Bible Reading Plan

Mark 4

Chapter 4

The Parable of the Sower

¹ Again^(a) He began to teach^(b) by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea. ² He taught them many things in parables,^(c) and in His teaching^(d) He said to them: ³ "Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.^{(e) 4} As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path,^(f) and the birds came and ate^(g) it up. ⁵ Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn't have much soil, and it sprang up right away,^(h) since it didn't have deep soil. ⁶ When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn't have a root, it withered.^{(i) 7} Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn't produce a crop. ⁸ Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased^(j) 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown." ^{(k) 9} Then He said, "Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!" ^(l)

Why Jesus Used Parables

¹⁰ When He was alone with the Twelve,^(m) those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.^{(n) 11} He answered them, "The secret ^(o) of the kingdom of God^(p) has been given to you, but to those outside,^(q) everything comes in parables ¹² so that

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹³ Then^(t) He said to them: "Don't you understand this parable?^(u) How then will you understand any of the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows^(v) the word.^{(w) 15} These^[c] are the ones along the path^(x) where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan^(y) comes and takes away the word^(z) sown in them.^{[d] 16} And these are^[e] the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.^{(aa) 17} But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When pressure^(ab) or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.^{(ac) 18} Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ but the worries^(ad) of this age,^(ae) the seduction ^[f](af) of wealth,^(ag) and the desires^(ah) for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.^{(ai) 20} But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word,^(aj) welcome it, and produce a crop:^(ak) 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown."

Using Your Light

²¹ He^(al) also said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed?^(am) Isn't it to be put on a lampstand?^{(an) 22} For nothing is concealed except to be revealed,^(ao) and nothing hidden except to come to light. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!" ^{(ap) 24} Then He said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure^(aq) you use, ^[g](ar) it will be measured and added^(as) to you. ²⁵ For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away." ^(at)

The Parable of the Growing Seed

²⁶ "The kingdom of God^(au) is like this," He said. "A man scatters seed on the ground; ²⁷ he sleeps^(av) and rises^(aw)—night^(ax) and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn't know how. ²⁸ The soil produces a crop^(ay) by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain^(az) on the head. ²⁹ But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle,^(ba) because the harvest^(bb) has come."

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

³⁰ And^(bc) He said: "How can we illustrate the kingdom of God,^(bd) or what parable^(be) can we use to describe it? ³¹ It's like a mustard seed^(bf) that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground. ³² And when sown,^(bg) it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables,^(bh) and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky^(bi) can nest in its shade."

Using Parables

³³ He would speak the word^(bj) to them with many parables^(bk) like these, as they were able to understand.^{(bl) 34} And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.^(bm)

Wind and Wave Obey the Master

³⁵ On^(bn) that day, when evening had come, He told them, "Let's cross over to the other side of the sea." ³⁶ So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him. ³⁷ A fierce windstorm^(bo) arose, and the waves^(bp) were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, sleeping^(bq) on the cushion. So they woke Him up^(br) and said to Him, "Teacher! Don't You care that we're going to die?"^(bs)

³⁹ He got up, rebuked^(bt) the wind, and said to the sea, "Silence!^(bu) Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then He said to them, "Why are you fearful?^(bv) Do you still have no faith?"

⁴¹ And they were terrified^(bw) and asked one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey^(bx) Him!"^(by)