8:14Luke 8:14

Christ spoke this as part of the parable of the sower to the eager company gathered by the Sea of Galilee, where the seed is the word of God and the ground among thorns stands for those who hear it.COL 33.1+2 The thorns are the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches and love of the world, and the pleasures sought for mere self-gratification, with unchristlike traits and unsanctified desires.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24+2 Those among thorns hear the word and go forth, but let these things choke its growth so the soul is kept from nourishment from Christ and brings no fruit to maturity.COL 33+2 At first such a hearer may be aglow and absorbed in Scripture and springing up to bear fruit, yet truth struggles for supremacy until cares and love of other things gain the victory and paralyze the moral powers.4T 50.3+2 Thorny soil need not remain so, for good and evil cannot grow together and the heart as a garden must be broken up by repentance and have its choking growths uprooted by diligent effort in Christ's strength in order to bear fruit.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24+2

The word was spoken to the eager company gathered to hear by the Sea of Galilee, where the seed is the word of God and that which fell among thorns are hearers of that word.COL 30.1 It belongs to the parable of the sower which illustrates the things of the kingdom of heaven and the work of the great Husbandman for His people.COL 33.1 The Sower is Christ Himself, the Sovereign of heaven, who came as a sower in the field to scatter the heavenly grain of truth, and His parable-teaching itself is the seed in which the most precious truths of His grace are sown.COL 33.1 From natural seed cast into the soil the mind is led to the gospel seed whose sowing brings man back to loyalty to God, and the same laws that govern earthly seed-sowing govern the sowing of the seeds of truth, yet because of its simplicity the parable has not been valued as it should be.COL 33.1

The parable shows how different kinds of hearts receive Christ's teaching, with the thorny ground as one heart-tendency and class among the different responses.2SP 241.1–2+1 It helps explain why His ministry had limited immediate results, since people were not forced to believe or obey but could accept or reject Him, and had to unite their own efforts with His divine power to overcome sin.2SP 241.1–2+1 It is part of the parable of the Sower.9MR 33.2

The thorns are earthly cares, the deceitfulness of riches, the pleasures of this life, unchristlike traits of character, and unsanctified human inclinations and desires.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24 Many who profess Christianity are so engrossed with earthly cares that they have no time for cultivation of piety and do not regard true religion as of first importance.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24 A person may seem to receive the truth, but if unchristlike traits are not overcome these thorns grow and strengthen and kill the precious graces of the Spirit.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24 Good and evil cannot grow in the heart at the same time, so the thorns in the heart must be uprooted and cast out and cut away from the life as hindrances to Christian growth.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24

Cares that choke include both the burden of the poor in toil, deprivation and fear of want, and the burden of the rich in fear of loss and many anxieties.COL 51.2 Such cares should drive people to seek help and comfort from the Saviour, but when He is not trusted and given the burden they separate from Him.COL 51.2 When business matters are allowed to become all-engrossing and Jesus does not preside, the multitude of business cares chokes the growth of the good seed so there is no fruit to the glory of God.Ms 62, 1890, par. 8–10 Loading down with business cares until spiritual things are neglected, prayer and feeding on heavenly manna and searching of heart and Bible are neglected as wasted time, and fervor in serving the Lord is lost, is sin against God, robbery and dishonest dealing with Him whose property the person is, and defrauding of the soul.Ms 62, 1890, par. 8–10 It leads to trusting finite wisdom instead of feeling dependence on God for every breath, becoming self-important and self-exalted through losing sight of Jesus, making grievous mistakes, and making shipwreck of faith as thousands in all ages have done.Ms 62, 1890, par. 8–10 It expels the religion of Christ from the soul to give place to speculation and business enterprises, neglects family and home religion, breaks down altars, abandons first love, and leaves God and heaven out of calculation.Ms 62, 1890, par. 8–10 Neglect of prayerful self-examination and devotion dims spiritual sight while cares and business pursuits crowd out the word heard and outweigh the truth, leaving spiritual life without mature fruit.9MR 171.3–4

Being swallowed up in anxiety to acquire more of this world's goods overtaxes mind and body in that pursuit while neglecting present happiness, comfort and health, even to sacrifice of life, always looking ahead to a future time when there will be enough to afford the comforts of life.Lt 21, 1868, par. 4–5 Cares connected with providing a home and doing work can occupy the mind and choke the good seed of truth so it does not spring up and bear fruit, just as it begins to interest and charm.Lt 23, 1862, par. 24–26 So it was with Brother King while providing a habitation, for whom God permitted loss of physical eyesight so spiritual vision would become more clear, with angels around him presenting the harmonious chain of truth link after link until mist and darkness left and truth in its clearness and beauty overbalanced skepticism.Lt 23, 1862, par. 24–26 Being perplexed and overtaxed with the cares of this life lets the spirit of this world come in and makes a person less consecrated to the service of God than they ought to be.Lt 20, 1861, par. 7–8 Even those with love of the truth in their hearts who labor hard without sparing themselves and freely give to others can go too far in this way, and that extra care and labor should not be taken on, but they need to allow themselves rest and relaxation from care as well as others do.Lt 20, 1861, par. 7–8

Misplaced attention to others' faults lets poisonous weeds choke truth in one's own heart, for while people watch and criticize brothers and sisters over small matters such as dress or household furnishings, the truth is choked and prevented from bearing fruit.Ms 1a, 1859, par. 2–5 Neglecting one's own spiritual welfare in favor of lesser concerns leaves a person unable to correct others.Ms 1a, 1859, par. 2–5 Skepticism and fanciful interpretations concealed in books are also thorns that take root and yield infidelity.CT 186.3–187.2

The deceitfulness of riches includes love of the world, dishonest gain, anxiety about gaining or keeping money, putting temporal concerns first and neglecting gatherings and privileges, treating ceaseless toil as duty, becoming less willing to give as riches increase, and finally turning the heart with pleasures and honors from the truth.3T 112.2+1 Some hear and accept the truth, yet dishonest gain becomes a thorn outweighing good purposes, and anxiety about gaining or keeping possessions makes temporal affairs the first priority and keeps them from religious meetings that would strengthen their hearts.3T 112.2+1 They treat ceaseless toil for wealth as duty even when intending to help God's cause, yet as riches increase they become less willing to give, until worldly cares, anxiety, pleasures and honors turn their hearts from the truth.3T 112.2+1 Needless care and love of earthly pleasures and desire for worldly honor turn attention from spiritual growth and keep the seed from bearing perfected Christian character to maturity.TCBMP 140.1–142.1 A close, penurious, calculating, selfish and covetous disposition with unbounded love of this world chokes the word in those who hear with convinced judgment, crowding all love for the truth out of the heart until there is no place for truth left in it.Lt 10, 1861, par. 2–5

The thorns are especially love of the world in earthly possessions and riches claimed as one's own instead of lent to advance God's work.Ms 4, 1860, par. 2–3 Those who have property face temptation to selfishness, to love possessions too well, and to serve treasure instead of God.Ms 4, 1860, par. 2–3 When truth is presented clearly and the Spirit warms the heart, they almost place the sacrifice on the altar, but they do not consecrate all fully to God, so as the saving influence wears away the love of the world revives.Ms 4, 1860, par. 2–3 The battle is between truth and love of the world for control of mind and heart, and if Satan crowds out love of truth the seed is choked so it brings no fruit to the glory of God.Ms 4, 1860, par. 2–3 Victory requires giving up all for Jesus, sacrificing idols and consuming dross in order to reflect the image of Jesus through watchfulness and prayer.Ms 4, 1860, par. 2–3

The pleasures of this life mean amusement sought merely for self-gratification, and there is danger in it.ST Feb 2, 1915+1 All habits of indulgence that weaken the physical powers, that becloud the mind, or that benumb the spiritual perceptions choke the word and are fleshly lusts which war against the soul.ST Feb 2, 1915+1 Worldly anxieties can separate people from Christ instead of driving them to seek His help, and pleasure pursued for self-gratification can weaken the body, cloud the mind, or dull spiritual perception.ST Feb 2, 1915 Merely professing belief without continually preparing and purifying the heart and uprooting old sinful habits leaves the seed choked and immature without mature fruit.ST Feb 2, 1915 Gratifying love of amusement by allowing sports and parties of pleasure and by providing money for display and self-gratification feeds the desire for pleasure until it grows stronger and absorbs the whole interest.COL 54.1 Amusement comes to be looked upon as the great object of life, and habits of idleness and self-indulgence are formed that make it almost impossible ever to become steadfast Christians.COL 54.1

People may hear the truth but fail to cherish it because cares of life, riches, and desires for forbidden things crowd out love of righteousness before it can bear fruit.ST Jun 30, 1881 Pride, passion, self-love, love of the world, envy and malice also choke the truth, and the heart must be carefully cultivated with harmful tendencies diligently removed.ST Jun 30, 1881 Patient earnest effort in Jesus' name and strength is needed, and those who let evil influences overcome faith fall into a worse state than before they heard the words of life.ST Jun 30, 1881 Cares, riches, pleasures and worldly desires can choke the gospel seed in one who has heard and partly received the truth so it bears no mature fruit, including love of pleasure and worldly gain.Ms 13, 1898, par. 3–6 Unless they are rooted out through continuing purification of the heart, they grow and crowd out love for God and the truth.Ms 13, 1898, par. 3–6

Those among thorns are hearers who receive the word and go forth, yet allow the cares and riches and pleasures of this life to choke its growth, so that the soul is kept from drawing nourishment from Christ, spirituality dies, and no fruit is brought to perfection.COL 33+1 At first such a hearer may be all aglow with truth, absorbed in Scripture, seeing new beauty and springing up to bear fruit to the glory of God, but the truth then struggles for supremacy in the mind until the cares of life and the love of other things gain the victory.4T 50.3 Satan uses the attractions of this world to enchain the person and paralyze the moral powers until there is no sense of God's claims.4T 50.3

Those who are deeply interested and impressed and hungering after righteousness may at first receive the words sent from God as truth, yet become unfruitful because the good seed is choked.Lt 1, 1875, par. 1–5 Unless more thorough plans fasten the truth upon mind and heart, various lesser things come in to occupy the mind and the words of life are forgotten, with unimportant fancies that please the fancy and soothe the carnal mind cherished instead of precious truth until convictions of the Spirit are silenced.Lt 1, 1875, par. 1–5 If the affections are set on the things of earth, the loveliness of Christ fades from the mind.Lt 1, 1875, par. 1–5 Some are moved by the teaching to begin with a new purpose, but worldly cares and temptations and unfavorable surroundings lead them back into indifference, so no lasting fruit is produced.2SP 234.1–2

Truth presented in preaching is seed sown in the heart, and Satan has many attractions ready to divert the mind, with the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches combining to choke it.LSEGW 216.1–2+2 Even when the subjects are important and intensely interesting, the labor in word and doctrine proves nearly fruitless unless the impression is fastened by more thorough follow-up effort, with appropriate reading matter on present truth freely circulated to all who will accept it.LSEGW 216.1–2+2 Different results depend on the soil, so hearers are responsible for resisting the Spirit and allowing their hearts to become hard or crowded with harmful growth.COL 56.1–2 Yet thorny soil need not remain so, for through repentance and diligent effort and cooperation with God in uprooting evil tendencies the heart can be prepared to receive the word.COL 56.1–2

Hearing alone is not enough if worldly concerns crowd out the word, in contrast to the good soil in which the seed bears fruit.4T 499.2 That contrast carries a lesson for childhood, when the mind is impressionable and sowing good seed early can lead to fruit that lasts into eternal life.4T 499.2 Love of the world and the cares of life can separate people from God, making them cold and unbelieving and preventing spiritual fruit from coming to maturity.3T 381.2 The warning reaches to anything that chokes spiritual life and keeps fruit from maturity.3T 381.2

Good and evil cannot grow together in the heart at the same time, so the thorns must be uprooted and cast out and cut away from the life as hindrances to Christian growth.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24 The thorns to be removed are earthly cares, the deceitfulness of riches, pleasures of this life, unchristlike traits of character, and unsanctified human inclinations and desires.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24 Many who profess faith are so engrossed with earthly cares that they have no time for the cultivation of piety and do not regard true religion as of first importance.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24 A person may seem to receive the truth, but if unchristlike traits are not overcome these thorns grow and strengthen and kill the precious graces of the Spirit.Lt 13, 1902, par. 20–24

The heart is a garden where good seed and bad seed are sown and where the good grain can be choked by evil growths, and it must be prepared for the seed of truth just as the garden must be prepared for natural seed.ED 111.1–2 That preparation means the soil broken up by repentance and the growths that choke the good grain uprooted.ED 111.1–2 As ground once overgrown with thorns can be reclaimed only by diligent, persevering labor in preparing the soil, sowing the seed, and cultivating the crop, so the evil tendencies of the heart can be overcome only by earnest effort in the name and strength of Christ.ED 111.1–2 Children and youth are to learn this by themselves preparing soil, sowing seed, and tilling the ground.ED 111.1–2

The seed must be protected from thorns and from shallow soil, so hearts are to be prepared and the foundations of Christian life taught from the beginning.COL 57.1–2 Believers are not only saved through Christ's sacrifice; they are to make His life their life and His character their character, bear burdens, deny natural inclination, and serve in self-denial.COL 57.1–2 They are to trust His love and cast their cares on Him.COL 57.1–2 Working for Christ and winning souls turns attention away from self, weakens the attraction of worldly pleasures, and keeps life's burdens from disheartening them, while the truth must break up the heart's soil and remove the thorns by their roots.COL 57.1–2

The seed to be sown is truth and the truth about eternal life, and it must be sown as Christ sowed, with care and self-denial, with the mind of Christ and a life of continued sacrifice for the good of others without becoming weary in well-doing.TBC1872 111.1+1 The sower must sow the seed and trust God to quicken it to life, for the precious seed may lie dormant for some time until grace convicts the heart and awakens the sown seed to spring up and bear fruit.TBC1872 111.1 This work calls for unselfish, earnest, persevering missionaries as co-workers with Christ and the heavenly angels in the salvation of others.TBC1872 111.1 Where hearts are as hard as the beaten highway and as stone and keep the seed from taking root, logic fails to move them and argument is powerless to convince them, but Christlike love revealed in close personal heart-to-heart labor can soften the stony heart so the seed of truth can take root.GW 185.1 Bearing precious fruit in honest hearts, in contrast to fruitlessness through choking, requires sowing by teachers who are refreshed and cheerful, able to speak words of cheer and courage for the best good of the hearers, who teach how to come to the Lord and how to lead others to Him, and who by their methods and plans uplift the standard and teach purification from iniquity and elevation by adherence to pure and holy principles.6T 45.1–2

The soil must be prepared to receive the seed, and that preparation includes cultivating children's minds and forming good habits.CTBH 67.3 Good principles planted in children can be choked by the growth of evil and by the allurements to sin they meet, so parents should help their children develop firmness and self-control.ST Nov 10, 1881