¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom^(A) and does not understand it, the evil one^(B) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

¹¹ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.^{(A) 12} Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.^{(B) 14} The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches^(C) and pleasures, and they do not mature. ¹⁵ But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,^(A)

Warning to Pay Attention

2 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.^(A)

¹⁸ We know that anyone born of God^(A) does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one^(B) cannot harm them.^(C)

Jesus Heals the Sick

²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee,^(A) teaching in their synagogues,^(B) proclaiming the good news^(C) of the kingdom,^(D) and healing every disease and sickness among the people.^(E)

¹² Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one^(A) and murdered his brother.^(B) And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.^(C)

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over^(A) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.