That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the side of the lake. However, such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables.

He said: "A sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. They sprouted quickly, since the soil had very little depth, but when the sun rose they were scorched, and since they lacked roots, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. But some seeds fell on rich soil and produced a crop—some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear!"