Matthew 13:22

Choke the word (sunpnigei ton logon). We had apepnixan (choked off) in Ephesians 13:7 . Here it is sunpnigei (choke together), historical present and singular with both subjects lumped together. "Lust for money and care go together and between them spoil many an earnest religious nature" (Bruce), "thorns" indeed. The thorns flourish and the character sickens and dies, choked to death for lack of spiritual food, air, sunshine.