And some fell among thorns
The word was ministered to some who were eat up with the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and other lusts:
and the thorns grew up, and choked it;
the word did not take place so as to beat down, overcome, and root out these things, nor even to weaken, and keep under, and prevent the influence of them; but these got the ascendant of the word, and prevailed over it, and made it altogether useless and unsuccessful: for whilst it was administered, the minds of these persons were after their riches and worldly things, and gave no heed to the word; and last were prevailed upon, not to attend upon it, but drop the profession of it:
and it yielded no fruit;
it was not the means of grace; faith did not come by it, nor any other grace; nor did it produce good works in the life and conversation.