Mark 4

A Story About Planting Seed

1 Again Jesus began teaching by the lake. A great crowd gathered around him, so he sat down in a boat near the shore. All the people stayed on the shore close to the water.2 Jesus taught them many things, using stories. He said,3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed. 4 While he was planting, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn’t much dirt. That seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep. 6 But when the sun rose, the plants dried up because they did not have deep roots. 7 Some other seed fell among thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants. So those plants did not produce a crop.

8 Some other seed fell on good ground and began to grow. It got taller and produced a crop. Some plants made thirty times more, some made sixty times more, and some made a hundred times more.”

9 Then Jesus said, “Let those with ears use them and listen!”

Jesus Tells Why He Used Stories

10 Later, when Jesus was alone, the twelve apostles and others around him asked him about the stories.
11 Jesus said, “You can know the secret about the kingdom of God. But to other people I tell everything by using stories

12 so that:
‘They will look and look, but they will not learn. They will listen and listen, but they will not understand.
If they did learn and understand, they would come back to me and be forgiven.’ ” t

Jesus Explains the Seed Story

13 Then Jesus said to his followers, “Don’t you understand this story? If you don’t, how will you understand any story? 14 The farmer is like a person who plants God’s message in people. 15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the road. This is like the people who hear the teaching of God, but Satan quickly comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them. 16 Others are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching and quickly accept it with joy. 17 But since they don’t allow the teaching to go deep into their lives, they keep it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they quickly give up. 18 Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, 19 but the worries of this life, the temptation of wealth, and many other evil desires keep the teaching from growing and producing fruit 

20 Others are like the seed planted in the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce fruit—sometimes thirty times more, sometimes sixty times more, and sometimes a hundred times more.”

Use What You Have

21 Then Jesus said to them, “Do you hide a lamp under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lampstand. 22 Everything that is hidden will be made clear and every secret thing will be made known.

23 Let those with ears use them and listen!
24 “Think carefully about what you hear. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you, but God will give you even more.

25 Those who have understanding will be given more. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them.”

Jesus Uses a Story About Seed

26 Then Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like someone who plants seed in the ground. 27 Night and day, whether the person is asleep or awake, the seed still grows, but the person does not know how it grows. 28 By itself the earth produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head.

29 When the grain is ready, the farmer cuts it, because this is the harvest time.”

A Story About Mustard Seed

30 Then Jesus said, “How can I show you what the kingdom of God is like? What story can I use to explain it? 31 The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the smallest seed you plant in the ground.

32 But when planted, this seed grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants. It produces large branches, and the wild birds can make nests in its shade.”
33 Jesus used many stories like these to teach the crowd God’s message—as much as they could understand.

34 He always used stories to teach them. But when he and his followers were alone, Jesus explained everything to them.

Jesus Calms a Storm

35 That evening, Jesus said to his followers, “Let’s go across the lake.”36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him in the boat just as he was. There were also other boats with them.37 A very strong wind came up on the lake. The waves came over the sides and into the boat so that it was already full of water.

38 Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a cushion. His followers woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are drowning!”

39 Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and it became completely calm.

40 Jesus said to his followers, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 The followers were very afraid and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Mark 4

1 And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land.2 And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his teaching,3 Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow:4 and it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured it.5 And other fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth:6 and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.7 And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.8 And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.9 And he said, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables.11 And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:12 that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them.13 And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables?14 The sower soweth the word.15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them.16 And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;17 and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble.18 And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word,19 and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.20 And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.21 And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put on the stand?22 For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light.23 If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear.24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you; and more shall be given unto you.25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth;27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how.28 The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.29 But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.30 And he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth?31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth,32 yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it;34 and without a parable spake he not unto them: but privately to his own disciples he expounded all things.35 And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side.36 And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.37 And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling.38 And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?39 And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.40 And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?