The Parable of the Sower

13 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.(A) Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.(B)

Then he told them many things in parables,(C) saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.(D) Let anyone who has ears[a] listen.”(E)

Why Jesus Used Parables

10 Then the disciples(F) came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?” (G)

11 He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know,(H) but it has not been given to them.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:9 Other mss add to hear

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