"Hear, then, the parable of the farmer" (or "sower" in some translations) from Matthew 13:18 means Jesus is about to explain the meaning of the Parable of the Sower. It's a direct invitation to pay attention and understand the deeper message hidden within the story.

Here's a breakdown:

"Hear, then...": This is a transitional phrase. Jesus used this phrase to signify that He will now give the key to understanding the parable He just told. It signals a shift from the narrative itself to its interpretation.

"...the parable of the farmer/sower": This clearly identifies the story being explained. The parable is about a farmer scattering seeds on different types of ground. The ground represents different types of hearts, and the seeds represent the Word of God.

In essence, this verse is Jesus saying, "Okay, you've heard the story. Now I'm going to tell you what it really means. Listen carefully!"