Matthew 13:1-15 ▼

1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea-side.

2 and there was so great a croud of people got about him, that he was oblig'd to go into a bark, where he sat, while the people all stood on the shore.

3 Then he talk'd to them much in parables, and said, a sower went out to sow.

4 and in sowing, part of the grain fell in the high-way, and the fowls light and peck'd them up:

5 another part fell upon stony places, where it had not much earth: and it soon sprung up, because the soil was shallow:

6 so that as the sun arose it was scorched, and for want of root, withered away.

7 another part fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked it.

8 but another part falling upon good soil, became fruitful, some grains yielding an hundred, some sixty, and some thirty.

9 he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And the disciples came, and said to him, why do you speak to them in parables?

11 to whom he answered, because you are allowed to know the mysteries of the gospel-dispensation, but to them it is not allowed.

12 for to him that uses what he has, shall be given, and he shall have abundantly: but from him that uses it not, shall be taken away, even what he hath.

13 therefore speak I to them in parables: because they over-look what they see: and are inattentive to what they hear, neither will they comprehend.

14 and in them is fulfilled that prophecy of Esaias, "by hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive.

15 for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."