16
But your eyes [are] blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear.
17
For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous [people] longed to see what you see, and did not see [it], and to hear what you hear, and did not hear [it]!
The Parable of the Sower Interpreted
18 "You, therefore, listen to the parable of the sower:
19
[When] anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand [it], the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown on the side of the path.
20
And what was sown on the rocky ground--this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.
21
But he does not have a root in himself, but {lasts only a little while}, and [when] affliction or persecution happens because of the word, immediately he falls away.
22
And what was sown into the thorn plants--this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unproductive.
23
But what was sown on the good soil--this is the one who hears the word and understands [it], who indeed bears fruit and produces, this one a hundred [times as much], and this one sixty, and this one thirty."
The Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat
24 He put before them another parable, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
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But while his people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel in the midst of the wheat and went away.
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So when the {wheat} sprouted and yielded grain, then the darnel appeared also.