The Parable of the Sower
(Matthew 13:1–9;Luke 8:4–8)
1OnceagainJesus beganto teachbesidethesea,andsuch a largecrowdgatheredaroundHimthatHegot intoa boatand satinit,whileallthepeoplecrowdedalongtheshore.
2AndHe taughtthemmany thingsinparables,andinHisteachingHe said,3“Listen!Afarmerwent outto sow his seed.4Andashe was sowing,some seedfellalongthepath,andthebirdscameanddevouredit.
5Somefellonrocky ground,whereit did not havemuchsoil.It sprang upquicklybecausethe soilwas shallow.6Butwhenthesunrose,the seedlings were scorched,andthey witheredbecausethey hadnoroot.
7Other seedfellamongthorns,whichgrew upandchokedthe seedlings,andthey yieldednocrop.
8Stillother seedfellongoodsoil,where it sprouted,grew up,andproduceda crop—onebearingthirtyfold,anothersixtyfold,andanothera hundredfold.”
9ThenJesus said,“He whohasearsto hear,let him hear.”
The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables
(Isaiah 6:1–13;Matthew 13:10–17;Luke 8:9–10)
10As soon asJesus wasalonewith theTwelveandthosearoundHim,they askedHimabout theparable.
11He replied,“Themysteryof thekingdomof Godhas been givento you,butto thoseon the outsideeverythingis expressedinparables,12so that,
‘they may be ever seeingbutneverperceiving,
andever hearingbutneverunderstanding;
otherwisethey might turn
andbe forgiven.’”
The Parable of the Sower Explained
(Matthew 13:18–23;Luke 8:11–15)
13ThenJesus saidto them,“Do you not understandthisparable?Thenhowwill you understandany oftheparables?
14Thefarmersowstheword.15Someare likethe seedsalongthepath,wherethewordis sown.As soon asthey hear it,Satancomesandtakes awaythewordthatwas sowninthem.
16Somearelikethe seedssownonrocky ground.Theyhearthewordand at oncereceiveitwithjoy.17Butthey themselves havenoroot,andthey remainfor only a season.Whentroubleorpersecutioncomesbecause oftheword,they quickly fall away.
18Othersare likethe seedssownamongthethorns.Theyheartheword,19buttheworriesof this life,thedeceitfulnessofwealth,andthedesireforother thingscome inand choketheword,andit becomesunfruitful.
20Stillothersare likethe seedssownongoodsoil.Theyheartheword,receive it,andproduce a crop—thirtyfold,sixtyfold,orahundredfold.”
The Lesson of the Lamp
(Luke 8:16–18)
21Jesus also saidto them,“Does anyone bring inalamptoput itundera basketorundera bed?Doesn’the set itona stand?22Forthere isnothinghiddenthatwill not bedisclosed,and nothingconcealedthatwill not be broughttolight.
23Ifanyonehasearsto hear,let him hear.”
24He went on to say,“Pay attention towhatyou hear.Withthemeasureyou use,it will be measuredto you,andeven more will be addedto you.25Forwhoeverhaswill be givenmore.Butwhoeverdoes not have,evenwhathe haswill be taken awayfromhim.”
The Seed Growing Secretly
26Jesus also said,“Thekingdomof Godislikea manwho scattersseedontheground.27Nightanddayhe sleepsandwakes,andtheseedsproutsandgrows,though heknowsnothow.28All by itselftheearthproduces a crop—firstthe stalk,thenthe head,thengrainthat ripenswithin.29Andas soon asthegrainis ripe,he swingsthesickle,becausetheharvesthas come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
(Matthew 13:31–32;Luke 13:18–19)
30ThenHe asked,“To whatcan we comparethekingdomof God?Withwhatparableshall we presentit?31It is likea mustard seed,whichisthe smallestof allseedssownupontheearth.32Butafterit is planted,it growsto bethe largestof allgarden plantsandputs forthgreatbranches,so thatthebirdsof theairnestinitsshade.”
33With many suchparablesJesus spokethewordto them,to the extent thatthey couldunderstand.34He did not tell them anythingwithout usinga parable.ButprivatelyHe explainedeverythingto Hisowndisciples.
Jesus Calms the Storm
(Psalm 107:1–43;Matthew 8:23–27;Luke 8:22–25)
35Whenthatevening came,He saidto His disciples,“Let us crosstotheother side.”36Afterthey had dismissedthecrowd,they took Jesus with them,sinceHe was alreadyintheboat.Andthere wereotherboatswithHim.
37Soona violentwindstormcame up,andthewaveswere breakingovertheboat,so thatitwas being swamped.38ButJesuswasinthestern,sleepingonthecushion.Sothey wokeHimandsaid,“Teacher,don’t You carethatwe are perishing?”
39ThenJesus got upand rebukedthewindandthesea.“Silence!”He commanded.“Be still!”Andthewinddied down,andit wasperfectlycalm.
40“Whyare youso afraid?”He asked.“Do you still have nofaith?”
41Overwhelmed with fear,they askedone another,“Whoisthis,thateventhewindandtheseaobeyHim?”
