As he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside and was eaten by the birds. Some fell on rocky soil and sprouted quickly; but when the sun came up, it scorched the plants because the roots were not deep enough. Some of the seed fell among the thorns and was choked out by them. But others fell in fertile soil and produced one hundred times more than planted, some sixty times more, and some thirty times more. Those who have ears, let them hear!

The hard path represents the heart of a person who hears the good news about the Kingdom, but does not understand it, and does not try to seek the answers; it remains as if it were not even there. The shallow, rocky soul represents the heart of a person who hears the good news and receives it with great joy; but it does not sink deep into his soul and in time withers and becomes dormant. The ground covered with thorns represents the man who hears the truth but is too weak-willed to exert himself and overcome the influences of the evil ones around him. The fertile ground represents the heart of a man who receives the seed of eternal life and allows it to flourish. When we plant the seed of truth into open hearts it will come to bear its real substance.