Matthew 13:1–9
The Sower's Parable
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such
great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there,
while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in
parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed,
some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other
seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they
sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose,
they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. 7
Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8
Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold,
some sixty, some thirty. 9 If you have ears, hear!"
Matthew 13:18–23
The Explanation
"Hear, then, the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of
the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches
away what has been sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path.
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the
word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet such a person has no root
but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on
account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22 As for what
was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares
of this age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23
But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word
and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a
hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."