Matthew 13:1–15

The Parable of the Sower

¹³That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ²Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.^{* 3}And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. ⁴And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. ⁵Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. ⁶But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.^{* 9}If you have ears,^k hear!”^*

The Purpose of the Parables

¹⁰Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” ¹¹He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets^l of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.^{* 12}For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.^{* 13}The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’^{* 14}With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:

‘You will indeed listen but never understand,

and you will indeed look but never perceive.^*

¹⁵For this people’s heart has grown dull,

and their ears are hard of hearing,

and they have shut their eyes,

so that they might not look with their eyes,

and hear with their ears

and understand with their heart and turn—

and I would heal them.’^*