1. The parable (1-8)

As Jesus travelled around from one town to another, a large crowd followed. To them, he told a parable. A farmer went out to sow his seed. The farmer was not careful where he scattered the seed. Much of the seed fell on soil that wasn't proper for growing crops. No fruit was borne there. But some of the seed fell on good soil. The seed there produced a crop a hundred times what was sown. He then called to the crowd, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Jesus' parable taught an important lesson. He wanted them to take note.

2. The meaning of the parable (9-15)

His disciples asked Jesus about the meaning. Jesus told them the secrets of the kingdom of God had been given to them. To others, this was a story. To them, it was a life-giving message that they hungered to hear the meaning of. Jesus explained that the soils where the crops didn't grow were like hearts that were somehow closed off from God. But those with good heart-soil listen to the word of God and that word grows and bears much fruit. When we really hear the word of God, we can bear fruit a hundred times more than what we sow.