Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁴ And while a large crowd was gathering, and the ones from every city were coming to Him, He spoke with a parable—

The Sower’s Seed Falls On Different Kinds of Soil. Only The Good Soil Produces Fruit

⁵ “The one sowing went out that he might sow his seed. And during his sowing some seed fell along the road. And it was trampled-underfoot. And the birds of the heaven ate it up. ⁶ And other seed fell-down on the bed-rock. And having grown, it was dried-up because of not having moisture. ⁷ And other seed fell in the middle of the thorns. And the thorns, having grown-with it, choked it. ⁸ And other seed fell into the fertile soil. And having grown, it produced fruit, a hundred-fold”. While saying these things, He was calling, “Let the one having ears to hear, hear”.

Jesus Explains The Purpose of Parables And The Meaning of The Sower

⁹ And His disciples were asking Him what this parable might mean. ¹⁰ And the One said— “It has been given to you to know^[a] the mysteries of the kingdom of God. But I speak in parables to the others in order that while seeing they may not be seeing, and while hearing, they may not be understanding. ¹¹ Now the parable means this: the seed is the word of God. ¹² And the people along the road are the ones having heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart in order that they may not be saved, having believed. ¹³ And the people on the bed-rock are ones who are welcoming the word with joy when they hear it. And these do not have a root— they are ones who are believing for a time, and are departing^[b] in a time of testing^[c]. ¹⁴ And the seed having fallen into the thorns— these people are the ones having heard, and while proceeding are being choked by the anxieties^[d] and riches and pleasures of life. And they are not bringing-fruit-to-maturity. ¹⁵ And the seed in the good soil— these people are ones who, having heard the word in a good and fertile heart, are holding-on-to it and bearing-fruit with endurance.