Matthew 13:4-23

4As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

5Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep.

6But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

7Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it.

8Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.

9Let anyone who has ears listen.”

10Then the disciples came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?”

11He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.

12For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

13That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand.

14Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You will listen and listen, but never understand; you will look and look, but never perceive.

15For this people’s heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back — and I would heal them.

16“Blessed are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.

17For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but didn’t see them, to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them.

18“So listen to the parable of the sower:

19When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.

20And the one sown on rocky ground — this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.

21But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.

22Now the one sown among the thorns — this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

23But the one sown on the good ground — this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”