Mark 4

A Story About a Farmer—Matthew 13:1–23; Luke 8:4–15

1 Jesus began to teach again by the Sea of Galilee. A very large crowd gathered around him, so he got into a boat and sat in it. The boat was in the water while the entire crowd lined the shore.

2 He used stories as illustrations to teach them many things.
While he was teaching them, he said,3 “Listen! A farmer went to plant seed.4 Some seeds were planted along the road, and birds came and devoured them.5 Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn’t deep.6 When the sun came up, they were scorched. They didn’t have any roots, so they withered.7 Other seeds were planted among thornbushes. The thornbushes grew up and choked them, and they didn’t produce anything.8 But other seeds were planted on good ground, sprouted, and produced thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was planted.”

9 He added, “Let the person who has ears listen!”
10 When he was alone with his followers and the twelve apostles, they asked him about the stories.11 Jesus replied to them, “The mystery about the kingdom of God has been given directly to you. To those on the outside, it is given in stories:12 ‘They see clearly but don’t perceive.They hear clearly but don’t understand.They never return to meand are never forgiven.’ ”13 Jesus asked them, “Don’t you understand this story? How, then, will you understand any of the stories I use as illustrations?14 “The farmer plants the word.15 Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. Whenever they hear the word, Satan comes at once and takes away the word that was planted in them.16 Other people are like seeds that were planted on rocky ground. Whenever they hear the word, they accept it at once with joy.17 But they don’t develop any roots. They last for a short time. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, they immediately fall from faith.18 Other people are like seeds planted among thornbushes. They hear the word,19 but the worries of life, the deceitful pleasures of riches, and the desires for other things take over. They choke the word so that it can’t produce anything.

20 Others are like seeds planted on good ground. They hear the word, accept it, and produce crops—thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was planted.”

A Story About a Lamp

21 Jesus said to them, “Does anyone bring a lamp into a room to put it under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a lamp stand?22 There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light.

23 Let the person who has ears listen!”
24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you’re listening to! Knowledge will be measured out to you by the measure of attention you give. This is the way knowledge increases.

25 Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge. However, some people don’t understand these mysteries. Even what they understand will be taken away from them.”

A Story About Seeds That Grow

26 Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground.27 He sleeps at night and is awake during the day. The seeds sprout and grow, although the man doesn’t know how.28 The ground produces grain by itself. First the green blade appears, then the head, then the head full of grain.

29 As soon as the grain is ready, he cuts it with a sickle, because harvest time has come.”

A Story About a Mustard Seed—Matthew 13:31–32; Luke 13:18–19

30 Jesus asked, “How can we show what the kingdom of God is like? To what can we compare it?31 It’s like a mustard seed planted in the ground. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds on earth.

32 However, when planted, it comes up and becomes taller than all the garden plants. It grows such large branches that birds can nest in its shade.”
33 Jesus spoke God’s word to them using many illustrations like these. In this way people could understand what he taught.

34 He did not speak to them without using an illustration. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

Jesus Calms the Sea—Matthew 8:23–27; Luke 8:22–25

35 That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side.”36 Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus along in a boat just as he was. Other boats were with him.37 A violent windstorm came up. The waves were breaking into the boat so that it was quickly filling up.

38 But he was sleeping on a cushion in the back of the boat.
So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to die?”39 Then he got up, ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, “Be still, absolutely still!” The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm.40 He asked them, “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith yet?”41 They were overcome with fear and asked each other, “Who is this man? Even the wind and the sea 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?