7. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.
8. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
9. Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
10. Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.
11. He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,
12. so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:‘When they see what I do,they will learn nothing.When they hear what I say,they will not understand.Otherwise, they will turn to meand be forgiven.’”
13. Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?
14. The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.