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It happened soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve,
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and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
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and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod's steward; Susanna; and many others; who ministered to them from their possessions.
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When a great multitude came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable.
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"The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell by the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it.
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Other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
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Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it.
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Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit one hundred times." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
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Then his disciples asked him, "What does this parable mean?"
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He said, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables; that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'
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Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.