3. Joanna, Susanna, and many others had also used what they owned to help Jesus and his disciples. Joanna's husband Chuza was one of Herod's officials.
4. When a large crowd from several towns had gathered around Jesus, he told them this story:
5. A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field. While the farmer was doing it, some of the seeds fell along the road and were stepped on or eaten by birds.
6. Other seeds fell on rocky ground and started growing. But the plants did not have enough water and soon dried up.
7. Some other seeds fell where thorn bushes grew up and choked the plants.
8. The rest of the seeds fell on good ground where they grew and produced a hundred times as many seeds.When Jesus had finished speaking, he said, “If you have ears, pay attention!”
9. Jesus' disciples asked him what the story meant.
10. So he answered:I have explained the secrets about God's kingdom to you, but for others I can only use stories. These people look, but they don't see, and they hear, but they don't understand.
11. This is what the story means: The seed is God's message,