4. While the farmer was planting, some seed fell by the road. The birds came and ate all that seed.
5. Some seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn’t much dirt. The seed grew very fast there because the ground was not deep.
6. But when the sun rose, the plants withered. The plants died because they did not have deep roots.
7. Some other seed fell among thorny weeds. The weeds grew and choked the good plants. So those plants did not make grain.
8. Some other seed fell on good ground. In the good ground, the seed began to grow. It grew and made a crop of grain. Some plants made 30 times more grain, some 60 times more grain, and some 100 times more grain.”
9. Then Jesus said, “Let those with ears use them and listen!”
10. Later, when Jesus was alone, the 12 apostles and others around him asked him about the stories.
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.