Matthew 13:1-11 ▼

1 That same day Jesus left the house and sat down by the Sea of Galilee.

2 The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat. He sat in the boat while the entire crowd stood on the shore.

3 Then he used stories as illustrations to tell them many things. He said, |Listen! A farmer went to plant seed.

4 Some seeds were planted along the road, and birds came and devoured them.

5 Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn't deep.

6 But when the sun came up, they were scorched. They withered because their roots weren't deep enough.

7 Other seeds were planted among thornbushes, and the thornbushes grew up and choked them.

8 But other seeds were planted on good ground and produced grain. They produced one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted.

9 Let the person who has ears listen!|

10 The disciples asked him, |Why do you use stories as illustrations when you speak to people?|

11 Jesus answered, |Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you. But it has not been given to the crowd.