Matthew 13:1-11 ▼

1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.

2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.

3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow.

4 As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep.

6 But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it.

8 Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.

9 Let anyone who has ears listen.”

10 Then the disciples came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables? ”

11 He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.