1 Soon afterwards, He [began] going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him,
2 and [also] some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
4 When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:
5 |The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.
6 |Other [seed] fell on rocky [soil], and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
7 |Other [seed] fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.
8 |Other [seed] fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.| As He said these things, He would call out, |He who has ears to hear, let him hear.|
9 His disciples [began] questioning Him as to what this parable meant.
10 And He said, |To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest [it is] in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
11 |Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
12 |Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
13 |Those on the rocky [soil are] those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no [firm] root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 |The [seed] which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15 |But the [seed] in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
16 |Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.
17 |For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor [anything] secret that will not be known and come to light.
18 |So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him [more] shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.|
19 And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd.
20 And it was reported to Him, |Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.|
21 But He answered and said to them, |My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.|
