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Also, some women were with him. They had been cured from evil spirits and various illnesses. These women were Mary, also called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
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Joanna, whose husband Chusa was Herod's administrator; Susanna; and many other women. They provided financial support for Jesus and his disciples.
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When a large crowd had gathered and people had come to Jesus from every city, he used this story as an illustration:
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"A farmer went to plant his seeds. Some seeds were planted along the road, were trampled, and were devoured by birds.
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Others were planted on rocky soil. When the plants came up, they withered because they had no moisture.
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Others were planted among thornbushes. The thornbushes grew up with them and choked them.
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Others were planted on good ground. When they came up, they produced a hundred times as much as was planted." After he had said this, he called out, "Let the person who has ears listen!"
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His disciples asked him what this story meant.
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Jesus answered, "Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given [directly] to you. But it is given to others in stories. When they look, they don't see, and when they hear, they don't understand.
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"This is what the story illustrates: The seed is God's word.
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Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. They hear the word, but then the devil comes. He takes the word away from them so that they don't believe and become saved.