Matthew 13:3-9

3He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.

4As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.

5Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.

6But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.

7Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.

8Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

9Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”