1. After this, while Jesus was traveling through some cities and small towns, he preached and told the Good News about God’s kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him,
2. and also some women who had been healed of sicknesses and evil spirits: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
3. Joanna, the wife of Cuza (the manager of Herod’s house); Susanna; and many others. These women used their own money to help Jesus and his apostles.
4. When a great crowd was gathered, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he told them this story:
5. “A farmer went out to plant his seed. While he was planting, some seed fell by the road. People walked on the seed, and the birds ate it up.
6. Some seed fell on rock, and when it began to grow, it died because it had no water.
7. Some seed fell among thorny weeds, but the weeds grew up with it and choked the good plants.
8. And some seed fell on good ground and grew and made a hundred times more.”As Jesus finished the story, he called out, “Let those with ears use them and listen!”
9. Jesus’ followers asked him what this story meant.
10. Jesus said, “You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of God. But I use stories to speak to other people so that:‘They will look, but they may not see.They will listen, but they may not understand.’