_Jesus teaches by the sea. He relates the parable of the sower. Tells why he teaches in parables. Explains the parable of the sower. Relates the parable of the wheat and tares._ And Jesus stood beside the sea and taught; the multitudes pressed close upon him and he went into a boat that was near by and put a little ways from shore, and then he spoke in parables; he said, 2 Behold, a sower took his seed and went into his field to sow. 3 With lavish hand he scattered forth the seed and some fell in the hardened paths that men had made, 4 And soon were crushed beneath the feet of other men; and birds came down and carried all the seed away. 5 Some seed fell on rocky ground where there was little soil; they grew and soon the blades appeared and promised much; 6 But then there was no depth of soil, no chance for nourishment, and in the heat of noonday sun they withered up and died. 7 Some seed fell where thistles grew, and found no earth in which to grow and they were lost; 8 But other seed found lodgment in the rich and tender soil and grew apace, and in the harvest it was found that some brought forth a hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold. 9 They who have ears to hear may hear; they who have hearts to understand may know. 10 Now, his disciples were beside him in the boat, and Thomas asked, Why do you speak in parables? 11 And Jesus said, My words, like every master’s words, are dual in their sense. 12 To you who know the language of the soul, my words have meanings far too deep for other men to comprehend. 13 The other sense of what I say is all the multitude can understand; these words are food for them; the inner thoughts are food for you. 14 Let every one reach forth and take the food that he is ready to receive. 15 And then he spoke that all might hear; he said, Hear you the meaning of the parable: 16 Men hear my words and understand them not, and then the carnal self purloins the seed, and not a sign of spirit life appears. 17 This is the seed that fell within the beaten paths of men. 18 And others hear the words of life, and with a fiery zeal receive them all; they seem to comprehend the truth and promise well; 19 But troubles come; discouragements arise; there is no depth of thought; their good intentions wither up and die. 20 These are the seeds that fell in stony ground. 21 And others hear the words of truth and seem to know their worth; but love of pleasure, reputation, wealth and fame fill all the soil; the seeds are nourished not and they are lost. 22 These are the seeds that fell among the thistles and the thorns. 23 But others hear the words of truth and comprehend them well; they sink down deep into their souls; they live the holy life and all the world is blest. 24 These are the seeds that fell in fertile soil, that brought forth fruit abundantly.