Can't See the Son Because of the Weeds

now, the ones falling to the extent of the thorns these exist those hearing and on the way are choked out under the cares and riches and pleasures of  living and are not brought to fruition (Luke 8:14).

The word "on the way" is also translated as follow, they have heard and received the word with joy and are following Jesus but something happens. A seedling plant that is trying to grow under a thorn bush or vine is being choked out, from receiving nourishment from the sun. Elsewhere Jesus says the kingdom of God is like a farmer who planted wheat but then at night his adversary comes in at night and plants weeds. What is the purpose of the weeds? And it is said the weeds are tare which you can't tell the difference from until the time of harvest. The purpose of these weeds or thorns are to choke out so the true seedling does not bear fruit.

… choked out under the cares and riches and pleasures of living and are not brought to fruition (Luke 8:14).

The thorn or weeds or tare the devil has planted in an attempt to choke out the true seedling, to keep it from growing up unto fruition or maturity that bears fruit. The thorns are specified; cares and riches and pleasures of this life. Matthew 13:22 says the cares of this age or world, and the deceit or delusion of  wealth. Mark 4:19 adds the desires for that now, or the desires of the flesh and earthly things. Riches and wealth, cares and anxieties, and the desires of this life choke out the plant. Imagine you are the plant and the sun is Jesus, and you are so focused on the weeds that you do not see him but only the cares of this life. It is like the saying "you can not see the forest for the trees." It is an expression used of someone who is too focused on the details or circumstances that they can't see the big picture. Likewise you can't see the Son because of the weeds. 

fix your eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of faith, who on account of the joy before him endured a cross, disregarding its shame... (Hebrews 12:2)

Don't be deceived by earthly wealth, do not focus on things that make you anxious, fix your eyes on something greater. The thorns could be persecution, the cares and anxieties of this world, that of your health or financial situation. Maybe you were wrongly accused, or mistreated by religious people who forfeited grace and judged you when they had a plank in their own eye, and now a root bitterness has set in. These are real trials in your life but you are focused on them, you can not see past them. It like there is a wall in front of you and Jesus is behind the wall if you would just look past the wall, and fix your eyes on him. Oh, child of God he is there.

Another In The Fire