Mark 4

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1. 1Jesus began teaching again by the sea. A large crowd gathered around him, so he got into a boat and sat on the water, while the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.
2. 2He taught them many things using parables, and as he was teaching he said,
3. 3"Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed.
4. 4As he scattered it, some seed fell along the path, and birds came and ate it up.
5. 5Some fell on rocky ground where there wasn't much soil. It sprouted quickly because the soil was so shallow.
6. 6But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.
7. 7Some seed fell among thorn bushes. The thorns grew up and choked it out, so it produced nothing.
8. 8But some seed fell on good soil. It grew up strong and produced a harvest — 30, 60, even 100 times what was planted."
9. 9Then he said, "If you have ears to hear, listen."
10. 10Later, when Jesus was alone, the 12 disciples and the others close to him asked him what the parable meant.
11. 11He told them, "To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those outside, all these things are done in parables."
12. 12so that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins forgiven.
13. 13Then he said to them, "You don't understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the others?
14. 14The farmer sows the word.
15. 15The seed that falls along the path represents people who hear the word, but Satan immediately comes and snatches away what was planted in their hearts.
16. 16The seed on rocky ground represents people who hear the word and immediately accept it with joy.
17. 17And they have no root in themselves, so they endure only for a time. When trouble or persecution arises because of the word, they are immediately offended.
18. 18The seed that falls among the thorns represents people who hear the word,
19. 19but the worries of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
20. 20But the seed planted in good soil represents people who hear the word, embrace it, and produce a harvest — 30, 60, even 100 times what was planted."
21. 21He said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be placed under a basket or under a bed, and not to be set on a stand?"
22. 22Everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will come to light.
23. 23“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24. 24He also said to them, "Pay close attention to what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive, and to you who hear, more will be given."
25. 25For whoever has, more will be given to them; and whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken away.
26. 26He also said, "The Kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
27. 27He goes to sleep at night and gets up each morning, and the seed sprouts and grows — though he has no idea how.
28. 28The soil produces the crop all by itself: first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.
29. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, the farmer swings his sickle, because harvest time has come."
30. 30He continued, "What can we compare God's Kingdom to? What picture can we use to describe it?
31. 31It's like a mustard seed. When it's planted in the ground, it's the smallest of all seeds on earth.
32. 32But once it's planted, it grows up and becomes the largest of all garden plants, putting out branches so big that birds can nest in its shade."
33. 33And with many such parables, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
34. 34He never spoke to them without using parables. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.
35. 35That evening, he said to his disciples, "Let's cross over to the other side of the lake."
36. 36They left the crowd behind and took Jesus in the boat just as he was. Several other boats went along with them.
37. 37A great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38. 38But Jesus was in the back of the boat, sound asleep on a cushion. They shook him awake and shouted, "Teacher, don't you care that we're about to drown?"
39. 39He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still." The wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
40. 40Then he turned to them and said, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
41. 41They were very afraid and said to each other, "What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!"