20. Others received the seed that fell on rocky places. They are those who hear the message and at once receive it with joy.
21. But they have no roots. So they last only a short time. They quickly fall away from the faith when trouble or suffering comes because of the message.
22. Others received the seed that fell among the thorns. They are those who hear the message. But then the worries of this life and the false promises of wealth crowd it out. They keep it from producing fruit.
23. But still others received the seed that fell on good soil. They are those who hear the message and understand it. They produce a crop 100, 60 or 30 times more than the farmer planted."
24. Jesus told the crowd another story. "Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like," he said. "A man planted good seed in his field.
25. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came. The enemy planted weeds among the wheat and then went away.
26. The wheat began to grow and form grain. At the same time, weeds appeared.
27. "The owner's servants came to him. They said, 'Sir, didn't you plant good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?'
28. " 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull the weeds up?'
29. " 'No,' the owner answered. 'While you are pulling up the weeds, you might pull up the wheat with them.
30. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the workers what to do. Here is what I will say to them. First collect the weeds. Tie them in bundles to be burned. Then gather the wheat. Bring it into my storeroom.' "
31. Jesus told the crowd another story. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. Someone took the seed and planted it in a field.
32. It is the smallest of all your seeds. But when it grows, it is the largest of all garden plants. It becomes a tree. Birds come and rest in its branches."
33. Jesus told them still another story. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast," he said. "A woman mixed it into a large amount of flour. The yeast worked its way all through the dough."