Matthew 13:18

Simplified Cowboy Version

"Now let me tell you what the alfalfa story really means.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“So listen to the parable of the sower:

King James Version (1611)
Heare ye therefore the parable of the sower.

King James Version
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

English Standard Version
"Hear then the parable of the sower:

New American Standard Bible
"Listen then to the parable of the sower.

New Century Version
"So listen to the meaning of that story about the farmer.

Amplified Bible
"Listen then to the [meaning of the] parable of the sower:

Geneva Bible (1587)
Heare ye therefore ye parable of ye sower.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Hear then the parable of the sower.

Legacy Standard Bible
"Hear then the parable of the sower.

Berean Standard Bible
Consider, then, the parable of the sower:

Contemporary English Version
Now listen to the meaning of the story about the farmer:

Complete Jewish Bible
"So listen to what the parable of the sower means.

Darby Translation
*Ye*, therefore, hear the parable of the sower.

Easy-to-Read Version
"So listen to the meaning of that story about the farmer:

George Lamsa Translation
Now you listen to the parable of the seed.

Good News Translation
"Listen, then, and learn what the parable of the sower means.

Lexham English Bible
"You, therefore, listen to the parable of the sower:

Literal Translation
Then hear the parable of the sower:

American Standard Version
Hear then ye the parable of the sower.

Bible in Basic English
Give ear, then, to the story of the man who put the seed in the earth.

Hebrew Names Version
"Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.

International Standard Version
"Listen, then, to the parable about the sower.Mark 4:14; Luke 8:11;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
You, then, attend to the comparison of the seed:

Murdock Translation
But hear ye the similitude of the seed.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Heare ye therfore the similitude of the sower.

English Revised Version
Hear then ye the parable of the sower.

World English Bible
"Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom,

Weymouth's New Testament
"To you then I will explain the parable of the Sower.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor here ye the parable of the sowere.

Update Bible Version
Then hear you the parable of the sower.

Webster's Bible Translation
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

New English Translation
"So listen to the parable of the sower:

New King James Version
Mark 4:13-20; Luke 8:11-15">[xr] "Therefore hear the parable of the sower:

New Living Translation
"Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:

New Life Bible
"Listen to the picture-story of the man who planted seeds in the ground.

New Revised Standard
"Hear then the parable of the sower.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Hear, ye, then, the parable of him that sowed: -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.

Revised Standard Version
"Hear then the parable of the sower.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Heare ye therfore ye similitude of the sower.

Young's Literal Translation
`Ye, therefore, hear ye the simile of the sower:

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Heare ye therfore the parable of the sower.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Hear then the meaning of this parable of the sower.

THE MESSAGE
"Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.

Contextual Overview

¹Later on that afternoon, Jesus left the bunkhouse and rode down to the pens. ²There were a bunch of cowboys standing around waitin' on him. He climbed up on the pipe pens where everyone could see him and ³he started tellin' stories like this one. "There was a big ranch that had their own farmin' operation. ⁴They planted alfalfa and some of the seed fell on the two-track ranch road. Some blue quail came along and ate it right up. ⁵Some other seed fell in a rocky area, ⁶but them rocks acted like ovens and cooked the alfalfa right there on the stalk before it could grow very big. ⁷Still other seed fell among a prickly pear cactus part of the pasture. That durn cactus choked it out 'fore it ever had a chance. ⁸But some of that alfalfa seed fell on good, fertile soil. This seed produced about ten tons per acre. ⁹Is anyone here catchin' what I'm sayin'?" ¹⁰His cowboys came up to him and asked Jesus, "How come you just tell stories to people?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Matthew 13:11, Matthew 13:12, Mark 4:14-20

Reciprocal: Matthew 13:4 - the way Matthew 21:33 - Hear Luke 8:5 - sower Luke 8:9 - What 1 Corinthians 3:9 - ye are God's

Cross-References

1 Timothy 2:8
Where once men raised their fists in anger, I now ask them to reach out to God and be saved.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. That is, the interpretation of the parable; for they had heard the parable before, and had desired an explanation of it; which, though not mentioned by Matthew, is, by the other evangelists, Mark 4:10, Luke 8:9 and since it was given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, therefore Christ calls upon them to attend unto, and hear, so as to understand the spiritual meaning of this parable. Mark relates, that he moreover said to his disciples at this time, "know ye not this parable?" Do ye not understand the meaning of it, so easy to be taken in? them as it were reproving for their dulness of hearing, notwithstanding the grace given them, and the advantages they enjoyed: "how then will ye know all parables?" all that he had delivered, or was about to deliver at this time, or should hereafter; which were of more difficult interpretation, and not so easy to be understood as this.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See also Mark 4:13-20; Luke 8:11-15. “Hear ye, therefore, the parable of the sower.” That is, hear the “explanation” or the “spiritual meaning” of the narrative given before. Mark adds Mark 4:13, “Know ye not this parable? And how, then, shall ye know all parables?” By which it seems that the Saviour regarded this as one of the simplest and plainest of the parables, and gave an explanation of it that they might understand the general principles of interpreting others.

Matthew 13:19

When any one heareth ... - The seed represents the word of God communicated in any manner to the minds of people - by the Scriptures, by preaching, by acts of Providence, or by the direct influences of the Holy Spirit.

Then cometh the wicked one - That is, Satan Mark 4:15, or the devil Luke 8:12 - the one eminently “wicked,” the accuser, the tempter.

He is represented by the fowls that came and picked up the seed by the way-side. The gospel is preached to people hardened in sin. It makes no impression. It lies like seed on the “hard path;” it is easily taken away, and never suffered to take root.

Matthew 13:20, Matthew 13:21

But he that received the seed into stony places - Jesus explains this as denoting those who hear the gospel; who are caught with it as something new or pleasing; who profess to be greatly delighted with it, and who are full of zeal for it.

Yet they have no root in themselves. They are not true Christians. Their hearts are not changed. They have not seen their guilt and danger, and the true excellency of Christ. They are not “really” attached to the gospel; and when they are tried and persecution comes, they fall - as the rootless grain withers before the scorching rays of the noonday sun.

Anon - “Quickly,” or “readily.”

With joy receiveth it - They are under deep distress for sin; they are apprehensive of danger; they hear the offer of mercy, and they seem to themselves to embrace the gospel. It offers them peace, pardon, salvation, and religion assumes for a time a lovely aspect. They imagine that they are pardoned, and they have a temporary peace and joy. Their anxieties subside. Their fears are gone. They are for a time happy. “The mere subsiding of anxious feeling from any cause will make the mind for a time happy.” They have only to imagine, therefore, that their sins are forgiven, to produce a certain kind of peace and joy. But there is no ground of permanent joy, as there is in true pardon, and soon their joy subsides, and all evidence of piety disappears. There is no strength of principle to resist temptation; there is no real love of the Saviour; and in times of trial and persecution they show that they have no true religion, and fall away.

By and by - Mark, “Immediately.” That is, it soon occurs, or this is an effect which may be expected soon to follow.

Is offended - Stumbles or falls, for this is the meaning of the word “offend” in the New Testament. See the notes at Matthew 5:29. Persecution and trial are placed in his path, and he falls as he would over a “stumbling-block.” He has no strength of principle - no real confidence in God - no true religion. Mere excited animal feeling is all that he ever had, and that is not sufficient to sustain him when the trial comes.

Matthew 13:22

He also that received seed among the thorns - These represent the cares, the anxieties, and the deceitful lure of riches, or the way in which a desire to be rich deceives people.

They take the time and attention. They do not leave opportunity to examine the state of the soul. Besides, riches allure, and promise what they do not yield. They promise to make us happy; but, when gained, they do not do it. The soul is not satisfied. There is the same desire to possess more wealth. And to this there is no end “but death.” In doing it there is every temptation to be dishonest, to cheat, to take advantage of others, to oppress others, and to wring their hard earnings from the poor. Every evil passion is therefore cherished by the love of gain; and it is no wonder that the word is choked, and every good feeling destroyed, by this “execrable love of gold.” See the notes at 1 Timothy 6:7-11. How many, O how many, thus foolishly drown themselves in destruction and perdition! How many more might reach heaven, if it were not for this deep-seated love of that which fills the mind with care, deceives the soul, and finally leaves it naked, and guilty, and lost!

Matthew 13:23

Into good ground - Those whose hearts are prepared by grace to receive it honestly, and to give it full opportunity to grow.

In a rich and mellow soil - in a heart that submits itself to the full influence of truth, unchecked by cares and anxieties; under the showers and summer suns of divine grace; with the heart spread open, like a broad, luxuriant field, to the rays of the morning and to evening dews, the gospel takes deep root and grows; it has full room, and then and there only shows “what it is.”