← Mark

Mark 4

1
Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore. Begin Abide·
2
And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said, Begin Abide·
3
“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. Begin Abide·
4
And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Begin Abide·
5
Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. Begin Abide·
6
But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Begin Abide·
7
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop. Begin Abide·
8
Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprouted, grew up, and produced a crop—one bearing thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold.” Begin Abide·
9
Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Begin Abide·
10
As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable. Begin Abide·
11
He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables, Begin Abide·
12
so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’” Begin Abide·
13
Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? Begin Abide·
14
The farmer sows the word. Begin Abide·
15
Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Begin Abide·
16
Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy. Begin Abide·
17
But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Begin Abide·
18
Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word, Begin Abide·
19
but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Begin Abide·
20
Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.” Begin Abide·
21
Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand? Begin Abide·
22
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. Begin Abide·
23
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Begin Abide·
24
He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you. Begin Abide·
25
For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” Begin Abide·
26
Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. Begin Abide·
27
Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how. Begin Abide·
28
All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within. Begin Abide·
29
And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Begin Abide·
30
Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it? Begin Abide·
31
It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth. Begin Abide·
32
But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.” Begin Abide·
33
With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand. Begin Abide·
34
He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples. Begin Abide·
35
When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.” Begin Abide·
36
After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him. Begin Abide·
37
Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. Begin Abide·
38
But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” Begin Abide·
39
Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. Begin Abide·
40
“Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?” Begin Abide·
41
Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Begin Abide·