The Parable of the Growing Seed

²⁶ “The kingdom of God^(A) is like this,” He said. “A man scatters seed on the ground; ²⁷ he sleeps^(B) and rises^(C)—night^(D) and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn’t know how. ²⁸ The soil produces a crop^(E) by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain^(F) on the head. ²⁹ But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle,^(G) because the harvest^(H) has come.”

³ Then He told them many things in parables,^(A) saying: “Consider the sower who went out to sow.

¹⁹ When anyone hears the word^[a] about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.^{(A) 20} And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.^{(B) 21} Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution^(C) comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles. ²² Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age^(D) and the seduction^[b] of wealth^(E) choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown.”

The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

²⁴ He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.^{(F) 25} But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds^[c] among the wheat, and left. ²⁶ When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared.