9. Then He said, “Anyone who has ears to hear should listen! ”
10. When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.
11. He answered them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables
12. so thatthey may look and look,yet not perceive;they may listen and listen,yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back —and be forgiven.”
13. Then He said to them: “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables?
14. The sower sows the word.
15. These are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.
16. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.
17. But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.