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Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him,
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along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons;
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Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.
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One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him:
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“A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it.
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Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.
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Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants.
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Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
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His disciples asked him what this parable meant.