Luke 8:1-21 ▼

1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went through every city and village, preaching, and making known the good news of the kingdom of God; and the twelve were with him;

2 and also certain women that had been cured of evil spirits and diseases; Mary, called Magdalene, out of whom had gone seven demons,

3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to him from their means.

4 And when a great multitude had assembled, and they were coming to him from every city, he spoke by a parable:

5 The sower went forth to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden down, and the birds of the air ate it up.

6 And some fell upon the rock; and when it had sprung up, it withered, because it had no moisture.

7 And some fell in the midst of thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it.

8 And other seed fell into good ground, and sprung up, and produced fruit a hundred-fold. When he had said these things, he cried: He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

9 And the disciples asked him, saying: What does this parable mean?

10 He replied: To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that when they see, they may not see, and when they hear, they may not understand.

11 But the meaning of the parable is this: The seed is the word of God;

12 those by the way side are they that hear; then comes the devil and takes the word from their heart, lest they should believe and be saved.

13 Those on the rock are they that, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who, for awhile, believe, and in time of temptation apostatize.

14 That which fell among thorns are those who hear, and so conduct themselves, that they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

15 But that on the good ground are those who, in a good and honest heart, hear the word, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

16 No one when he has lighted a lamp, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a divan, but sets it on a lamp-stand, that they who come in may see the light.

17 For there is nothing concealed, that shall not be made manifest, nor hid, that shall not be known and brought into view.

18 Take heed, therefore, how you hear; for whoever has, to him shall be given; and whoever has not, even that which he seems to have shall be taken from him.

19 And his mother and his brothers came to him, but were not able to get near him on account of the multitude.

20 And it was told him by some that said: Thy mother and thy brothers stand without, desiring to see thee.

21 But he answered and said to them: My mother and my brothers are they that hear the word of God and do it.