20. But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”
21. He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?
22. For nothing is concealed except to be revealed, and nothing hidden except to come to light.
23. If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen! ”
24. Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you.
25. For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”
26. “The kingdom of God is like this,” He said. “A man scatters seed on the ground;
27. he sleeps and rises — night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows — he doesn’t know how.
28. The soil produces a crop by itself — first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head.
29. But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
30. And He said: “How can we illustrate the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to describe it?
31. It’s like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground.
32. And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade.”
33. He would speak the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand.
34. And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.