Matthew 13:1-16 ▼

1 On that day Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the sea.

2 And many multitudes came together to him, so that he went into a ship and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying: Behold, the sower went out to sow.

4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell by the way: and the birds came and ate them up.

5 Others fell on stony places, where they had not much earth; and they immediately sprung up, because they had no depth of earth.

6 But when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 Others fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked them.

8 Others fell upon good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty.

9 He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And the disciples came and said to him: "Why dost thou speak to them in parables?

11 He answered, and said to them: Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but to them it is not given.

12 For whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but whoever has not, even that which he has shall be taken from him.

13 For this reason I speak to them in parables; because when they see, they see not; and when they hear, they hear not, nor do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah, which says: You shall surely hear, and you will not understand; and you shall surely see, and you will not perceive.

15 For the heart of this people has become fat; and with their ears they hear heavily; and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn to me, and I should give them health.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.