Mateus 13

3 He explained many things to them, using stories as illustrations.*13:3. "Stories as illustrations," literally, "parables."

"The sower went out to sow," he began. 4 "As he was sowing, some of the seeds fell on the path. The birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on stony ground where there wasn’t much earth where they sprouted quickly. 6 The sun rose and scorched them and they withered because they had no roots. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked them. 8 Still other seeds fell on good soil. They produced a harvest—some one hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what had been planted. 9 Anybody who has ears should be listening!"