Thorns, thistles, and briers are mentioned in multiple places in the Bible. The first mention is found in Genesis after the first sin. [Genesis 3:17, 18 NKJV] Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed [is] the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat [of] it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field.“

Thorns are associated with sin, and thistles seem to go hand in hand with thorns. What about briers?

The last reference in the word of God is found in Hebrews 6:4-8: “For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put [Him] to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, [it is] rejected and near to being cursed, whose end [is] to be burned.”

The Word also speaks of briers in Isaiah 5:4-6 in reference to His disappointing vineyard saying, “What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected [it] to bring forth [good] grapes, Did it bring forth wild grapes? 5 And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; [And] break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, But there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds That they rain no rain on it.”

By just these three scriptures, we can see that sin brings forth thorns, thistles, and briers. Thorns in our spiritual growth lead to spiritual death. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

James 1:13-16 says, Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Thorns

Thorns are a common defense mechanism in plants, particularly those in hot, dry climates. Thorns are often derived from shoots. Shoots occur when there is serious growth going on and often, shoots spring up when a plant is bringing forth fruit.

What are the spiritual implications in this?

Thorns, which are modified stems, typically grow in the axillary bud of a leaf, where a branch would normally grow, and develop into sharp, woody points.

What are the spiritual implications in this?

Growth of thorns in nature is produced by:

1. Environment
2. Genetics
3. Development
4. Hormones

Where there was tenderness and greenness (pleasantness), comes forth a defense mechanism. The defenses come up because of situational recourse, which when broken down simply means: 

Situational : circumstance: what’s actively happening
Recourse: a way of dealing with a difficult or unpleasant situation; 

Interestingly, situational recourse is a term used in law : a person has the right to take action or seek compensation to remedy a problem, but only if certain conditions are met;

How does this align with human tendency to justify their sin?

The world continually defends its “right” to respond to how they act (in sinning) based upon their environment, their genetics, the type and shape in which they grew up, and how they feel. The world defends the “right” to be “hard” and hurtful to others because of the situations (“trauma”) they have endured. Trauma is an overused word in society. Many have faced deeply distressing or disturbing experiences and have overcome them by the blood of the Lamb. You have to choose the impact you allow or just like a thorn, you will wound anyone who gets close to you.

Thinking back on Isaiah 11:2, when thorns are given place to grow, what do we lose?

Let God prune you and remove what sin has attached to you. Let your thorns be removed and cast into the fire and not you yourselves in the day of judgment.