19. But then the worries of this life come to them. Wealth comes with its false promises. The people also long for other things. All of those are the kinds of things that crowd out the message. They keep it from producing fruit.
20. And what is seed scattered on good soil like? The people hear the message. They accept it. They produce a good crop 30, 60, or even 100 times more than the farmer planted."
21. Jesus said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a large bowl or a bed? Don't you put it on its stand?
22. What is hidden is meant to be seen. And what is put out of sight is meant to be brought out into the open.
23. Everyone who has ears should listen."
24. "Think carefully about what you hear," he said. "As you give, so you will receive. In fact, you will receive even more.
25. If you have something, you will be given more. If you have nothing, even what you have will be taken away from you."
26. Jesus also said, "Here is what God's kingdom is like. A farmer scatters seed on the ground.
27. Night and day the seed comes up and grows. It happens whether the farmer sleeps or gets up. He doesn't know how it happens.
28. All by itself the soil produces grain. First the stalk comes up. Then the head appears. Finally, the full grain appears in the head.
29. Before long the grain ripens. So the farmer cuts it down, because the harvest is ready."
30. Again Jesus said, "What can we say God's kingdom is like? What story can we use to explain it?
31. It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed planted in the ground.
32. But when you plant the seed, it grows. It becomes the largest of all garden plants. Its branches are so big that birds can rest in its shade."
33. Using many stories like those, Jesus spoke the word to them. He told them as much as they could understand.
34. He did not say anything to them without using a story. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything.
35. When evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake."
36. They left the crowd behind. And they took him along in a boat, just as he was. There were also other boats with him.
37. A wild storm came up. Waves crashed over the boat. It was about to sink.