Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 13:22

"And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful." — Matthew 13:22 (ASV)

He also that received seed among the thorns—See the note on Matthew 13:19. In this case, there is no overly rapid growth, and the soil has some depth. This character is not one who wastes strength on vague emotions but has the capacity for sustained effort. The problem here is that while there is strength of purpose, there is no unity of spirit. The person is double-minded and would gladly serve two masters.

The care of this world (the word for “care” is the root of the verb in the command, take no thought, from Matthew 6:25) and the deceitfulness of earthly riches—which cheat the soul with false appearances of good—choke the word in its inner life, and it becomes unfruitful. There may be some signs of fruitfulness, perhaps the blade and the ear of partial reformation and striving for holiness, but there is no full corn in the ear. In the words of St. Luke, such people bring no fruit to perfection (Luke 8:14).

To the simpler forms of evil in Matthew's account, St. Mark adds the lusts of other things—that is, desires for things other than the true life. St. Luke, in turn, adds the pleasures of life, which wealth provides and for the sake of which people pursue it.