Matthew 13:14-22

New International Version

¹⁴In them is fulfilled^(A) the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
¹⁵For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’^[a]^(B)

¹⁶But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.^(C) ¹⁷For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see^(D) but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

¹⁸“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹When anyone hears the message about the kingdom^(E) and does not understand it, the evil one^(F) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.^(G) ²²The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth^(H) choke the word, making it unfruitful.