4 When a great crowd was gathered, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he told them this story:
5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. While he was planting, some seed fell by the road. People walked on the seed, and the birds ate it up.
6 Some seed fell on rock, and when it began to grow, it died because it had no water.
7 Some seed fell among thorny weeds, but the weeds grew up with it and choked the good plants.
8 And some seed fell on good ground and grew and made a hundred times more.”As Jesus finished the story, he called out, “Let those with ears use them and listen!”
9 Jesus’ followers asked him what this story meant.
10 Jesus said, “You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of God. But I use stories to speak to other people so that:‘They will look, but they may not see.They will listen, but they may not understand.’