Mark 4

Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed

4Once 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.G2532G756G3825G1321G3844G2281G2532G4863G4314G846G4183G3793G5620G846G1684G1519G4143G2521G1722G2281G2532G3956G3793G2258G4314G2281G1909G10932He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one.G2532G1321G846G4183G1722G3850G2532G3004G846G1722G846G13223"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.G191G2400G1831G4687G46874As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.G2532G1096G1722G4687G3739G3303G4098G3844G3598G2532G4071G3772G2064G2532G2719G846G27195Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.G1161G243G4098G1909G4075G3699G2192G3756G4183G1093G2532G2112G1816G1223G2192G3361G899G10936But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn't have deep roots, it died.G1161G393G2246G393G2739G2532G1223G2192G3361G4491G35837Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.G2532G243G4098G1519G173G2532G173G305G2532G4846G846G2532G1325G3756G25908Still 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!"G2532G243G4098G1519G2570G1093G2532G1325G2590G305G2532G837G2532G5342G1520G5144G2532G1520G1835G2532G1520G15409Then he said, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."G2532G3004G846G2192G3775G191G19110Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.G1161G3753G1096G2651G4012G846G4862G1427G2065G846G385011He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secret

of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,G2532G3004G846G5213G1325G1097G3466G932G2316G1161G1565G1854G3956G1096G1722G385012so 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.'

"G2443G991G991G2532G3361G1492G2532G191G191G2532G3361G4920G3379G1994G2532G265G863G84613Then Jesus said to them, "If you can't understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?G2532G3004G846G1492G3756G5026G3850G2532G4459G1097G3956G385014The farmer plants seed by taking God's word to others.G4687G4687G305615The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.G1161G3778G1526G3844G3598G3699G3056G4687G2532G3752G191G4567G2064G2112G2532G142G3056G4687G1722G846G258816The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.G2532G3778G1526G3668G4687G1909G4075G3739G3752G191G3056G2112G2983G846G3326G547917But 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.G2532G2192G3756G4491G1722G1438G235G1526G4340G1534G2347G2228G1375G1096G1223G3056G2112G462418The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God's word,G2532G3778G1526G1526G4687G1519G173G3778G191G305619but 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.G2532G3308G5127G165G2532G539G4149G2532G1939G4012G3062G1531G4846G3056G2532G1096G17520And 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!"G2532G3778G1526G4687G1909G2570G1093G3748G191G3056G2532G3858G2532G2592G1520G5144G2532G1520G1835G2532G1520G1540

Parable of the Lamp

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.G2532G3004G846G3385G3088G2064G2443G5087G5259G3426G2228G5259G2825G3756G2443G2007G1909G308722For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.G1063G2076G3756G2927G5100G3739G5319G3362G5319G3761G1096G614G235G2443G2064G1519G531823Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."G1536G2192G3775G191G19124Then 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.G2532G3004G846G991G5101G191G1722G3739G3358G3354G3354G5213G2532G5213G191G436925To 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."G1063G302G3739G2192G846G1325G2532G3739G2192G3756G575G846G142G2532G3739G2192

Parable of the Growing Seed

26Jesus also said, "The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.G2532G3004G3779G2076G932G2316G5613G1437G444G906G4703G1909G109327Night and day, while he's asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.G2532G2518G2532G1453G3571G2532G2250G2532G4703G985G2532G3373G846G1492G3756G561328The 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.G1063G1093G2592G844G4412G5528G1534G4719G1534G4134G4621G1722G471929And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come."G1161G3752G2590G3860G2112G649G1407G3754G2326G3936

Parable of the Mustard Seed

30Jesus said, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?G2532G3004G5101G3666G932G2316G2228G1722G4169G3850G3846G84631It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds,G5613G2848G4615G3739G3752G4687G1909G1093G3398G3956G4690G2076G1909G109332but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade."G2532G3752G4687G305G2532G1096G3187G3956G3001G2532G4160G3173G2798G5620G4071G3772G1410G2681G5259G4639G84633Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.G2532G4183G5108G3850G2980G3056G846G2531G1410G19134In 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.G1161G5565G3850G2980G3756G846G1161G2398G2596G1956G3956G846G3101

Jesus Calms the Storm

35As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake."G2532G1722G1565G2250G3798G1096G3004G846G1330G1519G400836So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind

.G2532G863G3793G3880G846G5613G2258G1722G4143G1161G2258G2532G3326G846G243G414237But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.G2532G1096G3173G2978G417G1161G2949G1911G1519G4143G5620G846G1072G2235G107238Jesus 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?"G2532G846G2258G1909G4403G2518G1909G4344G2532G1326G846G2532G3004G846G1320G3199G4671G3756G3754G62239When 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.G2532G1326G2008G417G2532G2036G2281G4623G5392G2532G417G2869G2532G1096G3173G105540Then he asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"G2532G2036G846G5101G2075G3779G1169G4459G2192G3756G410241The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!"G2532G5399G5401G3173G2532G3004G240G4314G240G5101G686G2076G3778G3754G2532G417G2532G2281G5219G846