Luke 8:1-15

Ministering Women

1 Soon afterwards *, He began going around from one city and village to another, ¹proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him,

2 and also ²some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: ³Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, ⁴Herod's ⁵steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

Parable of the Sower

4 ⁶When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:

5 "The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.

6 "Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

7 "Other seed fell among * the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.

8 "Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "⁷He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

9 ⁸His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.

10 And He said, "⁹To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that ¹⁰SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.

11 "Now the parable is this: ¹¹the seed is the word of God.

12 "Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.

13 "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.

14 "The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

15 "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 4:23
• 2. Matthew 27:55; Mark 15:40, 41; Luke 23:49, 55
• 3. Matthew 27:56; Mark 16:9
• 4. Matthew 14:1
• 5. Matthew 20:8
• 6. Luke 8:4-8: {Matthew 13:2-9; Mark 4:1-9}
• 7. Matthew 11:15; Mark 7:16; Luke 14:35; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; Revelation 3:6, 13, 22; Revelation 13:9
• 8. Luke 8:9-15: {Matthew 13:10-23; Mark 4:10-20}
• 9. Matthew 13:11
• 10. Isaiah 6:9; Matthew 13:14; Acts 28:26
• 11. 1 Peter 1:23

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "heaven"
• [b] Or "hear!" Or "listen!"
• [c] Lit "who believe"
• [d] Or "steadfastness"