16. Here’s the meaning of the seed that fell on rocky ground: When people hear the word, they immediately receive it joyfully.
17. Because they have no roots, they last for only a little while. When they experience distress or abuse because of the word, they immediately fall away.
18. Others are like the seed scattered among the thorny plants. These are the ones who have heard the word;
19. but the worries of this life, the false appeal of wealth, and the desire for more things break in and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.
20. The seed scattered on good soil are those who hear the word and embrace it. They bear fruit, in one case a yield of thirty to one, in another case sixty to one, and in another case one hundred to one."
21. Jesus said to them, "Does anyone bring in a lamp in order to put it under a basket or a bed? Shouldn’t it be placed on a lampstand?
22. Everything hidden will be revealed, and everything secret will come out into the open.
23. Whoever has ears to listen should pay attention!"
24. He said to them, "Listen carefully! God will evaluate you with the same standard you use to evaluate others. Indeed, you will receive even more.
25. Those who have will receive more, but as for those who don’t have, even what they don’t have will be taken away from them."
26. Then Jesus said, "This is what God’s kingdom is like. It’s as though someone scatters seed on the ground,
27. then sleeps and wakes night and day. The seed sprouts and grows, but the farmer doesn’t know how.