400-402 : Jesus Teaches In Parables,The Sower
IT came to pass that he went throughout every village and city,
preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.
The twelve apostles were with him,
and certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses:
Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza,
Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who cared for him out of their means.
By the seaside, great multitudes were gathered together about him,
so he went into a boat and addressed the multitude who stood on the shore.
THE SOWER
And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying:
"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside,
and the fowls came and ate them up.
Some fell on stony Places where they had not much earth.
And when the sun rose they were scorched, and because they had no root, they withered away.
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.
But others fell into good ground and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold,
some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."
And when he had said these things, he cried, "He that has ears to hear, . let him hear."
Then his disciples asked him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"
And he said: "To you is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to
the others I speak in parables, that seeing they still may not see,
and hearing they still may not understand.
Now the meaning of the parable is this:"The seed is the word of God.
Those by the wayside are they who hear. Then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts,
lest they should believe and be saved. "
Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy,
and having no roots, they believe for a while, but in time of temptation fall away.
"Those which fell among thorns are they who, when they have heard,
go forth and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life,so that their faith never ripens.
"But the seed on the good ground are they who, with honest and good hearts, having heard the word,
keep it and bring forth fruit with patience."
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