Twentieth_Century(i)
18 Listen, then, yourselves to the parable of the Sower.
19 When any one hears the Message of the Kingdom without understanding it, the Evil One comes and snatches away what has been sown in his mind. This is the man meant by the seed which was sown along the path.
20 By the seed which was sown on rocky places is meant the man who hears the Message, and at once accepts it joyfully;
21 But, as he has no root, he stands for only a short time; and, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Message, he falls away at once.
22 By the seed which was sown among the brambles is meant the man who hears the Message, but the cares of life and the glamour of wealth completely choke the Message, so that it gives no return.
23 But by the seed which was sown on the good ground is meant the man who hears the Message and understands it, and really yields a return, sometimes one hundred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty fold."
24 Another parable which Jesus told them was this-- "The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25 But, while every one was asleep, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and then went away.
26 So, when the blades of corn shot up, and came into ear, the tares made their appearance also.
27 On this the owner's servants came to him, and said 'Was not it good seed that you sowed in your field? Where, then, do the tares in it come from?'
28 'An enemy has done this,' was his answer. 'Do you wish us, then,' they asked,' to go and gather them together?'
29 'No,' said he, 'for fear that, while you are gathering the tares, you should root up the wheat as well.
30 Let both grow side by side till harvest; and then I shall say to the reapers, Gather the tares together first, and tie them in bundles for burning; but bring all the wheat into my barn.'"