Luke 8:1-11 ▼

1 After this, Jesus traveled from one city and village to another. He spread the Good News about God's kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him.

2 Also, some women were with him. They had been cured from evil spirits and various illnesses. These women were Mary, also called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;

3 Joanna, whose husband Chusa was Herod's administrator; Susanna; and many other women. They provided financial support for Jesus and his disciples.

4 When a large crowd had gathered and people had come to Jesus from every city, he used this story as an illustration:

5 |A farmer went to plant his seeds. Some seeds were planted along the road, were trampled, and were devoured by birds.

6 Others were planted on rocky soil. When the plants came up, they withered because they had no moisture.

7 Others were planted among thornbushes. The thornbushes grew up with them and choked them.

8 Others were planted on good ground. When they came up, they produced a hundred times as much as was planted.| After he had said this, he called out, |Let the person who has ears listen!|

9 His disciples asked him what this story meant.

10 Jesus answered, |Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given [directly] to you. But it is given to others in stories. When they look, they don't see, and when they hear, they don't understand.

11 |This is what the story illustrates: The seed is God's word.