Mark 4 · Clearspring

The Parable of the Sower

¹And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land.+ ²And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his teaching,+ ³Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow:+ ⁴and it came to pass, as he sowed, some [seed] fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured it.+ ⁵And other fell on the rocky [ground], where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth:+ ⁶and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.+ ⁷And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.+ ⁸And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.+ ⁹And he said, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.+

The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables

Isaiah 6:1–13; Matthew 13:10–17; Luke 8:9–10

¹⁰And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables.+ ¹¹And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:+ ¹²that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them.+

The Parable of the Sower Explained

Matthew 13:18–23; Luke 8:11–15

¹³And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables?+ ¹⁴The sower soweth the word.+ ¹⁵And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them.+ ¹⁶And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky [places], who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;+ ¹⁷and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble.+ ¹⁸And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word,+ ¹⁹and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.+ ²⁰And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.+

The Lesson of the Lamp

Luke 8:16–18

²¹And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, [and] not to be put on the stand?+ ²²For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was [anything] made secret, but that it should come to light.+ ²³If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear.+ ²⁴And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you; and more shall be given unto you.+ ²⁵For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.+

The Seed Growing Secretly

²⁶And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth;+ ²⁷and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how.+ ²⁸The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.+ ²⁹But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.+

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Matthew 13:31–32; Luke 13:18–19

³⁰And he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth?+ ³¹It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth,+ ³²yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.+ ³³And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it;+ ³⁴and without a parable spake he not unto them: but privately to his own disciples he expounded all things.+

Jesus Calms the Storm

Psalm 107:1–43; Matthew 8:23–27; Luke 8:22–25

³⁵And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side.+ ³⁶And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.+ ³⁷And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling.+ ³⁸And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?+ ³⁹And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.+ ⁴⁰And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?+ ⁴¹And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?+