Seed We Sow, Seed We Grow (Matthew 13:7)

Matthew 13:7 says, "And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up, and choked them."

This passage and the interpretation that Jesus gives, is recorded a total of 6 times, with slight variations. (Matt. 13:7,22; Mk.4:7,18,19; Lk.8:7,14). The fact that something is repeated so much means that "...it is established by God..."(Gen.41:32), for "...in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." (2Cor.13:1; Matt.18:16; Jn.8:17; Dt.19:15). In other words, this repeated parable is extremely important for us, and God, our Father, really wants us to get it!

The first observation from this verse, is that the seed was sown among thorns. There was a time, when through a lack of close examination, I assumed that these were mature thorn bushes, that the seed happened to land among. [ which would beg the question, 'Why would anyone knowingly sow good seed among thorns?']. The observation, is that the soil already had "thorn seeds" in it, and though the soil was good, the thorn seeds were present, waiting to grow up and produce.

The "thorns" are described as being:

1) The cares of this world

2) The deceitfulness of riches (Matt.13:22)

3) The lust of other things (Mk.4:19), or pleasures of this life (Lk.8:14)

All of us have these "thorn seeds" in our flesh, but we cannot allow them to grow up and become the dominating factor in our lives, because the results are devastating.

THREE COMPOUND WORDS

There are three different compound words that are used to describe the effects of the thorns that are allowed to mature. All three of them are derived from the root which means to throttle someone, [like the merciless servant collecting a debt (Matt.18:28)], to cut off their air, or ability to breathe (Mk.5:13).

FIRST

The first compound describes the thorns as "completely" choking off the good seed. They are both growing up together, but these thorns  "completely" throttle the good seed from being able to "breathe" and grow in the soil (Matt.13:7).

SECOND

The second compound, though seemingly redundant, uses a prefix which means, "from the top to the bottom". The idea is related to doing a thorough job, or doing something "completely", but the emphasis is more on the aspect of leaving nothing out, nothing missed. Not only do these thorns completely choke the life out of the good seed, in good soil, but they don't miss any seed either. They will kill every last growth of the good seed, if allowed to, leaving nothing out of their throttle hold!(Lk.8:7).

THIRD

The last compound uses a prefix which describes a group effort. These "thorn seeds", gang up, "together", and with vicious effort, all play a contributing factor to the death of the seed, of the Word of God. It is not just the cares of this world; or the deceitfulness of riches; or the desires/lusts of other things; or pleasures of this life, but the whole gang, that inflicts such damage.  

We cannot afford to allow these deadly thorns to gain dominance in our lives. Sow the seed; water the seed; care for the precious Word of life. What we put into our lives, and give attention to, is what we will produce. We must guard  our heart with all diligence, monitoring what is sown there, and allowed to grow there, because from the soil of our heart, the life we live, is produced (Prov.4:23).  

We can choose the life we want to live, by choosing what type of seed we sow, and what type of seed we grow.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.