Matthew 13:2-9

2The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat. He sat in the boat while the entire crowd stood on the shore.

3Then he used stories as illustrations to tell them many things. He said, “Listen! A farmer went to plant seed.

4Some seeds were planted along the road, and birds came and devoured them.

5Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn’t deep.

6But when the sun came up, they were scorched. They withered because their roots weren’t deep enough.

7Other seeds were planted among thornbushes, and the thornbushes grew up and choked them.

8But other seeds were planted on good ground and produced grain. They produced one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted.

9Let the person who has ears listen!”