1. Soon afterward He was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him,
2. and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her);
3. Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.
4. As a large crowd was gathering, and people were flocking to Him from every town, He said in a parable:
5. “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky ate it up.
6. Other seed fell on the rock; when it sprang up, it withered, since it lacked moisture.
7. Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.
8. Still other seed fell on good ground; when it sprang up, it produced a crop: 100 times what was sown.” As He said this, He called out, “Anyone who has ears to hear should listen! ”
9. Then His disciples asked Him, “What does this parable mean? ”
10. So He said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so thatLooking they may not see,and hearing they may not understand.