorns (ὁ δὲ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπαρείς), these are the ones who heard the word of the kingdom (οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τὸν λόγον ἀκούων), but the cares and anxiety of this present age (καὶ ἡ μέριμνα τοῦ αἰῶνος), as well as the allure or deceit of material wealth (καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου), choked or crowded out the word (συμπνίγει τὸν λόγον). Thus, it yielded nothing because it was barren (καὶ ἄκαρπος γίνεται). The thorns were the cares about physical riches that choked off the growth of the seeds or the words of the kingdom. There had to be good circumstances or pre-depositions to hearing and understanding for the word or the seed to be effective.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 