Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 13:7

"And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them:" — Matthew 13:7 (ASV)

The ground was originally a thicket of thorns and had been cleared by the thorns being cut down, but quickly the old roots sent out new shoots and other weeds came up with them, and the tangled beds of thistles, thorns, nettles, and what not, strangled the feeble shoots of the wheat. The native plants choked the poor stranger. They would not permit the intrusive corn to share the field with them. Evil claims a monopoly of our nature.

Thus we have seen three sets of seed come to an untimely end.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

The ground was originally a thicket of thorns. It had been cleared by cutting down the thorns, but the old roots quickly sent out new shoots, and other weeds also came up with them. The tangled beds of thistles, thorns, nettles, and other such weeds then strangled the feeble shoots of the wheat.

The native plants choked the poor stranger. They would not permit the intrusive corn to share the field with them: evil claims a monopoly of our nature. Thus, we have seen three sets of seed come to an untimely end.