Matthew 13:22

ἀκούων, hearing alone predicated of the third type, but receiving both intellectually and emotionally implied; everything necessary present except purity of heart, singleness of mind. Hearing is to be taken here in a pregnant sense as distinct from the hearing that is no hearing (Matthew 13:13). μέριμνα τ. α., ἀπάτη τ. π.: together = worldliness. Lust for money and care go together and between them spoil many an earnest religious nature. ἄκαρπος may refer cither to the man (Meyer) or to the word (λόγον just before; Bengel, Weiss); sense the same. There is fruit in this case; the crop does not wither in the blade: it reaches the green ear, but it never ripens.