5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it.
6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.
7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants.
8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.
10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:‘When they look, they won’t really see.When they hear, they won’t understand.’
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.