Mark 4:9-23

9Then he said, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”

10When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve asked him about the parables.

11He answered them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables

12so that they may indeed look, and yet not perceive; they may indeed listen, and yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back and be forgiven.”

13Then he said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand all of the parables?

14The sower sows the word.

15Some are like the word sown on the path. When they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.

16And others are like seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.

17But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away.

18Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,

19but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word, welcome it, and produce fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.”

21He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?

22For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.

23If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.”