Matthew 13:3-14

3He told them many things in parables, saying, “Listen carefully: a sower went out to sow [seed in his field];

4and as he sowed, some seed fell beside the road [between the fields], and the birds came and ate it.

5Other seed fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil; and at once they sprang up because they had no depth of soil.

6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7Other seed fell among thorns, and thorns came up and choked them out.

8Other seed fell on good soil and yielded grain, some a hundred times as much [as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty.

9He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.”

10Then the disciples came to Him and asked, “Why do You speak to the crowds in parables?”

11Jesus replied to them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

12For whoever has [spiritual wisdom because he is receptive to God’s word], to him more will be given, and he will be richly and abundantly supplied; but whoever does not have [spiritual wisdom because he has devalued God’s word], even what he has will be taken away from him.

13This is the reason I speak to the crowds in parables: because while [having the power of] seeing they do not see, and while [having the power of] hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand and grasp [spiritual things].

14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will hear and keep on hearing, but never understand; And you will look and keep on looking, but never comprehend;