11. Jesus said, “Only you can know the secret truth about the kingdom of God. But to other people I tell everything by using stories.
12. I do this so that:‘They will look and look, but they will not learn.They will listen and listen, but they will not understand.If they did learn and understand,they would come back to me and be forgiven.’” Isaiah 6:9-10
13. Then Jesus said to the followers, “Do you understand this story? If you don’t, then how will you understand any story?
14. The farmer is like a person who plants God’s teaching in people.
15. Sometimes the teaching falls on the road. This is like some people. They hear the teaching of God. But Satan quickly comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.
16. Others are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching and quickly accept it with joy.
17. But they don’t allow the teaching to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching, they quickly give up.
18. Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching.
19. But then other things come into their lives: worries, the love of money, and wanting all kinds of other things. These things stop the teaching from growing. So that teaching does not produce fruit in their lives.
20. Others are like the seed planted in the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce fruit—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.”
21. Then Jesus said to them, “Do you hide a lamp under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lampstand.
22. Everything that is hidden will be made clear. Every secret thing will be made known.
23. Let those with ears use them and listen!
24. “Think carefully about the things you hear. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you. But God will give you more than you give.
25. The person who has something will be given more. But the person who does not have much, even what he has will be taken from him.”
26. Then Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who plants seed in the ground.
27. The seed comes up and grows night and day. It doesn’t matter whether the man is asleep or awake; the seed still grows. The man does not know how it grows.
28. Without any help, the earth produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head.
29. When the grain is ready, the man cuts it. This is the harvest time.”
30. Then Jesus said, “How can I show you what the kingdom of God is like? What story can I use to explain it?