Matthew 13:1-23

Modern English Version

The Parable of the Sower^(A)

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ² Great crowds assembled around Him, so that He went into a boat and sat there. And the whole assembly stood on the shore. ³ Then He told them many things in parables, saying, “Listen! A sower went out to sow. ⁴ While he sowed, some seeds fell beside the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ But other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up because they did not have deep soil. ⁶ But when the sun rose, they were scorched. And because they did not take root, they withered away. ⁷ Some seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸ But other seeds fell into good ground and produced grain: a hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much. ⁹ Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Purpose of the Parables^(B)

¹⁰ The disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

¹¹ He answered them, “It is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. ¹² For to him who has, will more be given, and he will have abundance. But from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables:

¹⁴ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says:

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them, and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.

The Parable of the Sower Explained^(C)

¹⁸ “Therefore listen to the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one who received seed beside the path. ²⁰ But he who received the seed on rocky ground is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, eventually he falls away. ²² He also who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. ²³ But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit. Some produce a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”