4:19Mark 4:19

The verse belongs to the parable of the sower, where heavenly truth is sown in the heart to restore loyalty to God and reveal how people receive Christ's teaching.COL 33.1+3 The seed among thorns pictures hearers in whom competing growths crowd out the word so it draws no nourishment from Christ and yields no fruit.ST Jun 30, 1881+1 The thorns are the anxieties of this life that burden poor and rich alike, the false promise of wealth that turns the heart from dependence on God to self-exaltation, and all other desires and pleasures that become enemies of the soul when placed before God's kingdom.ST Feb 2, 1915+2 The failure lies not in the seed or the sower but in the crowded heart, yet no thorny hearer must remain so, for by choice and cooperation with God the ground can be broken up, the thorns rooted out, and the word made fruitful.COL 56.1–2+1

The verse belongs to the parable of the sower, which uses seed-sowing to illustrate the kingdom of heaven and God's work for His people.COL 33.1+1 The seed is heavenly truth, and its sowing is meant to bring people back to loyalty to God.COL 33.1 The parable shows the different tendencies of the human heart in receiving Christ's teaching and helps explain why His ministry had limited immediate results.2SP 241.1–2+2 People were not forced to believe or obey but remained free to accept or reject Him.2SP 241.1–2+2 They must choose to receive His teaching and unite their effort with His power to overcome sin.ST May 3, 1877

The parable was given to meet disappointment that no temporal kingdom had been established and Israel had not been exalted as a nation.2SP 235.1–2 That disappointment itself warns that worldly concerns and expectations can keep people from receiving Christ as Redeemer.2SP 235.1–2 Within the parable, the seed falling among thorns represents hearers in whom the word is choked by competing growths and kept from yielding fruit.ST Jun 30, 1881

The threefold growth that chokes the word acts like thorns around young grain, shutting the soul off from nourishment in Christ until its spiritual life dies out without fruit.COL 51.1 The cares of this world press upon poor and rich alike, with toil, deprivation and fear of want weighing on the poor and fear of loss with many anxieties weighing on the rich.COL 51.2 Such cares ought to drive a person to seek help and comfort from Christ, but when burdens are not entrusted to Him and His constant care is not trusted, they separate the person from Him.ST Feb 2, 1915+1

The deceitfulness of riches turns the heart from dependence on God and service to others toward self-exaltation.ST Feb 2, 1915 The lusts of other things need not be sinful in themselves, for they choke the word whenever they are put before the kingdom of God.ST Feb 2, 1915+1 Whatever draws the mind from God or the affections from Christ is an enemy to the soul, and becomes dangerous when it takes priority over His kingdom.ST Feb 2, 1915+1 The parallel account adds the pleasures of this life to these choking influences.ST Feb 2, 1915 The heart must therefore be kept continually under God's control and prepared by the Holy Spirit, since habits merely cut off but not rooted out will grow back and overrun the seed.ST Feb 2, 1915

The weeds that threaten the truth include pride, passion, self-love, love of the world, envy and malice, together with love of worldly fashions, empty talk and selfishness.4RED 85.1+4 They must be diligently rooted out, watched as they reappear, and removed through patient, earnest effort in Jesus' name and strength.4RED 85.1+4 If they are left to prevail, faith is overcome and the person is left worse than before hearing the words of life.4RED 85.1+2

Thorny-ground hearers are convinced and accept the truth without seeing the sinfulness of their hearts, while love of the world still holds a large place in their affections.3T 112.2 The cares of this world are fullness of care and anxiety about gaining means or losing what has been gained, making temporal matters primary, failing to nourish the good seed, and even staying away from meetings that would strengthen the heart for fear of temporal loss.3T 112.2+1 The deceitfulness of riches is loving to get the best of the bargain, prevaricating and gaining by deception and fraud until good purposes and intentions are overbalanced, while flattering self that toiling for all possible gain is duty to help God's cause.3T 112.2+1 In fact the more earthly riches increase the less the heart is inclined to part with treasure, until it is fully turned from the loved truth.3T 112.2+1 The lusts of other things are love for the worldly pleasures and honors that riches give, with unnecessary cares and needless anxiety, which overgrow and smother the good seed so it becomes unfruitful.3T 112.2+1

When self is cherished the life of Christ in the soul is quenched and the word is choked.Ms 151, 1902, par. 24–25 The heart must be deeply ploughed, purified and broken before God in longing for true holiness, with self cast out, so the seed can take root and bear fruit to God's glory.Ms 151, 1902, par. 24–25 Shallow faith is valueless and proves itself by poor fruit, while genuine faith, love and trust develop gentleness and love for God and man.Ms 151, 1902, par. 24–25 Doubt, unbelief, evil thinking and evil speaking are fruit of an evil tree and must be put away through deep heart-searching, lest unbelief harden the heart against God.Ms 151, 1902, par. 24–25

The good seed of saving truth and the great principles of faith is choked by poisonous weeds when believers neglect their own soul's interest and eternal welfare to faultfind and watch brethren over little things like dress, furniture and fixings.Ms 1a, 1859, par. 2–5 Dwelling on little particulars, feeling bad about a brother or sister, and trying to bend others to one's own ideas lets the weeds choke the seed, while dwelling on present truth straight, plain and clear and leaving brethren to the Lord to convict cultivates it.Ms 1a, 1859, par. 2–5 One thus choked is in no condition to correct others.Ms 1a, 1859, par. 2–5 Teachings planted in the heart can likewise be choked like seed among thorns by books that conceal skepticism or promote fanciful interpretations of Scripture, producing a harvest of infidelity.CT 186.3–187.2

Minds are soil and words spoken are seed that can take root and bear fruit.Lt 11, 1862, par. 14–16 When unbelief, darkness, difficulties and perplexities are talked out, especially by a trusted messenger to a weak unsettled hearer, the seed can lie hidden and then spring up under temptation as doubt, infidel thought, loss of faith in the Bible, fascination with error and surrender to Satan.Lt 11, 1862, par. 14–16 To speak unbelief in this way is cruel to other minds, dishonoring to God, and gives Satan unperceived ground to exult.Lt 11, 1862, par. 14–16

Worldly worries, the false promise of riches, and desires for other things choke God's word and leave it unfruitful by deceiving people into neglecting truth and the heavenly inheritance.SG4 267.1+3 Minds held by these things remain troubled and fail to use their powers to seek and understand present truth, and the light received wanes until they are left in darkness without excuse.SG4 267.1+1 This clinging to earthly wealth can persist even into old age, keeping people from valuing heavenly treasure, giving to the poor, and supporting God's cause, leaving them self-deceived and unwilling to sacrifice for eternal life.1T 351.1–2 The warning applies to those who want eternal life and appear willing to obey, yet love their possessions more, so that attachment to earthly wealth and concerns keeps them from seeking truth.CET 166.2

The deceitfulness of riches can draw a person away even when she feels secure from selfishness and pride, as wealth and the cares of a new position claim attention and resources are gradually spent for personal comfort while duty to God is neglected.2T 278.1–2 Riches so deceive and become a snare through love of the world and close, dishonest dealings that lead possessors to stumble toward perdition, in contrast to using unrighteous wealth to make friends so as finally to be received into everlasting habitations.RH Apr 15, 1858 The same deceit turns a person from good purposes formed in adversity once prosperity comes, for cares increase with prosperity and extended influence, with love of others' praise and a felt need to keep surroundings in keeping with success.2T 279.2 Being swayed by others' opinions leads to needless expenditure only to gratify the lust of the eye and the pride of life, forgetting that money handled belongs to the Lord and using it for show, vanity, and self-glory instead of magnifying God.2T 279.2

The deceitfulness of riches chokes the word by keeping the heart bound to money and crowding out generous principle, so one with abundance holds tightly while the poor with least divide to meet the wants of the cause.Lt 9, 1857, par. 7–8 The more possessed the less the wants of the cause are seen and the harder it is to hear Jesus calling for means in freewill offering, and if those with abundance will not cut loose He will pass them by and call those willing to do anything, even to sell homes, leaving the refusing rich man sorrowful.Lt 9, 1857, par. 7–8 Love of the world likewise chokes truth in those with earthly possessions, whose property brings temptation as Satan stirs selfish disposition and danger of claiming as their own what God only lent to advance His work.Ms 4, 1860, par. 2–3 When truth is presented the Spirit's warming influence brings sacrifice almost to the altar, but without full consecration the influence wears away, the foe regains the mind, love of the world revives, and treasure is served instead of God, so the battle between truth and love of the world requires giving up idols and consuming dross to reflect His image.Ms 4, 1860, par. 2–3

The deceitfulness of riches chokes the word by leading to failure in duty, squandering and mismanaging entrusted goods, embezzling the Lord's goods and robbing God with only meager offerings instead of investing largely to send truth to all nations and sending treasure beforehand into heaven, even entrusting money to sons that would not be entrusted to God.Lt 39, 1874, par. 17–18 This unfruitfulness removes blessing, light, and power and brings scattering and reduction to poverty.Lt 39, 1874, par. 17–18 Riches can so deceive and ensnare the soul that handling money entrusted by God calls for prayer and careful guarding against being misled in deciding how to use it for His work.16MR 258.1–4+1 Those entrusted with money must guard against this danger as they decide how to use it for God's work.Ms 25, 1896, par. 11–14

Letting business become all-engrossing chokes the word so it bears no fruit, as business worries absorb the mind while eternal interests are neglected, which is sin, robbery of God, dishonest dealing, and defrauding of one's own soul by failing to live the Word.Ms 62, 1890, par. 8–10 Loading oneself with cares until fervor is lost brings grievous mistakes through trusting finite wisdom, forgetting dependence on God for every breath, and becoming self-important by losing sight of Jesus, which wrecks faith.Ms 62, 1890, par. 8–10 This excessive interest in business, speculation, and enterprise drives Christ's religion from the soul, breaks down family religion, abandons first love, leaves God out of calculation, treats heart-searching as wasted time, and neglects the Bible while worries choke the seed.Ms 62, 1890, par. 8–10 A close, penurious, calculating, covetous, selfish, and unbounded love of this world likewise chokes the word by crowding all love for truth out of the heart and leaving no place for it to live and grow, so that even one whose judgment is convinced, who is converted and loves the truth, becomes unfruitful, unable to be fed or to understand and feel the force of instruction.Lt 10, 1861, par. 2–5

A person can begin with heart aglow with truth, mind absorbed in Scripture seeing new beauty in every line with seed springing up to God's glory, then after a time let life's cares, deceitfulness of riches, and love of other things choke it so no fruit is brought forth.4T 50.3 Truth struggles for supremacy but worldly care can gain the victory as Satan uses worldly attractions to enchain and paralyze moral powers until God's claims are unfelt, and he can nearly succeed.4T 50.3 Worldly cares and desire for wealth can take hold of professed followers, drawing love away from Christ's kingdom and the spread of truth by letting covetousness and earthly treasure rule the character so the word bears no fruit.EW 227.1 The word becomes unfruitful when worldly pursuits take over life, as the desire to acquire wealth absorbs energy and time leaving no time for prayer, Bible study, or seeking and serving God, and when worldly things become supreme and eternal things are pushed aside, the soul's life nourishes the thorns of worldliness instead of the word's fruit.COL 51.3

The seed sown is the same and the sower is the same, so when the word fails to work in the life the fault lies in the response of the hearer.COL 56.1–2 Resisting the Spirit leads to neglect of the word and hardness of heart, and then competing growths spring up and choke its development.COL 56.1–2 Thorny-ground hearers need not remain so, for by choice and cooperation with God the heart can be cultivated through repentance, and evil tendencies can be uprooted by earnest effort in the strength of Jesus.COL 56.1–2 Worldly concerns, the false appeal of wealth, and desires for other things keep the seed from taking root and growing while the heart remains crowded, and truth must break up the ground and remove the thorns by their roots.COL 57.1–2

For those waiting and watching for Christ's coming it is unsafe and unjustifiable to become so busy in worldly matters that they cease to watch and forget their position as waiting ones.Lt 21a, 1871, par. 1–5+2 To fall into busy excitement like worldlings and become surfeited and drunken with the cares of this life allows cares and the deceitfulness of riches to gain powerful influence.Lt 21a, 1871, par. 1–5+1 That influence eclipses the attractions of heaven, beclouds the mind and the fine organs of the brain, benumbs the spiritual powers with anxious desire for gain, and leaves professed Christians bewildered and insane in worldly pursuit like a drunkard bewildered by drink.Lt 21a, 1871, par. 1–5+1 The world-loving professed Christian becomes drunken with the crazing, benumbing appetite for gain, engrossed in worldly concerns and spiritually unwatchful, putting heaven with all its sweet and exalted charms out of mind.Lt 21a, 1871, par. 1–5+2 Such a one does not prize heaven or eternal life, feels no weight of obligation to God and fellow men, gratifies love of this world, parts with peace of mind and joy of soul and the approbation of God, and loses the heavenly mansions and the glorious rest prepared for those who love God.Lt 21a, 1871, par. 1–5 Toiling on in the way of the transgressor, uniting no diligent industry with waiting and watching, such a one receives in the end the wages of the God-forgotten, God-dishonoring worldling, which is death.Lt 21a, 1871, par. 1–5+1

Worldly cares and temptations can cause the gospel's first impression to fade, drawing people back into indifference and keeping its teaching from lasting fruit.2SP 234.1–2 People who first hear important truth with interest and impression can lose all benefit when other things occupy the mind and the words of life are forgotten.Lt 1, 1875, par. 1–5 Satan is ever ready to catch away the good seed sown in the heart and to sow tares in its place, alluring the mind with many attractions so that unimportant things are cherished instead of precious truth.Lt 1, 1875, par. 1–5 Things that please the fancy and soothe the carnal mind are then sought until convictions of the Spirit are silenced, and when affections are set on things of earth the loveliness of Christ fades from the mind.Lt 1, 1875, par. 1–5 Truth sown may yet be choked and left unfruitful for years beneath the rubbish of the world and the pleasing fables that deceived people enjoy, while remaining alive as impressions on the mind that cannot readily be forgotten.TBC1872 111.1+1 The seed of truth may lie dormant for a time until earthly sorrow or affliction softens the heart and God's grace convicts it, awakening the buried seed to spring up and bear fruit to the glory of God.TBC1872 111.1+1

What is in the heart is eventually revealed by actions, for the seed of truth may take root and bear good fruit or thorns and brambles may prevail and keep it from fruitfulness.ST May 10, 1877 Those who listen sincerely gain greater knowledge and light, while those who reject instruction are overcome by temptation and lose even the little understanding they had.ST May 10, 1877 The cares of work in providing a habitation can occupy the mind and choke the good seed just as the clear rays of truth begin to penetrate darkness and charm it.Lt 23, 1862, par. 24–26 In one instance outward eyesight was removed and outer vision darkened so that spiritual vision might become clearer, with angels presenting the harmonious chain of truth link after link uniting in a great whole until mist and darkness disappeared.Lt 23, 1862, par. 24–26 Then the mind labored and studied, and truth in its clearness and beauty eclipsed everything else, overbalanced all skepticism, and brought rejoicing.Lt 23, 1862, par. 24–26

The cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches choke the seed of truth sown in the heart by diverting the mind, so that impressions made by preaching may prove nearly fruitless.LSEGW 216.1–2+2 Satan has many attractions ready to draw the mind away, and unless more thorough effort and plans are made to fasten truth upon minds and hearts, labor for souls is largely lost.LSEGW 216.1–2+1 God's word is seed sown in human hearts, and the hearts of the hearers must be prepared to receive that seed.STMW7 45.1

The word fails to bear fruit when the soil of the heart is left unprepared while time and labor are wasted on following the fashions of the world.CTBH 67.3 The soil of a child's heart must be carefully prepared for the Sower to scatter the good seed, with parents as the best teachers until eight or ten years of age.CTBH 67.3 The open air amid flowers and birds should be the schoolroom and the treasures of nature the textbook, opening God's great book of nature as fast as young minds can comprehend so the lessons are not forgotten.CTBH 67.3 Time devoted to cultivating the minds of children and forming correct habits brings a marked change in families, and teaching children through clear lessons drawn from nature sows seeds of truth whose lasting good will be revealed on the day of God.CTBH 67.3+1

In early life the mind is impressible soil, and the good seed must then be sown upon good soil to bear fruit unto eternal life.4T 499.2 Parents' errors and mistakes are reproduced in children, and a child absorbed in light reading by following a parent's example receives lasting injury to mental powers and will have no taste nor aptitude for study.4T 499.2 Parental guidance and firm discipline help keep good principles in children from being smothered by the allurements to sin and by the growth of evil that chokes the planted word.4T 499.2+1

The word of truth must take root in the heart to bear fruit, and personal ministry expressing Christ's love can soften a heart as hard as the beaten path and help the seed take root.GW 185.1 Seed sown through continued meetings may also take root in a heart and lead to conversion, in contrast to seed choked and left without fruit.GW 185.1+1 The seed of truth sown in attentive minds can spring up and bear fruit, and its lessons can be passed on to benefit later generations.ST May 2, 1878 Sharing truth through books and words of life sows seed among people that can spring up and bear fruit, as when students living out the truth sow seeds in others' minds.ST May 2, 1878+2

The seed sown when the theory of the truth with its evidences is preached springs up and bears fruit to the glory of God when Christ as the Saviour of the world with His redeeming love and cross is exalted in connection with it.4T 393.3 Discourses that are wholly argumentative and do not present Christ before the people fail to give that fruit.4T 393.3 For souls listening to their last sermon, or who will never again have the chain of truth brought before them with practical application to their hearts, that golden opportunity lost is lost forever.4T 393.3 Worldly cares and desires, with love of fashion and lack of religion, turn attention away from God's word and keep it from bearing fruit by distracting people from the light and knowledge given, and rejecting that light rather than following it leaves them accountable for what they have received.5T 681.1