Matthew 13:18-23 - The Parable Of The Sower Interpreted

¹⁸ "To you then I will explain the parable of the Sower. ¹⁹ When a man hears the Message concerning the Kingdom and does not understand it, the Evil one comes and catches away what has been sown in his heart. This is he who has received the seed by the road-side. ²⁰ He who has received the seed on the rocky ground is the man who hears the Message and immediately receives it with joy. ²¹ It has struck no root, however, within him. He continues for a time, but when suffering comes, or persecution, because of the Message, he at once stumbles and falls. ²² He who has received the seed among the thorns is the man who hears the Message, but the cares of the present age and the delusions of riches quite stifle the Message, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ But he who has received the seed on good ground is he who hears and understands. Such hearers give a return, and yield one a hundred for one, another sixty, another thirty.")

¹³ "Do you all miss the meaning of this parable?" He added; "how then will you understand the rest of my parables?" ¹⁴ "What the sower sows is the Message. ¹⁵ Those who receive the seed by the way-side are those in whom the Message is sown, but, when they have heard it, Satan comes at once and carries away the Message sown in them. ¹⁶ In the same way those who receive the seed on the rocky places are those who, when they have heard the Message, at once accept it joyfully, ¹⁷ but they have no root within them. They last for a time; then, when suffering or persecution comes because of the Message, they are immediately overthrown. ¹⁸ Others there are who receive the seed among the thorns: these are they who have heard the Message, ¹⁹ but worldly cares and the deceitfulness of wealth and the excessive pursuit of other objects come in and stifle the Message, and it becomes unfruitful. ²⁰ Those, on the other hand, who have received the seed on the good ground, are all who hear the Message and welcome it, and yield a return of thirty, sixty, or a hundred fold."

¹¹ The meaning of the parable is as follows. The seed is God's Message. ¹² Those by the way-side are those who have heard, and then the Devil comes and carries away the Message from their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the rock are the people who on hearing the Message receive it joyfully; but they have no root: for a time they believe, but when trial comes they fall away. ¹⁴ That which fell among the thorns means those who have heard, but as they go on their way, the Message is stifled by the anxieties, wealth and gaieties of time, and they yield nothing in perfection. ¹⁵ But as for that in the good ground, it means those who, having listened to the Message with open minds and in a right spirit, hold it fast, and patiently yield a return.