Those among the thorns
A. The Parable and the Interpretation in Matthew
1. Matthew 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
a. The seed fell among thorns and the thorns sprang up and choked them.
2. Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
a. cares [Strong: 3308 merimna mer'-im-nah from 3307 (through the idea of distraction); solicitude:--care.] [Bullinger: dividing or distracting the mind; then that which does so, care, thought, anxious care, trouble.] [Zodhiates: Anxiety, care that brings disruption to the mind.]
b. A derivative of merimna [Strong: 3309 merimnao mer-im-nah'-o from 3308; to be anxious about:--(be, have) care(-ful), take thought. ] [is translated “careful” in Philippians 4:6; “take thought” in Matthew 6:31;]
1). Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
a). Being careful, taking thought is worry. It is the opposite of faith. Worry in a Christian is confidence in the belief that God will not do what he said he would. Worry is sin.
b). I remember I used to jump on this kind of stuff every chance I got. I’d say that Carefree sugarless gum is “Christian” gum because its “care free”. Or I would tweak the traditional American farewell of “Good bye and be careful”, to “Good bye and be careful for nothing”.
3. “…and the deceitfulness of riches…”
a. deceitfulness [Strong: 539 apate ap-at'-ay from 538; delusion:--deceit(-ful, -fulness), deceivableness(-ving). ] [Vine’s: that which gives a false impression, whether by appearance, statement, or influence.]
b. Scripture declares riches are deceitful, they give a false impression. If our trust is in them it is a false security.
1). 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
c). Proverbs 23:4, 5 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
2). Scripture hints that laying up in store and laying up treasure in heaven are the same.
a). Matthew 6:19-23 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
3). Scripture also links an evil eye with a hardened and stingy heart.
a). Deuteronomy 15:7-11 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
15:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
15:9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.
15:10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
c. Being preoccupied with the cares of this life will cause us to be insensitive to spiritual things and as such vulnerable to traps and snares.
1). Luke 21: 34, 35 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
d. We must remember that Jesus bore these while he was on the cross.
1). Matthew 27:27-29 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
27:28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
B. The Parable and the Interpretation in Mark
1. Mark 4:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
2. Mark 4:18, 19 “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches…”
4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches…”
a. We previously looked at the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. Now I want to visit another of the thorns.
3. “…and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”
a. lusts [Strong: 1939 epithumia ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah from 1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden):--concupiscence, desire, lust (after).] [Zodhiates: strong desire, longing, lust.]
b. entering [Strong: 1531 eisporeuomai ice-por-yoo'-om-ahee from 1519 and 4198; to enter (literally or figuratively):--come (enter) in, go into.] [Zodhiates: to enter in.]
b. entering [Strong: 1531 eisporeuomai ice-por-yoo'-om-ahee from 1519 and 4198; to enter (literally or figuratively):--come (enter) in, go into.] [Zodhiates: to enter in.]
1). The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of the flesh and the lusts of other things will “enter in”, enter in where? They will enter into our heart and choke the life of the word of God out of us. We need to guard our heart to keep that from happening.
2). Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
2). Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
c. Walking in the lusts of the flesh is the opposite of doing the will of God.
1). 1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
d. The works of the flesh are produced through the lusts of the flesh.
1). Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
e. Walking in the lusts and works of the flesh will choke the life of the word out of our lives. What we sow we will reap.
1). Galatians 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
f. Christians who walk in the flesh are being led by the devil.
1). Ephesians 2:2, 3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
g. We must remember that while on the cross Jesus bore a crown of thorns so we don’t have to walk in them.
1). Mark 15:16-18 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
C. The Parable and the Interpretation in Luke
1. Luke 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
2. Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
2. Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
a. choked [Strong: 4846 sumpnigo soom-pnee'-go from 4862 and 4155; to strangle completely, i.e. (literally) to drown, or (figuratively) to crowd:--choke, throng.] [Zodhiates:to choke, suffocate.]
b. pleasures [Strong: 2237 hedone hay-don-ay' from handano (to please); sensual delight; by implication, desire:--lust, pleasure.] [Bullinger: enjoyment, lusts of the flesh.] [Vine’s:used of the gratification of natural or sinful desires.] [Zodhiates: Pleasure, gratification, enjoyment.] [English: hedonism, hedonistic.]
c. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
d. Three characteristics of last day Christians, “lovers of their own selves”, “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God”, and they have “a form of godliness” but they deny “the power thereof”.
b. pleasures [Strong: 2237 hedone hay-don-ay' from handano (to please); sensual delight; by implication, desire:--lust, pleasure.] [Bullinger: enjoyment, lusts of the flesh.] [Vine’s:used of the gratification of natural or sinful desires.] [Zodhiates: Pleasure, gratification, enjoyment.] [English: hedonism, hedonistic.]
c. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
d. Three characteristics of last day Christians, “lovers of their own selves”, “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God”, and they have “a form of godliness” but they deny “the power thereof”.
1). Lovers of their own selves will not lay down their own lives unto death.
a). Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
b). Acts 20:22-24 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
b). Acts 20:22-24 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
2). Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God will not crucify their flesh, they will not stop serving their lustful appetites, even though it is clear that as Christians they should not continue in them.
a). Galatians 5:19-21, 24 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
b). Titus 3:1-3 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
b). Titus 3:1-3 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
3). Those who have a form of godliness but deny the power of a godly life walk in disobedience.
a). Titus 1:15, 16 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
e. Thorns are a result of Adam’s sin.
1). Genesis 3:17, 18 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
f. To have thorns in our lives and allow them to choke the word is laziness.
1). Proverbs 24:30-34 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
24:32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
24:33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
24:34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
24:32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
24:33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
24:34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
g. God told Moses that if Israel left any of the original inhabitants of the land in the land they would be thorns in their sides.
1). Numbers 33:50-56 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
33:51 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
33:52 Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:
33:53 And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.
33:54 And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.
33:55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
33:56 Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
33:51 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
33:52 Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:
33:53 And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.
33:54 And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.
33:55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
33:56 Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
h. Joshua told Israel the same thing.
1). Joshua 23:11-13 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
23:12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
23:13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
23:12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
23:13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
a). Notice that God told Israel that if they allowed the inhabitants to remain in the land and to marry into them, that God would not drive them out.
b). These nations are a type of the sins and works of the flesh that God wants to get out of our lives, and just like Israel, if we fail to co-labor with God get these things out of our lives we will never get victory over them.
b). These nations are a type of the sins and works of the flesh that God wants to get out of our lives, and just like Israel, if we fail to co-labor with God get these things out of our lives we will never get victory over them.
2). These nations were to be driven out little by little.
a). Exodus 23:27-30 I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee
23:28 And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
23:29 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
23:30 And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.
b). Notice the co-laboring of God and Israel. He would drive them out and they would drive them out.
23:28 And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
23:29 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
23:30 And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.
b). Notice the co-laboring of God and Israel. He would drive them out and they would drive them out.
(1). If we continue to hear the word of God and through laziness and slothfulness fail to get the thorns out of our lives will result in rejection. The wicked lazy servant ended up in hell.
1). Matthew 25:26, 30 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
2). 2 Samuel 23:6, 7 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
23:7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.
3). In Hebrew 5:10 the apostle begins to talk about Melchizedek but stops and doesn’t begin talking about Melchizedek again until chapter 7. Between those verses is a strong warning and exhortation that shows how laziness leads to apostasy.
25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
2). 2 Samuel 23:6, 7 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
23:7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.
3). In Hebrew 5:10 the apostle begins to talk about Melchizedek but stops and doesn’t begin talking about Melchizedek again until chapter 7. Between those verses is a strong warning and exhortation that shows how laziness leads to apostasy.
a). Hebrews 6:7-12 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister
6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
b). rejected [Strong: 96 adokimos ad-ok'-ee-mos from 1 (as a negative particle) and 1384; unapproved, i.e. rejected; by implication, worthless (literally or morally):--castaway, rejected, reprobate.]
c). Same Greek word used in 1 Corinthians 9:27 for “castaway”. The context is being rejected by God.
6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister
6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
b). rejected [Strong: 96 adokimos ad-ok'-ee-mos from 1 (as a negative particle) and 1384; unapproved, i.e. rejected; by implication, worthless (literally or morally):--castaway, rejected, reprobate.]
c). Same Greek word used in 1 Corinthians 9:27 for “castaway”. The context is being rejected by God.
D. Summary: We have the responsibility to get thorns out of our lives by using the benefits of the New Covenant, primarily our authority and walking in obedience. When we fail to get the thorns out of our lives we are walking in spiritual laziness disobedience which will result in failure and rejection.
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