Interpretation of the Bible / Matthew 13:22

To better understand Matthew 13:22, it is important to know the context in which it was written. Jesus uses the parable of the sower to illustrate the different types of hearts that receive the Word of God.

One of the hearts Jesus mentions is one that was planted among thorns. The seed in this heart begins to grow, but then it is choked by the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches.

The Problems of This Century

One of the problems that dominates Jesus’ narrative is the concept of worldly cares. The deception of wealth draws us into worldly cares and distances us from God.

If we allow these cares to dominate us, our growth in faith can be stunted and suffocated. When worldly cares begin to become our primary concern, our spiritual growth becomes secondary and we can forget about what is truly important.

The Deception of Riches

Jesus also mentions the deceitfulness of riches along with worldly cares. Wealth can become a hindrance to our relationship with God if we are not careful. Material possessions can be deceiving because once we have them, we can fall into the trap of thinking that we don’t need anything else.

We can begin to think that our material possessions satisfy all our needs. The problem is that while physical wealth may provide temporary satisfaction, it will never be enough to meet the eternal needs of our soul.