But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Fruit decides worth, so ground that drinks in blessing yet yields only thorns and briers is rejected, stands near a curse, and faces burning at the end. A life is tested the same way, for profession without grace abiding in the heart bears bad character instead of the fruits of the Spirit and is rejected unto destruction. Even one cherished wrong desire or habit left uncleared acts as thorns that can gain ruling power, neutralize the gospel, and destroy the soul. Those who persistently refuse divine guidance for selfish pleasure and defilement grow so far gone that reproof no longer reaches them and redemption is refused. The same barren crop appears when false teaching, discord, and discontent are sown among others instead of pure truth, doing harm to souls that cannot simply be undone.
The Field and Its End
The worth of ground is decided by what it grows after it drinks in blessing, and ground that yields only thorns and briers is worthless, rejected, standing near a curse, with burning as its end. A life of useful, systematic labor brings forth fitting fruit and receives blessing, while a life given to idleness fosters self-indulgence and turns empty and barren. Such an idle life is like a rejected field that grows only weeds and opens the way to every evil, and it too is rejected, near to cursing, with burning as its end. Honest toil never degrades a person, but idleness and selfish dependence do degrade.
Like an uncultivated field that brings forth weeds, thistles, and thorns instead of useful produce, the mind in which seeds of truth are not sown grows unsightly ideas and yields no heavenly fruit. Like rich garden soil left untilled, the uncultivated mind becomes overgrown with the thorns and briers of ignorance. If its powers are not trained and used to glorify God, they become strong aids in leading toward ruin.
A home left untended spiritually and morally becomes like a garden overrun with thorns and briars, and such neglect is disregard of God's word. Parents bear the responsibility to cultivate the character of their children by loving, disciplined instruction in the home.
Character That Bears Thorns
A life that bears the thorns and briers of bad character instead of the fruits of the Spirit is rejected and faces destruction, for character is tested by its fruit, and without grace abiding in the heart mere profession of faith or outward observance of law cannot produce the good fruit that glorifies God. Cherished sin is such thorns and briers, for if a wrong desire or habit is not overcome it can become the ruling power in the life and destroy the soul, so the heart must be thoroughly cleared, since even one sinful trait can neutralize the power of the gospel. Those who persistently reject divine guidance and pursue selfish pleasure and defilement are as land bearing thorns and briers, near to being cursed with a course ending in destruction, being nigh unto cursing meaning so far gone that reproof no longer reaches and redemption is refused.
A life producing thorns rather than the fruit of faith and love is rejected and faces judgment, which warns against envy, suspicion, and accusation that unless overcome bring harm and loss, while the needed fruit is Christlike love, patience, forbearance, and confidence in God. Dwelling on doubts and lack of confidence in fellow believers is gathering thorns and thistles, instead of which believers should notice and express what is good and beautiful in one another. Conduct that produces alienation, bitterness, and harsh opposition rather than godliness bears thorns ending in rejection, nearness to a curse, and burning, for genuine godliness does not let differences over Scripture break bonds of fellowship. The fruit of those who claim to belong to God can reveal them to be like thorns and briers rather than fruitful plants, since actions disclose principles and motives, and a church's approval of wrongdoing cannot make it right or change bad fruit into good.
Sowing Truth Among Others
Seed that yields only briers and thorns pictures the spreading of false teaching that harms souls instead of bringing them to truth. Such a crop is rejected and faces judgment. Lost opportunities and damage done through error cannot simply be undone, even if the person later repents and is saved.
People who yield to corrupt influences and produce harmful results are like land bearing thorns, rejected, near to a curse, and headed for destruction. The seed of thorns is discord and discontent planted through unconsecrated ministers or teachers in churches and institutions that claim to believe the truth.
What bears thorns and thistles instead of good grain is worthless and fit only to be burned, for fruit decides worth. Those sowing influence on the field of hearts must sow pure wheat yielding thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold of pure grain rather than foul seed mingled with thistles and thorns. A sanctified heart with Jesus in every thought yields purity and sweetness like a cleansed fountain, with a decided change in the whole life, while unsanctified sowing yields only a worthless crop for burning.
Fruit decides worth, so ground that drinks in blessing yet yields only thorns and briers is rejected, stands near a curse, and faces burning at the end. A life is tested the same way, for profession without grace abiding in the heart bears bad character instead of the fruits of the Spirit and is rejected unto destruction. Even one cherished wrong desire or habit left uncleared acts as thorns that can gain ruling power, neutralize the gospel, and destroy the soul. Those who persistently refuse divine guidance for selfish pleasure and defilement grow so far gone that reproof no longer reaches them and redemption is refused. The same barren crop appears when false teaching, discord, and discontent are sown among others instead of pure truth, doing harm to souls that cannot simply be undone.
The Field and Its End
The worth of ground is decided by what it grows after it drinks in blessing, and ground that yields only thorns and briers is worthless, rejected, standing near a curse, with burning as its end. A life of useful, systematic labor brings forth fitting fruit and receives blessing, while a life given to idleness fosters self-indulgence and turns empty and barren. Such an idle life is like a rejected field that grows only weeds and opens the way to every evil, and it too is rejected, near to cursing, with burning as its end. Honest toil never degrades a person, but idleness and selfish dependence do degrade.
Like an uncultivated field that brings forth weeds, thistles, and thorns instead of useful produce, the mind in which seeds of truth are not sown grows unsightly ideas and yields no heavenly fruit. Like rich garden soil left untilled, the uncultivated mind becomes overgrown with the thorns and briers of ignorance. If its powers are not trained and used to glorify God, they become strong aids in leading toward ruin.
A home left untended spiritually and morally becomes like a garden overrun with thorns and briars, and such neglect is disregard of God's word. Parents bear the responsibility to cultivate the character of their children by loving, disciplined instruction in the home.
Character That Bears Thorns
A life that bears the thorns and briers of bad character instead of the fruits of the Spirit is rejected and faces destruction, for character is tested by its fruit, and without grace abiding in the heart mere profession of faith or outward observance of law cannot produce the good fruit that glorifies God. Cherished sin is such thorns and briers, for if a wrong desire or habit is not overcome it can become the ruling power in the life and destroy the soul, so the heart must be thoroughly cleared, since even one sinful trait can neutralize the power of the gospel. Those who persistently reject divine guidance and pursue selfish pleasure and defilement are as land bearing thorns and briers, near to being cursed with a course ending in destruction, being nigh unto cursing meaning so far gone that reproof no longer reaches and redemption is refused.
A life producing thorns rather than the fruit of faith and love is rejected and faces judgment, which warns against envy, suspicion, and accusation that unless overcome bring harm and loss, while the needed fruit is Christlike love, patience, forbearance, and confidence in God. Dwelling on doubts and lack of confidence in fellow believers is gathering thorns and thistles, instead of which believers should notice and express what is good and beautiful in one another. Conduct that produces alienation, bitterness, and harsh opposition rather than godliness bears thorns ending in rejection, nearness to a curse, and burning, for genuine godliness does not let differences over Scripture break bonds of fellowship. The fruit of those who claim to belong to God can reveal them to be like thorns and briers rather than fruitful plants, since actions disclose principles and motives, and a church's approval of wrongdoing cannot make it right or change bad fruit into good.
Sowing Truth Among Others
Seed that yields only briers and thorns pictures the spreading of false teaching that harms souls instead of bringing them to truth. Such a crop is rejected and faces judgment. Lost opportunities and damage done through error cannot simply be undone, even if the person later repents and is saved.
People who yield to corrupt influences and produce harmful results are like land bearing thorns, rejected, near to a curse, and headed for destruction. The seed of thorns is discord and discontent planted through unconsecrated ministers or teachers in churches and institutions that claim to believe the truth.
What bears thorns and thistles instead of good grain is worthless and fit only to be burned, for fruit decides worth. Those sowing influence on the field of hearts must sow pure wheat yielding thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold of pure grain rather than foul seed mingled with thistles and thorns. A sanctified heart with Jesus in every thought yields purity and sweetness like a cleansed fountain, with a decided change in the whole life, while unsanctified sowing yields only a worthless crop for burning.