And as he scattered the grain some of it fell by the path

and was trodden on,

And the birds of the air devoured it.

And some fell on rocky ground,

and when the plants sprouted,

they withered away because they had no moisture.

And some seeds fell among thorns.

And the thorns grew up with the plants, and choked them.

And some seeds fell in good soil,

And the plants grew and bore grain, 100 grains each.

Master, why do You speak in parables whenever a crowd is near?

The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God have been given to you.

But to others it comes by means of parables...

So they may look but not see...

And listen but not understand.

This is what the parable means.

The seed is the word of God.

The seeds that fell along the path stand for those who hear.

But the devil comes and takes the message away from their hearts

in order to keep them from believing and being saved.

The seeds that fell on rocky ground

stand for those who hear the message and receive it gladly.

But they have no roots.

They believe only for a while.

And when the time of testing comes, they fall away.

The seeds that fell among the thorns stand for those who hear,

but the worries and riches and pleasures of this life

crowd in and choke them.

And their fruit never ripens.

And the seeds that fell in good soil,

Stand for those who hear the message

and retain it in a good and obedient heart.

And they persist until they bear fruit.