3 accounts of this passage
Mark 4:1–20
1Jesus began teaching again by the sea. A large crowd gathered around him, so he got into a boat and sat on the water, while the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. 2He taught them many things using parables, and as he was teaching he said, 3"Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed. 4As he scattered it, some seed fell along the path, and birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky ground where there wasn't much soil. It sprouted quickly because the soil was so shallow. 6But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7Some seed fell among thorn bushes. The thorns grew up and choked it out, so it produced nothing. 8But some seed fell on good soil. It grew up strong and produced a harvest — 30, 60, even 100 times what was planted." 9Then he said, "If you have ears to hear, listen." 10Later, when Jesus was alone, the 12 disciples and the others close to him asked him what the parable meant. 11He told them, "To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those outside, all these things are done in parables." 12so that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins forgiven. 13Then he said to them, "You don't understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the others? 14The farmer sows the word. 15The seed that falls along the path represents people who hear the word, but Satan immediately comes and snatches away what was planted in their hearts. 16The seed on rocky ground represents people who hear the word and immediately accept it with joy. 17And they have no root in themselves, so they endure only for a time. When trouble or persecution arises because of the word, they are immediately offended. 18The seed that falls among the thorns represents people who hear the word, 19but the worries of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20But the seed planted in good soil represents people who hear the word, embrace it, and produce a harvest — 30, 60, even 100 times what was planted."