Mark 4 19

Mark 4:19 kjv

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Mark 4:19 nkjv

and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Mark 4:19 niv

but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Mark 4:19 esv

but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Mark 4:19 nlt

but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

Mark 4 verses

Mark 4 19 Meaning

Mark 4:19 reveals the third obstacle that prevents the implanted word of God from bearing fruit in a person's life, according to Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Sower. This verse describes those who hear the word but allow worldly anxieties, the seductive allure of wealth, and various other self-serving desires to enter their hearts. These preoccupations, like thorns, grow alongside the word, overwhelming and suffocating its potential to produce spiritual transformation and righteous living, ultimately leading to unfruitfulness.

Mark 4 19 Context

Mark 4:19 is part of Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Sower, one of His most fundamental teachings on how individuals respond to the message of the Kingdom of God. The parable describes a sower casting seed on four types of soil. Verse 19 specifically unpacks the third type of soil: the thorny ground. This explanation immediately follows the parable itself (Mark 4:3-9) and precedes Jesus' broader teaching on understanding parables and the purpose of light (Mark 4:21-25). Historically and culturally, the Jewish audience was familiar with agricultural life and the challenge of thorny weeds suffocating crops. This parable speaks directly to the reality of many hearers of the Word—initial reception but eventual loss due to the pressures and allurements of the surrounding "age" (αἰῶνος). It acts as a solemn warning, indicating that merely hearing the Word is insufficient; perseverance against worldly pressures is critical for genuine transformation and spiritual fruit.

Mark 4 19 Word analysis

• but: Introduces a contrast or a new condition in the unfolding explanation of the parable.
• the cares (Greek: merimnai, μέριμναι): Refers to anxieties, worries, and distracting concerns. These are not necessarily sinful in themselves, but when allowed to consume one's focus, they shift reliance away from God. They represent the daily worries and pressures of temporal life.
• of the world (Greek: tou aiōnos, τοῦ αἰῶνος): Pertains to "this age" or the present fallen world system and its values, as opposed to the eternal reality of God's Kingdom. It signifies the whole system of earthly desires, pursuits, and concerns that stand opposed to spiritual devotion.
• and the deceitfulness (Greek: hē apatē, ἡ ἀπάτη): Points to the inherently misleading and delusive nature of. It highlights that wealth promises security, satisfaction, and happiness, but ultimately fails to deliver true and lasting fulfillment, ensnaring those who pursue it.
• of riches (Greek: tou ploutou, τοῦ πλούτου): Refers to material wealth, possessions, or abundance. The danger is not the riches themselves, but the human heart's deceptive attachment to them, causing spiritual blindness and covetousness.
• and the desires (Greek: hai epithymiai, αἱ ἐπιθυμίαι): Signifies strong cravings, passions, or lusts. In the New Testament, this often carries a negative connotation, referring to inordinate desires or those that draw one away from God.
• for other things (Greek: tōn loipōn, τῶν λοιπῶν): A broad phrase encompassing anything not specifically covered by "cares" or "riches." It represents any competing affection, ambition, or worldly pursuit that might distract or divert a person's heart from spiritual devotion. This can include pleasure, power, status, or any idol.
• enter in (Greek: eisporeuomenai, εἰσπορευόμεναι): Indicates that these external influences come into a person's life, implying a permeation and infiltration of one's thoughts and priorities. They are allowed to take root alongside the word.
• and choke (Greek: synpnigousin, συνπνίγουσιν): A vivid agricultural metaphor meaning to stifle, suffocate, or throttle completely. Like thorns that deprive plants of light, water, and nutrients, these worldly concerns suffocate the spiritual life, preventing the Word from receiving the spiritual "nourishment" it needs to grow.
• the word (Greek: ton logon, τὸν λόγον): Refers to the "seed" sown – the message of the Kingdom of God, the gospel, the truth of God received by faith.
• and it proves unfruitful (Greek: akarpos, ἄκαρπος): The consequence of being choked. The seed, though present, is barren and produces no spiritual harvest of righteousness, good works, or changed character. There is no genuine evidence of transformed life.

• the cares of the world: These are the anxieties and concerns arising from living in the temporal, fallen human system. They drain spiritual energy and redirect trust from God to earthly provisions.
• the deceitfulness of riches: This phrase highlights the treacherous nature of wealth. It promises satisfaction and security but delivers spiritual enslavement and hollow emptiness, luring the heart away from reliance on God.
• the desires for other things: A comprehensive category for any ungodly craving or ambition that vies for the heart's supreme devotion, drawing it away from Christ and His kingdom values.
• enter in and choke the word: This depicts the process by which these worldly elements actively infiltrate the believer's life and effectively suffocate the growth and vitality of the gospel seed, making it ineffective.
• it proves unfruitful: The ultimate, lamentable outcome for those who succumb to these worldly pressures. The absence of spiritual fruit indicates that genuine, life-transforming faith was never allowed to develop to maturity, or it withered due to these competing influences.

Mark 4 19 Bonus section

This verse subtly reveals that spiritual danger is not always overt opposition but often subtle preoccupation. The "thorns" are not actively trying to destroy the seed; they simply compete for the same soil, light, and nutrients, inadvertently starving the desirable plant. This reflects how spiritual decay can be gradual, imperceptible, and seemingly benign. The warning is not against living in the world or earning money, but against allowing the "world-system" (αἰῶνος) and its allurements to dominate one's inner life. The concept of "choking" implies that the potential for life was present; the seed sprouted, but its growth was stunted. This highlights the ongoing need for spiritual vigilance and pruning (John 15:2) to prevent worldly concerns from overwhelming our spiritual priorities. The Lord of the harvest seeks not just hearing but deep, abiding, fruit-bearing transformation.

Mark 4 19 Commentary

Mark 4:19 serves as a profound warning that merely hearing the Word of God is insufficient for genuine spiritual life and fruitfulness. It exposes the insidious ways in which worldly pressures and desires can sabotage the transforming power of the gospel. The "cares of the world" are daily anxieties that weigh down the soul, making one perpetually focused on temporal provision rather than divine promise. The "deceitfulness of riches" reveals that wealth is not merely a distraction but an active deception, promising satisfaction while leading to spiritual poverty. And "the desires for other things" encompass any consuming craving that shifts affection away from God. These thorns are not external persecutions but internal preoccupations, silently growing and, without discernment and diligence, stifling the life of the Word. The result is a profession of faith that bears no corresponding fruit of righteousness or devotion, demonstrating an ultimate spiritual barrenness. This passage calls for radical evaluation of what occupies our hearts and minds, urging us to prioritize the Word of God above all else to ensure its unhindered growth.