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He said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."
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When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
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He said to them, "To you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
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that 'seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.'"
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He said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables?
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The farmer sows the word.
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These are they by the road, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
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These in like manner are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.
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They have no root in themselves, but endure for a while, then, when oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble.
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Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word,
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and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.