14. Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:You will listen and listen,yet never understand;and you will look and look,yet never perceive.
15. For this people’s heart has grown callous;their ears are hard of hearing,and they have shut their eyes;otherwise they might see with their eyesand hear with their ears,understand with their heartsand turn back —and I would cure them.
16. “But your eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!
17. For I assure you: Many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see yet didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn’t hear them.
18. “You, then, listen to the parable of the sower:
19. When anyone hears the word 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.
20. And the one sown on rocky ground — this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.
21. Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution 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 and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.