1-3He continued according
to plan, traveled to town after town, village after village, preaching
God's kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him. There
were also some women in their company who had been healed of various
evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary, the one called Magdalene, from
whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's manager;
and Susanna—along with many others who used their considerable means to
provide for the company.
The Story of the Seeds
4-8As
they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled
along. He addressed them, using this story: "A farmer went out to sow
his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds
ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered
because it didn't have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the
weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and
produced a bumper crop.
"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"
9His disciples asked, "Why did you tell this story?"
10He
said, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom—you know how it
works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of
them aren't going to get it:
Their eyes are open but don't see a thing,
Their ears are open but don't hear a thing.
11-12"This
story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The
seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they
hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won't believe and
be saved.
13"The
seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the
enthusiasm doesn't go very deep. It's only another fad, and the moment
there's trouble it's gone.
14"And
the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but
then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about
their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.
15"But
the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word
and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.
