use it had no moisture. 7 And other fell amidst
the thorns; and the thorns grew with it, and choked it. 8 And
other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit
a hundredfold. As he said these things, he cried, He that hath
ears to hear, let him hear.

9 And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. 10 And
he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom
of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see,
and hearing they may not understand.

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 And
those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the
devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may
not believe and be saved. 13 And those on the rock _are_ they who,
when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no
root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall
away. 14 And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that
have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares
and riches and pleasures of _this_ life, and bring no fruit to
perfection. 15 And that in the good ground, these are such as in
an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and
bring forth fruit with patience.

16 And no man, when he hath lighted a lamp, covereth it with a
vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but putteth it on a stand, that
they that enter in may see the light. 17 For nothing is hid, that
shall not be made manifest; nor _anything_ secret, that shall not
be known and come to light. 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear:
for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not,
from him shall be taken away even that which he thinketh he hath.

Because of its greater length and more elaborate workmanship and greater
fullness of detail, this story of the sower is rightly regarded as the
first parable of our Lord, even though he had previously used brief
illustrations which were designated by the same name. Parables henceforth
formed a prominent part of his teaching, and that he was now beginning a
somewhat new method of instruction is evident from the fact that the
disciples now asked him to explain his meaning, v. 9, and from the fact
that he here gave the reason for the use of all his parables. This reason
is twofold: these inimitable illustrations would enab