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When a large crowd had gathered and people had come to Jesus from every city, he used this story as an illustration:
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"A farmer went to plant his seeds. Some seeds were planted along the road, were trampled, and were devoured by birds.
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Others were planted on rocky soil. When the plants came up, they withered because they had no moisture.
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Others were planted among thornbushes. The thornbushes grew up with them and choked them.
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Others were planted on good ground. When they came up, they produced a hundred times as much as was planted." After he had said this, he called out, "Let the person who has ears listen!"
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His disciples asked him what this story meant.
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Jesus answered, "Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given [directly] to you. But it is given to others in stories. When they look, they don't see, and when they hear, they don't understand.
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"This is what the story illustrates: The seed is God's word.
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Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. They hear the word, but then the devil comes. He takes the word away from them so that they don't believe and become saved.
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Some people are like seeds on rocky soil. They welcome the word with joy whenever they hear it, but they don't develop any roots. They believe for a while, but when their faith is tested, they abandon it.
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The seeds that were planted among thornbushes are people who hear the word, but as life goes on the worries, riches, and pleasures of life choke them. So they don't produce anything good.