Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word,but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing.
Yes, the LORD has this to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:“ Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground, you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning; just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted, you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives.Just as ritual circumcision cuts away the foreskin as an external symbol of dedicated covenant commitment, you must genuinely dedicate yourselves to the LORD and get rid of everything that hinders your commitment to me, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. If you do not, my anger will blaze up like a flaming fire against you that no one will be able to extinguish. That will happen because of the evil you have done.”