⁴When a large crowd had gathered and people had come to Jesus from every city, he used this story as an illustration: ⁵“A farmer went to plant his seeds. Some seeds were planted along the road, were trampled, and were devoured by birds. ⁶Others were planted on rocky soil. When the plants came up, they withered because they had no moisture. ⁷Others were planted among thornbushes. The thornbushes grew up with them and choked them. ⁸Others were planted on good ground. When they came up, they produced a hundred times as much as was planted.”

After he had said this, he called out, “Let the person who has ears listen!”

⁹His disciples asked him what this story meant. ¹⁰Jesus answered, “Knowledge about the mysteries of God’s kingdom has been given ⸤directly⸥ to you. But it is given to others in stories. When they look, they don’t see, and when they hear, they don’t understand.

¹¹“This is what the story illustrates: The seed is God’s word. ¹²Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. They hear the word, but then the devil comes. He takes the word away from them so that they don’t believe and become saved. ¹³Some people are like seeds on rocky soil. They welcome the word with joy whenever they hear it, but they don’t develop any roots. They believe for a while, but when their faith is tested, they abandon it. ¹⁴The seeds that were planted among thornbushes are people who hear the word, but as life goes on the worries, riches, and pleasures of life choke them. So they don’t produce anything good. ¹⁵The seeds that were planted on good ground are people who also hear the word. But they keep it in their good and honest hearts and produce what is good despite what life may bring.

¹⁶“No one lights a lamp and hides it under a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see the light. ¹⁷There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light.

¹⁸“So pay attention to how you listen! Those who understand ⸤these mysteries⸥ will be given ⸤more knowledge⸥. However, some people don’t understand ⸤these mysteries⸥. Even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”

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