17. I tell you the truth. Many prophets and good people wanted to see the things that you now see. But they did not see them. And many prophets and good people wanted to hear the things that you now hear. But they did not hear them.
18. “So listen to the meaning of that story about the farmer.
19. What is the seed that fell by the road? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching about the kingdom but does not understand it. The Evil One comes and takes away the things that were planted in that person’s heart.
20. And what is the seed that fell on rocky ground? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching and quickly accepts it with joy.
21. But he does not let the teaching go deep into his life. He keeps it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching he accepted, then he quickly gives up.
22. And what is the seed that fell among the thorny weeds? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching but lets worries about this life and love of money stop that teaching from growing. So the teaching does not produce fruit in that person’s life.
23. But what is the seed that fell on the good ground? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching and understands it. That person grows and produces fruit, sometimes 100 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 30 times more.”
24. Then Jesus told them another story. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field.
25. That night, when everyone was asleep, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat. Then the enemy went away.
26. Later, the wheat grew and heads of grain grew on the wheat plants. But at the same time the weeds also grew.
27. Then the man’s servants came to him and said, ‘You planted good seed in your field. Where did the weeds come from?’
28. The man answered, ‘An enemy planted weeds.’ The servants asked, ‘Do you want us to pull up the weeds?’
29. The man answered, ‘No, because when you pull up the weeds, you might also pull up the wheat.
30. Let the weeds and the wheat grow together until the harvest time. At harvest time I will tell the workers this: First gather the weeds and tie them together to be burned. Then gather the wheat and bring it to my barn.’”
31. Then Jesus told another story: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. A man plants the seed in his field.
32. That seed is the smallest of all seeds. But when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants. It becomes a tree, big enough for the wild birds to come and make nests in its branches.”
33. Then Jesus told another story: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixes into a big bowl of flour. The yeast makes all the dough rise.”
34. Jesus used stories to tell all these things to the people. He always used stories to teach people.
35. This is as the prophet said:“I will speak using stories;I will tell things that have been secret since the world was made.” Psalm 78:2