Author: Charlie Garrett

Sunday, 28 September 2025

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. Matthew 13:22

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And the ‘into the thorns having been sown’ this is the ‘the word hearing,’ but the care of this age, and the delusion of wealth, it strangles the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus explained the state of the one who is like a seed cast on stony places. He next continues the explanation of the parable, saying, “And the ‘into the thorns having been sown.’”

This is the person first described in verse 7, which said, “And others, it fell upon the thorns, and they ascended, the thorns, and they choked them.” Of the person represented by this seed, Jesus says, “this is the ‘the word hearing,’ but the care of this age, and the delusion of wealth, it strangles the word.”

Three new words are seen. The first is merimna, solicitude or care. It is derived from merizó, to divide. As such, it is a person whose anxieties divide and fracture his attention, actions, etc. Such a person is distracted from the main point or purpose he is trying to achieve.

The next word is apaté, delusion, a state of deceit, etc. It is the state of having a false impression about something. Because of these things, the third new word, sumpnigó, is the result. It signifies to completely strangle. Literally, it means to drown, but it can also figuratively be used when describing a throng, such as when crowds pressed in on Jesus, choking His movement, in Luke 8:42.

With these things working against the person, Jesus next says of his state concerning the word in his life, “and it becomes unfruitful.”

Another new word is found in this clause, akarpos, without fruit. It is derived from the negative particle a and the word karpos, fruit. Because of the things that tangle this person’s life up, he is unable to bear fruit. Instead, there is a sense of survival mode only.

As noted in earlier commentaries, there is a difference between similar peoples’ situations and the dispensation in which they live. A person under law may be viewed differently from a person under grace when he is like the person described here. However, even people under the law were only saved by God’s grace.

The difference is that those under law were required to adhere to the law. This was the standard for their society. Their hope in God’s promises coming in the Messiah is actually what brought them salvation, even if they were expected to live out the law. With the law fulfilled, it is no longer a factor in our relationship with God. Rather, applying the law to our lives actually sets us at enmity with God’s grace.

Understanding that first, the explanation of this person’s situation may be viewed differently based on the dispensation in which he lives. But if we apply the parable to ourselves, we can make some deductions about this state.

First, the word is heard, received, and it germinates into roots. A person is saved by belief. Therefore, the person would be considered saved. The distractions described by Jesus obviously hinder the person’s growth and ability to bear fruit, but who, since being saved, has not had distractions?

This is a thorny world, filled with trials, temptations, distractions, etc. How we respond to them after being saved will not affect our salvation. Rather, they will affect our rewards at the judgment seat of Christ. If you are living in a thorn patch, remove the thorns or remove yourself from them and press on in Jesus’ goodness.

Life application: Of this type of person, Barnes says –

“See the notes at 1 Timothy 6:7-11. How many, O how many, thus foolishly drown themselves in destruction and perdition! How many more might reach heaven, if it were not for this deep-seated love of that which fills the mind with care, deceives the soul, and finally leaves it naked, and guilty, and lost!”

In the verses cited by Barnes, Paul was writing to Timothy about those in the church, meaning saved believers. Paul never questions their salvation, but warns against the trap of loving money, which causes people to stray from the truth.

If those people could lose their salvation because they diverted from the truth, it means that their salvation was not of grace through faith when they first believed. It means that it was based on their continued performance, it was conditional, and it was not by grace through faith.

To equate a saved person who strays from the truth to a person that is finally left “naked, and guilty, and lost” is to admit that salvation is not by grace through faith in Christ’s completed work. This is a heretical Arminian view that maligns the all-sufficient atonement found in Jesus’ shed blood.

Barnes does not normally espouse such views, but at times, his commentary strays into this type of thinking. The fact is that every person ever saved by Jesus has had time in his own thorn patch, unless maybe he was saved and keeled over of a heart attack a minute later.

If your life is hemmed in with distractions, temptations, and things that choke out your faith, it is up to you to start cutting out the thorns that are affecting you. Life is not easy, but Jesus can be your proverbial clippers if you just put Him back into your main focus. Read the word, fix your eyes on Jesus, and get clipping those thorns!

Lord God, life is so filled with distractions and temptations. Our bodies and brains are biological, chemical, and electrical units that are affected by everything we come in contact with. You know this because You created us. Help us to keep control of who we are so that we can quash the externals and internals that continuously work against us. May Your Spirit direct us as we pursue You. Amen.

27 September 2025

yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Matthew 13:21

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And he has no root in himself, but he is temporary. And having come pressure or persecution through the word, immediately he stumbles” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus began to explain the seed cast on rocky places. He continues that with the words, “And he has no root in himself.”

The word was received with joy. However, for one of an almost infinite number of reasons, the person has no root in and of himself. It was not possible because of the circumstances in which he received the message. Like a seed on rocky soil, there is no way to establish a deep and abiding foundation, a root, to sustain himself. Because of this, Jesus continues, saying, “but he is temporary.”

It is a new word, proskairos. It is derived from two words. The first is pros, a word indicating to or toward and thus about, near, against, etc. The context will determine what the intent is. The second word is kairos, an occasion, opportunity, season, etc. It is often translated as “time.” The two words together give the sense of “for the occasion or time only.”

Jesus does not make a charge concerning the character of the individual, as most commentators claim. Rather, He is basing His message on the circumstances in which He exists, meaning as a seed on rocky soil. Because there is no root, He next says, “And having come pressure or persecution through the word.”

There are two new words, thlipsis is the first. It speaks of pressure. Vincent’s explains that it is derived from tribulum, the threshing-roller of the Romans. However, it is not referring to the process of separating the corn from the husk, but to the pressure that causes it. As such, he notes as an example “the provision of the old English law, by which those who wilfully refused to plead had heavy weights placed on their breasts, and so were pressed and crushed to death.”

The next new word is diógmos, persecution. It comes from a word signifying to follow after. One can think of a person being hounded. Wherever he goes and whatever he does, he is unable to get free from his pursuers. As such, when pressure or persecution comes to this fellow because of the word he received, he has no roots to endure, and therefore, “immediately he stumbles.”

Without a suitable root to feed him and ensure he can endure the heat of the day, like a sprout that withers, he is offended and falls away.

As noted, Jesus does not speak of the character of the person, but the circumstances of his root. Therefore, a person with a strong character can be just as likely to fail as someone with a lesser character. The root brings in water and nutrients. This is what the word is for. The point is, no matter what, the seed cannot survive without a proper foundation.

This is why weak people who read, know, and apply the word to their lives will last, even when a staunch and hearty person who heard the word and loved its message may fall away. This is exactly the reason why so many commentaries misapply the lesson to be learned.

Be sure to continue reading below. The words will provide additional and invaluable insights into this truth for your walk with the Lord.

Life application: A few examples of incorrect analysis of this verse are cited below. The first is from Cambridge. They say, “Jesus forecasts the persecution of Christians, and the time when ‘the love of many shall wax cold,’ ch. Matthew 24:12.”

This is wrong on the surface. Matthew 24 is not speaking of church-age Christian persecution. Jesus is speaking to the Jews about matters that apply to them as a nation. It is true there will be those of Israel who hear the message and believe during the tribulation, but this is the reference. Maintaining proper context is important in understanding Matthew 24.

Albert Barnes says, “Yet they have no root in themselves. They are not true Christians. Their hearts are not changed. They have not seen their guilt and danger, and the true excellency of Christ. They are not ‘really’ attached to the gospel; and when they are tried and persecution comes, they fall – as the rootless grain withers before the scorching rays of the noonday sun.”

Barnes has made the error noted above. Jesus is not speaking of the character of a person, though this can be a part of such a matter. He is speaking of the circumstances in which the person received the message. The seed was placed in the wrong spot for it to mature properly.

Whether Jesus is speaking of Israel and their reception of the message or those of the church, the words carry the same truth. The difference is that Israel was under law. Law demands perfect obedience. Without Jesus, that is impossible.

Those in the church are under grace. Grace does not demand performance, but belief. What does Jesus say about this person? He says, “…this, he is, the ‘the word hearing and immediately with joy receiving it.’” What does the gospel say? Jesus gives the basis for it in John 3:16: belief. Paul explains it in detail in his epistles, noting it is based on belief. This person has believed. He received the message with joy. And what is the result of that belief when under grace? Paul says –

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14

Albert Barnes, et al, failed to consider that the difference is Jesus in how a person is treated. A person can live and die under law, or he can live and die under grace. This is the initial circumstance that must be defined.

However, that circumstance is then further defined by the circumstance of place, meaning where the seed grows. If a person is saved, he is saved (reread Ephesians 1:13, 14 again!). However, if the person who is saved has no church, no copy of the Bible, and no further understanding of his obligations because no one told him, he will have no root to carry him through the pressures and tribulations that arise.

This is why it is so immensely important to feed oneself with the word. In today’s world, we can shape the circumstances of our faith by actively feeding ourselves. Passively, the family we are born into may have provided sound soil. The activities at school may provide that as well. Church attendance may (depending on the church) do so also.

Reading the word, meditating on it, and applying it to one’s life is the main source of such fertile soil. Pay heed to what feeds you, how you are fed, and the time you spend feeding yourself. Circumstance! Take advantage of the circumstances that you find yourself in. May you grow healthy and in an abundant manner so that you will be able to endure the difficulties of life when you face them.

Heavenly Father, thank You that when we believe the gospel, our salvation is realized. Thank You for the grace of God found in Jesus Christ our Lord. Now, help us to be responsible and pursue that good gift all the days of our lives. Amen and amen.

Friday, 26 September 2025

But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; Matthew 13:20

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And the ‘having been sown upon the rocky places,’ this, he is, the ‘the word hearing and immediately with joy receiving it’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus described the seed that was sown near the path. He next says, “And the ‘having been sown upon the rocky places.’” This type was mentioned in verse 5. What happens to a seed when it is cast on a rocky area? For those who farm, the answer is obvious.

The seed will sprout because there is usually moisture on rocks in the early hours. As such, there is life now coming from the seed. However, this will only last for a while. Unless it is a gray and moist day, the sprout will quickly dry up and die when the heat of the sun blazes on it. Of this seed, Jesus next says, “this, he is, the ‘the word hearing and immediately with joy receiving it.’”

Whether Jesus is referring to people in general, those of Israel who are following Him at the time, or in the context of the Christian church as a mystery being revealed concerning what lies ahead, His words carry a truth that can be seen in any field, vocation, or religious context.

Something is seen, it is appealing, and it is quickly accepted as a goal and received as such.

Life application: Without evaluating the conclusion found in the next verse concerning this sort of person, we can look at our own lives and find examples of this type of person in a given situation.

Suppose you go to the beach with your friends and you see people surfing. It’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen, and so you quickly rush out to buy a surfboard. You saw what was exciting, a seed of interest germinated in you because of what you saw, and the idea of yourself becoming a surfer starts growing in you.

What will it take to make that goal come about? Think about the innumerable things that will affect your new, excited decision. You get to the surf shop and discover how expensive a new board is. You will have to settle for an old, beat-up one.

You find out that the waves only come at certain times and under certain conditions, so you have to be ready to give up other things when the waves are breaking.

Surfing means looking like an otter floating on the surface to sharks…

The best waves are in the winter, and even with a wetsuit (which is also expensive), you don’t like getting into the cold water.

In finding this and so much more out, you have to decide concerning the pursuit of your new and exciting avenue of life’s adventures. As noted above, this type of thing can also apply to a vocation or a religious experience. Making choices about major goals in life requires thought, commitment, and the expenditure of time and energy.

What will be the result of your decision if your roots are not sunk deeply into the ground? This is what Jesus is explaining to the people of Israel as they prepare to follow the One they have called their Messiah.

Heavenly Father, when people hear about what Jesus has done, there is often a strong and amazingly excited pursuit of Him at first. Will that continue? What is it that will keep them strong in this new direction? Help us to evaluate ourselves as well as those to whom we tell the gospel to. May we be prepared to set our goals and stick to them as we follow Him all our days. Amen.

Thursday, 25 September 2025

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. Matthew 13:19

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Everyone hearing the word of the kingdom and not comprehending, the evil, he comes, and he seizes the ‘having been sown in his heart.’ This, he is, the ‘having been sown near the path’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus prepared His disciples for hearing the explanation of the parable. He now begins that explanation, saying, “Everyone hearing the word of the kingdom and not comprehending.”

Jesus has already spoken of such people when He cited the words of Isaiah. There are people who hear, but in hearing, they do not comprehend. One can go to a lecture on nuclear physics, hear the message of the speaker, understand the individual words, but not comprehend the meaning of what is being said.

Likewise, a person can read the Bible (hearing in his mind) and not comprehend what is being said. A common reason for this might be reading a passage, for example, Joshua 10, knowing what it says, but not comprehending why it is even in the Bible. This might be because the person has not read the Bible and, thus, has no context to understand what is being conveyed in the overall message.

Such examples help us grasp why someone can hear and not comprehend. In such an occurrence, Jesus says, “the evil, he comes.”

This would be referring to the devil. The adjective prefixed by the article marks the evil off as an entity. It isn’t just that evil comes. Rather, an entity that is evil comes. As such, translations normally insert the word one, resulting in “the evil one.” This evil one comes, “and he seizes the ‘having been sown in his heart.’”

The perfect participle indicates that the word had been received at some point, and it was a completed action that continues at the time being referred to. It is not that the word was not received, but that it was received, and then it is seized from him.

Therefore, this would be like the person Peter refers to –

“For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” 2 Peter 1:9

The person received the message, but he failed to diligently do the things Peter refers to in 2 Peter 1:2-8. Because of this, Jesus says, “This, he is, the ‘having been sown near the path.’”

There was a seed sown, but it was snatched away, never becoming productive.

It should be noted that the words of this parable are not identical to those of Luke’s account in Matthew 8. There, Jesus says of this seed, “…then, he comes, the devil, and he lifts the word from the heart of them, that not having believed, they should be saved” (Luke 8:12).

Due to the different use of the verbs, and the plural “they” instead of the singular “he,” it means Jesus probably said this parable on different occasions and geared it towards the audience at that time.

Both accounts say the disciples asked Him for an explanation. There is no problem with this, it could mean other disciples than those who asked the other time in Matthew. Unlike Luke, a loss of salvation does not appear to be the intent in His explanation here in Matthew.

Life application: Israel was given the word, but for the most part, they never heeded it. As such, it was stolen away from them, generation after generation. There was a failure on their part to do what they were instructed, to be the people they were called to be, and to honor God as He determined.

Despite this, and despite rejecting Jesus when He came, Israel remains. This shows the covenant faithfulness that God has maintained toward them. Their disobedience does not negate His faithfulness.

If we can remind ourselves of this truth, we would be much better off in our minds concerning our own walk with Him, knowing that despite our failings, He remains faithful and will uphold His commitment to carry us through to the completion of our salvation.

If we would remind ourselves of this truth, we would also be better off in our minds concerning others’ walk with Him as well. It is so easy to point at other believers, knowing they at one time called on Jesus, and then assuming that God has taken away their salvation.

This is a common theme in churches that hold to the Arminian traditions. It is also nonsense. God will remain faithful, even to those who walk away from the faith. Peter does not question the salvation of those he refers to in the verse above. In fact, his words clearly indicate a state of salvation (he was cleansed).

Think about what the Bible says concerning God from His perspective, not ours. We fail others, we take back our gifts, we break our commitments, etc. God does none of these. His spoken word is an eternal decree, and Jesus’ blood is sufficient to cover all our sins.

Thank God for His faithfulness.

Lord God, may we think clearly and carefully consider the things Your word teaches us concerning You. In our minds, we will often project onto You what we experience. A bad father must equal a bad heavenly Father. But no! You are good, You do not change, and Your intent for us because of Jesus means we are secure. Thank You for Your faithfulness, O God. Amen.

Wednesday, 24 September 2025

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: Matthew 13:18

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“You, therefore, you hear the parable, the ‘having sown’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the prophets and righteous men of the past who desired to see and hear what the disciples saw. They, however, did not see or hear those things. Only at the time determined by God would the Christ come to fulfill the law and usher in a new dispensation. Based on His words concerning this, He next says, “You, therefore, you hear the parable, the ‘having sown.’”

The things those people desired to see and hear were to be revealed to the disciples. This included the meaning of the parable He had spoken to them concerning the sower with his seeds.

This parable is normally called the parable of the sower. The Greek reads tou speirantos, “the ‘having sown,’” meaning the one having sown. By extension, it refers to the sower through the use of the article affixed to the verb.

His addressees are the disciples, placing them in the emphatic position, “You, therefore, you…” In other words, His words connect first to verse 16, and then contrast with verse 17. This can be seen when the three thoughts are presented in order –

* And you, blessed the eyes, because they see, and the ears, because it hears.

* Amen! For I say to you that many prophets and righteous, they passioned to see what you see, and not they saw, and to hear what you hear, and not they heard.

* You, therefore, you hear the parable, the ‘having sown.’

Jesus is conveying to them the greatness of the place and time in which they are and the position which they have been entrusted. This is contrasted first with those of Israel, who heard the parable but were not given its explanation.

However, secondly, the immediate contrast is to those great men of the past, showing the disciples that they have a privilege that goes beyond the hopes and dreams of generations of people whose desire it was to see and participate in the coming of the Messiah. It is reflective of the words of Peter –

“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:10-12

Life application: The church has a similar hope to that of the saints of old who anticipated the coming of the Messiah. They longed to see His coming and to draw near to Him to see and hear His words.

In the church, we have been promised that Jesus will return. At that time, those who are waiting for Him will have the realization of their hope. Unlike the saints of old, however, who came and died before the coming of the Messiah, the Lord has promised to bring with Him all of those who have received Him, even since the first believers.

We will be drawn near to Him, see Him with our own eyes, and hear Him with our own ears. Not a single saint from this dispensation will be left behind. Because of this, Paul gives us words of absolute comfort and continued hope, even for those who die before His coming –

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

It is good to be reminded of this from time to time. God’s promises will be realized. If you are facing the loss of a loved one, the separation is painful. However, if he or she was saved through faith in Jesus, this is a temporary separation. God has not abandoned you, and He will not forget them on that great Day.

Get ready, Jesus is coming again. Maybe today.

Lord God, thank You for the sure hope we possess because of what Jesus has done. How grateful we are to You that we don’t need to fear death, nor do we lose hope when we experience it in the loss of those we love. Rather, we have a sure and enduring hope of being gathered together forever when Jesus returns for His church. Amen.