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and also 1somewomenwho had beenhealed of evilspirits and sicknesses: 2Mary who was calledMagdalene, from whomsevendemons had gone out,
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and Joanna the wife of Chuza, 3Herod's4steward, and Susanna, and manyotherswho were contributing to their support out of their privatemeans.
Parable of the Sower
45When a largecrowd was comingtogether, and those from the variouscities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:
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"The sowerwent out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, somefellbeside the road, and it was trampledunderfoot and the birds of the airate it up.
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"Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it witheredaway, because it hadnomoisture.
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"Other seed fellamong* the thorns; and the thornsgrew up with it and choked it out.
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"Other seed fell into the goodsoil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundredtimes as great." As He saidthesethings, He would call out, "6He who hasears to hear, let him hear."
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7His disciples began questioning Him as to whatthisparablemeant.
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And He said, "8To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that 9SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
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"Now the parable is this: 10the seed is the word of God.
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"Thosebeside the road are those who have heard; then the devilcomes and takesaway the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.