The Parable of the Sower^(A)(B)

4 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake.^(C) The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. ² He taught them many things by parables,^(D) and in his teaching said: ³ “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.^{(E) 4} As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”^(F)

⁹ Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”^(G)

¹⁰ When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. ¹¹ He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God^(H) has been given to you. But to those on the outside^(I) everything is said in parables ¹² so that,

¹⁷ I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.^(A) Keep away from them.^{(B) 18} For such people are not serving our Lord Christ,^(C) but their own appetites.^(D) By smooth talk and flattery they deceive^(E) the minds of naive people. ¹⁹ Everyone has heard^(F) about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.^(G)

²⁰ The God of peace^(H) will soon crush^(I) Satan^(J) under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.^(K)

²¹ Timothy,^(L) my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius,^(M) Jason^(N) and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.^(O)

²² I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

²³ Gaius,^(P) whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Erastus,^(Q) who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. ^[24] [a]

²⁵ Now to him who is able^(R) to establish you in accordance with my gospel,^(S) the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery^(T) hidden for long ages past, ²⁶ but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings^(U) by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from^[b] faith^(V)— ²⁷ to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.^(W)