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The seed planted on rocky ground [is the person who] hears the word and accepts it at once with joy.
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Since he doesn't have any root, he lasts only a little while. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls [from faith].
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The seed planted among thornbushes [is another person who] hears the word. But the worries of life and the deceitful pleasures of riches choke the word so that it can't produce anything.
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But the seed planted on good ground [is the person who] hears and understands the word. This type produces crops. They produce one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted."
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Jesus used another illustration. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field.
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But while people were asleep, his enemy planted weeds in the wheat field and went away.
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When the wheat came up and formed kernels, weeds appeared.
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"The owner's workers came to him and asked, 'Sir, didn't you plant good seed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?'
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"He told them, 'An enemy did this.' "His workers asked him, 'Do you want us to pull out the weeds?'
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"He replied, 'No. If you pull out the weeds, you may pull out the wheat with them.
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Let both grow together until the harvest. When the grain is cut, I will tell the workers to gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned. But I'll have them bring the wheat into my barn.'"