“Be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with partying, drunkenness, and the worries of life. Then the day when the Son of Man returns will close on you suddenly like a trap.
but then the worries of this life, the false promises of wealth, and the desire for other things crowd out the message and keep it from producing fruit.
So remember what you’ve been taught and what you’ve heard. Hold firmly to it and turn away from your sins. If you don’t wake up, I’ll come like a thief, and you won’t know when I’m coming to you.
So let me clarify in this letter what I meant: You should stay away from anyone who claims to be a believer but who commits sexual sins, or is greedy, or worships idols, or tells lies about others, or gets drunk, or cheats. Don’t even eat with people like that.
The seed that fell among the thorns stands for those who hear the message but then have it crowded out by the worries of this life and the false promises of wealth, which keep it from producing fruit.
Jesus replied, “Keep watch! Be careful that you are not fooled. Many will come in my name and claim, ‘I’m the one!’ And they will say, ‘The time is near!’ Do not follow them.
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear the message, but then, as they go on their way, are choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures, so they don’t reach full growth.
“Look out—you’ll be handed over to the local courts, and you’ll be whipped in the synagogues. You’ll be brought in for questioning by governors and kings because of me. But in that way, you’ll become witnesses to them.
Make sure that no one misses out on God’s grace and that no bitter plant grows up, because if it does, it will cause trouble and make many people impure.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be seen for what they really are.