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"But blessed are your eyes because they see. And blessed are your ears because they hear.
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What I'm about to tell you is true. Many prophets and godly people wanted to see what you see. But they didn't see it. They wanted to hear what you hear. But they didn't hear it.
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"Listen! Here is the meaning of the story of the farmer.
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People hear the message about the kingdom but do not understand it. Then the evil one comes. He steals what was planted in their hearts. Those people are like the seed planted on a path.
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Others received the seed that fell on rocky places. They are those who hear the message and at once receive it with joy.
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But they have no roots. So they last only a short time. They quickly fall away from the faith when trouble or suffering comes because of the message.
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Others received the seed that fell among the thorns. They are those who hear the message. But then the worries of this life and the false promises of wealth crowd it out. They keep it from producing fruit.
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But still others received the seed that fell on good soil. They are those who hear the message and understand it. They produce a crop 100, 60 or 30 times more than the farmer planted."
The Story of the Weeds
24 Jesus told the crowd another story. "Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like," he said. "A man planted good seed in his field.
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But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came. The enemy planted weeds among the wheat and then went away.
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The wheat began to grow and form grain. At the same time, weeds appeared.