Mark4

¹Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore.

²He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

³“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.

⁴As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.

⁵Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.

⁶But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died.

⁷Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.

⁸Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

⁹Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

¹⁰Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.

¹¹He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,

¹²so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’”

¹³Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?

¹⁴The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.

¹⁵The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.

¹⁶The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.

¹⁷But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

¹⁸The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word,

¹⁹but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

²⁰And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

²¹Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.

²²For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.

²³Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

²⁴Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more.

²⁵To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

²⁶Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.

²⁷Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.

²⁸The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.

²⁹And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”

³⁰Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?

³¹It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds,

³²but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”

³³Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.

³⁴In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

³⁵As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”

³⁶So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).

³⁷But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

³⁸Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

³⁹When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.

⁴⁰Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”