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Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore.
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He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
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âListen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.
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As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.
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Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.
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But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didnât have deep roots, it died.
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Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.
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Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!â
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Then he said, âAnyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.â
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Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.
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He replied, âYou are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,
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so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: âWhen they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.â â