The Parable of the Sower Explained

^18 (A)“Hear then the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of ^(B)the kingdom and ^(C)does not understand it, ^(D)the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. ²⁰ As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately ^(E)receives it with joy, ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but ^(F)endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately ^(G)he falls away.^{[a] 22} As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but ^(H)the cares of ^(I)the world and ^(J)the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²³ As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and ^(K)understands it. He indeed ^(L)bears fruit and yields, in one case ^(M)a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

²¹ So he said to them again, ^(A)“I am going away, and ^(B)you will seek me, and ^(C)you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” ²² So the Jews said, ^(D)“Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” ²³ He said to them, ^(E)“You are from below; I am from above. ^(F)You are of this world; ^(G)I am not of this world. ²⁴ I told you that you ^(H)would die in your sins, for ^(I)unless you believe that ^(J)I am he you will die in your sins.” ²⁵ So they said to him, ^(K)“Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. ²⁶ I have much to say about you and much to judge, but ^(L)he who sent me is true, and I declare ^(M)to the world ^(N)what I have heard from him.” ²⁷ They did not understand that ^(O)he had been speaking to them about the Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said to them, “When you have ^(P)lifted up the Son of Man, ^(Q)then you will know that ^(R)I am he, and that ^(S)I do nothing on my own authority, but ^(T)speak just as the Father taught me. ²⁹ And ^(U)he who sent me is with me. ^(V)He has not left me alone, for ^(W)I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” ³⁰ As he was saying these things, ^(X)many believed in him.

The Truth Will Set You Free

³¹ So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ^(Y)“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³² and you will ^(Z)know the truth, and the truth ^(AA)will set you free.” ³³ They answered him, ^(AB)“We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(AC)everyone who practices sin is a slave^[a] to sin. ^35 (AD)The slave does not remain in the house forever; ^(AE)the son remains forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet ^(AF)you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. ^38 (AG)I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard ^(AH)from your father.”

Simon the Magician Believes

⁹ But there was a man named Simon, ^(A)who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, ^(B)saying that he himself was somebody great. ¹⁰ They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, ^(C)“This man is the power of God that is called ^(D)Great.” ¹¹ And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had ^(E)amazed them with his magic. ¹² But when ^(F)they believed Philip as he preached good news ^(G)about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, ^(H)they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And ^(I)seeing signs and ^(J)great miracles^[a] performed, ^(K)he was amazed.

¹⁴ Now when ^(L)the apostles at Jerusalem heard that ^(M)Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, ¹⁵ who came down and prayed for them ^(N)that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ for ^(O)he had not yet ^(P)fallen on any of them, but ^(Q)they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then ^(R)they laid their hands on them and ^(S)they received the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him, ^(T)“May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God ^(U)with money! ²¹ You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for ^(V)your heart is not right before God. ²² Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, ^(W)if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are in ^(X)the gall^[b] of bitterness and in ^(Y)the bond of iniquity.” ²⁴ And Simon answered, ^(Z)“Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”