The Parable of the Sower

(Matthew 13:1-9; Luke 8:4-15)

1And again he began to teach by the sea. And a great crowd was gathered together to him, so that going on board ship he sat in the sea, and all the crowd were close to the sea on the land. 2And he taught them many things in parables. And he said to them in his doctrine, 3Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow. 4And it came to pass as he sowed, one fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it. 5And another fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprung up out [of the ground] because it had no depth of earth; 6and when the sun arose it was burnt up, and because of its not having any root, it withered. 7And another fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8And another fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and bore, one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred. 9And he said, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

The Purpose of Jesus' Parables

(Matthew 13:10-17)

10And when he was alone, those about him with the twelve asked him [as to] the parables. 11And he said to them, To you is given [to know] the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to them who are without, all things are done in parables, 12that beholding they may behold and not see, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest it may be, they should be converted and they should be forgiven.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

(Matthew 13:18-23)

13And he says to them, Do ye not know this parable? and how will ye be acquainted with all the parables? 14The sower sows the word: 15and these are they by the wayside where the word is sown, and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16And these are they in like manner who are sown upon the rocky places, who when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy, 17and they have no root in themselves, but are for a time: then, tribulation arising, or persecution on account of the word, immediately they are offended. 18And others are they who are sown among the thorns: these are they who have heard the word, 19and the cares of life, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20And these are they who have been sown on the good ground, such as hear the word and receive it, and bear fruit; one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred [fold].

The Lesson of the Lamp

(Luke 8:16-18)

21And he said to them, Does the lamp come that it should be put under the bushel or under the couch? [Is it] not that it should be set upon the lamp-stand? 22For there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest; nor does any secret thing take place, but that it should come to light. 23If any one have ears to hear, let him hear. 24And he said to them, Take heed what ye hear; with what measure ye mete, it shall be meted to you; and there shall be [more] added to you. 25For whosoever has, to him shall be given; and he who has not, even what he has shall be taken from him.

The Seed Growing Secretly

26And he said, Thus is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth, 27and should sleep and rise up night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28The earth bears fruit of itself, first [the] blade, then an ear, then full corn in the ear. 29But when the fruit is produced, immediately he sends the sickle, for the harvest is come.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

(Matthew 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19)

30And he said, How should we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison should we compare it? 31As to a grain of mustard [seed], which, when it is sown upon the earth, is less than all seeds which are upon the earth, 32and when it has been sown, mounts up and becomes greater than all herbs, and produces great branches, so that the birds of heaven can roost under its shadow.

33And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear, 34but without a parable spoke he not to them; and in private he explained all things to his disciples.

Jesus Stills the Storm

(Matthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25)

35And on that day, when evening was come, he says to them, Let us go over to the other side: 36and having sent away the crowd, they take him with [them], as he was, in the ship. But other ships also were with him. 37And there comes a violent gust of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it already filled. 38And he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion. And they awake him up and say to him, Teacher, dost thou not care that we are perishing? 39And awaking up he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Silence; be mute. And the wind fell, and there was a great calm. 40And he said to them, Why are ye [thus] fearful? how [is it] ye have not faith? 41And they feared [with] great fear, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?