Luke 8:12-22

12 The seed that fell beside the road is like the people who hear God's teaching, but the devil comes and takes it away from them so they cannot believe it and be saved.
13 The seed that fell on rock is like those who hear God's teaching and accept it gladly, but they don't allow the teaching to go deep into their lives. They believe for a while, but when trouble comes, they give up.
14 The seed that fell among the thorny weeds is like those who hear God's teaching, but they let the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life keep them from growing and producing good fruit.
15 And the seed that fell on the good ground is like those who hear God's teaching with good, honest hearts and obey it and patiently produce good fruit.
16 "No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. Instead, the person puts it on a lampstand so those who come in will see the light.
17 Everything that is hidden will become clear, and every secret thing will be made known.
18 So be careful how you listen. Those who have understanding will be given more. But those who do not have understanding, even what they think they have will be taken away from them."
19 Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but there was such a crowd they could not get to him.
20 Someone said to Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you."
21 Jesus answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who listen to God's teaching and obey it!"
22 One day Jesus and his followers got into a boat, and he said to them, "Let's go across the lake." And so they started across.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.