Matthew 13:3-14

3He told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow.

4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

5Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil. They sprang up quickly because the soil was not deep.

6But when the sun came up, they were scorched, and because they did not have sufficient root, they withered.

7Other seeds fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked them.

8But other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.

9The one who has ears had better listen!”

10Then the disciples came to him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

11He replied, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.

12For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

13For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.

14And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend.