Luke 8:1-10

1After this, Jesus went to visit many towns and villages. He told people the good news about the kingdom of God. The 12 disciples were travelling with him.

2Some women also went with them. These women had been ill, but Jesus had made them well again. One of the women was Mary from Magdala. Jesus had sent seven bad spirits away from her.

3Another of the women was Joanna, the wife of Chuza. Chuza had authority over all the people that worked in the house of King Herod. Another of the women was Susanna. There were also many others. These women were using their own money to help Jesus and his disciples.

4Lots of people were coming to Jesus from many towns. A large crowd had already come together when Jesus told this story:

5‘A farmer went out to plant seeds in his field. While he was throwing the seeds, some of them fell on the path. Then people walked on them. Birds came down and they ate those seeds.

6Some seeds fell on ground which had rocks. The seeds started to grow. But the young plants died because the ground was not wet enough in that place.

7Some seeds fell among thorn bushes. Those bushes grew up with the young plants. They stopped the seeds from growing into strong plants.

8But some seeds fell on good soil. Strong plants grew from those seeds. Each of these plants made 100 seeds.’ When Jesus finished the story, he said, ‘You have ears, so listen well to what I say!’

9Jesus' disciples asked him about this story. They asked him what it meant.

10Jesus replied, ‘God has let you know what these stories mean. You understand how God rules in the lives of his people. But other people only listen to my stories. They look, but they do not really see clearly. They hear the words, but they do not really understand.’