Jesus tells a large crowd of people different parables that describe what the kingdom of God is like.

## Jesus said many things to them in parables  ##

"Jesus told them many things in parables"

## to them ##

to the people in the crowd

## Behold  ##

Alternate translations: “Look” or “Listen” or “Pay attention to what I am about to tell you.”

## A sower went out to sow ##

“A farmer went out to scatter some seeds in a field.”

## As he sowed  ##

"As the sower sowed"

## beside the road ##

the “path” next to the field. The ground would have been hard from the people walking on it.

## devoured them  ##

"ate all the seeds"

## rocky ground  ##

shallow soil over rocks

## Immediately they sprang up ##

"The seeds quickly sprouted and grew"

## they were scorched  ##

"the sun scorched the plants and they became too hot" (See: Active or Passive)

## they withered away  ##

“the plants became dry and died”