A sower went forth to sow, and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the
wayside, and the birds came and devoured them. And some fell upon rocky
places, where they had not much earth; and straightway they sprang up,
because they had no deepness of earth; and when the sun was risen, they
were scorched and withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the
thorns grew up and choked them. But some fell upon good ground and
yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.
As the disciples did not understand the meaning of this parable, Jesus
gave them this explanation: The seed is the Word of God; when any one
hears the Word and does not understand it, then comes the evil one and
snatches away that which is sowed in his heart. This is the seed sown by
the wayside.--That which fell upon rocky places is he that hears the
Word, and straightway with joy receives it; and when tribulation and
persecution arise because of the Word, he straightway stumbles.--That
which is sown among thorns is he that hears the Word, and the care of
the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and it
becomes unfruitful.--But that sown in the good ground is he that hears
the Word and keeps it in his heart, and it bears fruit. (Matt. 13:1-23.)