The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 “You, then, listen to the parable of the sower: b 19 When anyone hears the word c about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. d 20 And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. e 21 Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution f comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age g and the seduction h of wealth i choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown.”

The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

24 He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. j 25 But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds k among the wheat, and left. 26 When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. 27 The landowner’s * slaves l came to him and said, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’

28 “ ‘An enemy did this!’ he told them.

“ ‘So, do you want us to go and gather them up?’ the slaves asked him.

29 “ ‘No,’ he said. ‘When you gather up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but store the wheat in my barn.’ ”