| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the articular phrase ho de eis tas akanthas spareis {ὁ δὲ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπαρείς | ho dè eis tàs akánthas sparéis}, where the nominative aorist passive participle with its prepositional phrase functions substantivally, identifying “the one sown among the thorns” as the subject of the explanation. The equative clause houtos estin ho ton logon akouon {οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τὸν λόγον ἀκούων | hoûtos estin ho tón lógon akoúon} restates and defines this subject by means of an articular present participle, “the one hearing the word,” highlighting ongoing, repeated hearing. Two coordinated nominative phrases, he merimna tou aionos toutou and he apate tou ploutou {ἡ μέριμνα τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου | hē mérimna tou aiônos toútou kaí hē apátē tou ploútou}, serve as compound subjects; each consists of a head noun modified by a genitive construction that specifies the sphere (“of this age”) and the source (“of wealth”) of the hindrances. The singular verb sympnigei {συμπνίγει | sympnígei} governs the direct object ton logon {τὸν λόγον | tón lógon}, portraying these combined concerns and deceptions as a single choking force acting upon the word. The closing clause akarpos ginetai {ἄκαρπος γίνεται | ákarpos gínetai} uses a predicate adjective with a middle/passive verb to express the resultant state of the person, framed in agricultural imagery of failed fruit-bearing. The English renderings preserve this progression—identification of the hearer, description of competing influences, and the resultant condition—while making implicit subjects explicit and converting articular participles into finite clauses for clarity. |