Luke 8:1-21 ▼

1 And it came to pass soon afterwards, that He was passing through by city and village, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God; and the twelve were with Him;

2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary who is called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

3 and Joanna wife of Chuzas Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who were ministering to them of their substance.

4 And, when a large multitude was coming together, and those from city after city were coming to Him, He spake through a parable:

5 "The sower went forth to sow his seed. And in his sowing some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the birds of the heaven devoured it .

6 And another fell upon the rock; and, springing up, it was withered because of not having moisture.

7 And another fell amid the thorns; and the thorns growing with it choked it.

8 And another fell into the good ground; and, growing, it produced fruit, a hundredfold." Saying these things, He was crying aloud, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

9 And His disciples were asking Him, what this parable might be.

10 And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables; that, seeing, they may not see, and, hearing, they may not understand.

11 Now this is the parable: The seed is the word of God.

12 And those by the wayside are those who heard; then the Devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart; lest, having believed, they should be saved.

13 "And those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root; who, for a season, believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

14 "And that which fell among the thorns, these are those who heard; and, going forth, they are choked with anxieties, and riches, and pleasures of life, and bear no fruit to perfection.

15 "And that in the good ground, these are such as, in a good and honest heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bear fruit with patience.

16 "And no one, having lighted a lamp, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a lamp-stand, that those coming in may see the light;

17 for nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; nor hidden, that shall not be known, and become manifest.

18 Take heed, therefore, how ye hear; for whosoever has, to him shall be given; and whosoever has not, even what he seems to have shall be taken from him."

19 Now there came to Him His mother and brothers; and they could not get to Him because of the multitude.

20 And it was reported to Him, "Thy mother and Thy brothers have been standing without, wishing to see Thee."

21 And He, answering, said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it ."