10 As soon as He was alone, 1His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.

11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but athose who are outside get everything bin parables,

12 so that awhile seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”

Explanation

13 aAnd He * said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?

14 “The sower sows the word.

15 “These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately aSatan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.

16 “In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;

17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they 1fall away.

18 “And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word,

19 but the worries of athe 1world, and the bdeceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20 “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and abear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

21 And He was saying to them, “aA lamp is not brought to be put under a 1basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?

22 “aFor nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.

23 “aIf anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24 And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. 1aBy your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.

25 “aFor whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”