Luke 8:14That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
The setting
Thorn patches choking young grain visible in fields around them. The crowd includes wealthy merchants and tax collectors...
The emotion here: frustrated watching abundance destroy spiritual life
The original word
sympnigō (συμπνίγω) — to choke completely, like strangling or suffocating
Why it matters
Thorns in Palestine could grow 6 feet tall and completely overwhelm crops if not constantly removed
Read with care
What most readers miss in Luke 8:14
These aren't necessarily bad things choking faith - they're good things (provision, pleasure, security) that become consuming
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about poverty vs. wealth, but Jesus is warning that even good things - cares, riches, pleasures - can strangle spiritual growth.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Luke 8:14
Bible Genome reading
Luke 8:14 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Luke 8:14 comes from the book of Luke, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to Jesus. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include worldliness, priorities. Notable phrases: choked with cares; riches and pleasures.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Luke 8:14 mean to you, today?
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