{Choke the word} (sunpnigei ton logon). We had
apepnixan (choked off) in  13:7 . Here it is sunpnigei (choke
together), historical present and singular with both subjects
lumped together. "Lust for money and care go together and between
them spoil many an earnest religious nature" (Bruce), "thorns"
indeed. The thorns flourish and the character sickens and dies,
choked to death for lack of spiritual food, air, sunshine.