The Parable of the Sower

1. And he began again to teach beside the sea, and a great crowd gathered to him, so that he got into a boat on the sea, and all the crowd was on the land beside the sea.
2. And he taught them many things in parables, and he said to them in his teaching:
3. “Listen! Behold, the sower went out to sow.
4. And it happened, as he sowed, some seed fell beside the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
5. And some fell on the rocky places, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.
6. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and because it had no root, it withered away.
7. And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it did not produce fruit.
8. And others fell into the good soil and were yielding fruit, growing up and increasing: some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, some a hundredfold.”
9. And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Purpose of Parables

10. And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
11. And he said to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those outside all things are in parables,
12. so that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest they should turn, and it should be forgiven them.”
13. And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
14. The sower sows the word.
15. And these are beside the path where the word is sown, and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16. And these are on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy,
17. and they have no root in themselves, but are temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.
18. And others are among the thorns, these are those who have heard the word,
19. and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20. And those are the ones in the good soil, who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, some a hundredfold.”

The Parable of the Lamp

21. And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed, and not on the lampstand?
22. For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.
23. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Parable of the Growing Seed

24. And he said to them, “Take heed what you hear. By the measure you give, it will be measured to you, and more will be added to you.
25. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

26. And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,
27. and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.
28. For the earth produces fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
29. And when the fruit is ripe, immediately he sends forth the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30. And he said, “With what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we show it?
31. It is like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on the earth.
32. And when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”

Jesus Calms the Storm

33. And with many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.
34. And without a parable he did not speak to them, but privately to his own disciples he explained all things.

35. And on that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.”
36. And leaving the crowd, they took him along in the boat, just as he was. And other little boats were with him.
37. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were beating into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.
38. And he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
39. And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40. And he said to them, “Why are you so fearful? Have you no faith?”
41. And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”