Mark 4:9-23

9Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

10Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.

11He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,

12so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’ ”

13Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?

14The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.

15The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.

16The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.

17But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

18The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word,

19but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

20And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

21Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.

22For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.

23Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”