And others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
Here Jesus describes how, at the time of sowing, some of the seeds fell among thorns. The seeds began to grow, but the thorns also grew with them, and they choked the seeds and did not allow them to bear fruit. This picture shows that some plants grow at first, but the surrounding conditions hinder their development. Here the thorns become the main obstacle, taking away nourishment, sunlight, and the ability to grow. Jesus will later explain what these thorns symbolize in a spiritual sense.