The Parable of the Sower

(Mark 4:1-9; Luke 8:4-15)

1That same day Jesus had left the house and was sitting on the shore of the Lake, 2when a vast multitude of people crowded round Him. He therefore went on board a boat and sat there, while all the people stood on the shore.

3He then spoke many things to them in figurative language. "The sower goes out," He said, "to sow. 4As he sows, some of the seed falls by the way-side, and the birds come and peck it up. 5Some falls on rocky ground, where it has but scanty soil. It quickly shows itself above ground, because it has no depth of earth; 6but when the sun is risen, it is scorched by the heat, and through having no root it withers up. 7Some falls among the thorns; but the thorns spring up and stifle it. 8But a portion falls upon good ground, and gives a return, some a hundred for one, some sixty, some thirty. 9Listen, every one who has ears!"

The Purpose of Jesus' Parables

(Mark 4:10-12)

10(And His disciples came and asked Him, "Why do you speak to them in figurative language?" 11"Because," He replied, "while to you it is granted to know the secrets of the Kingdom of the Heavens, to them it is not. 12For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but whoever has not, from him even what he has shall be taken away. 13I speak to them in figurative language for this reason, that while looking they do not see, and while hearing they neither hear nor understand.

14And in regard to them the prophecy of Isaiah is receiving signal fulfilment: "'You will hear and hear and by no means understand, and you will look and look and by no means see.

15For this people's mind is stupefied, their hearing has become dull, and their eyes they have closed; to prevent their ever seeing with their eyes, or hearing with their ears, or understanding with their minds, and turning back, so that I might heal them.'

16"But as for you, blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17For I solemnly tell you that many Prophets and holy men have longed to see the sights you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the words you hear, and have not heard them.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

(Mark 4:13-20)

18"To you then I will explain the parable of the Sower. 19When a man hears the Message concerning the Kingdom and does not understand it, the Evil one comes and catches away what has been sown in his heart. This is he who has received the seed by the road-side. 20He who has received the seed on the rocky ground is the man who hears the Message and immediately receives it with joy. 21It has struck no root, however, within him. He continues for a time, but when suffering comes, or persecution, because of the Message, he at once stumbles and falls. 22He who has received the seed among the thorns is the man who hears the Message, but the cares of the present age and the delusions of riches quite stifle the Message, and it becomes unfruitful. 23But he who has received the seed on good ground is he who hears and understands. Such hearers give a return, and yield one a hundred for one, another sixty, another thirty.")

The Parable of the Weeds

(Ezekiel 17:1-10)

24Another parable He put before them. "The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a man who has sown good seed in his field, 25but during the night his enemy comes, and over the first seed he sows darnel among the wheat, and goes away. 26But when the blade shoots up and the grain is formed, then appears the darnel also. 27"So the farmer's men come and ask him, "'Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed on your land? Where then does the darnel come from?' 28"'Some enemy has done this,' he said. "'Shall we go, and collect it?' the men inquire. 29"'No,' he replied, 'for fear that while collecting the darnel you should at the same time root up the wheat with it. 30Leave both to grow together until the harvest, and at harvest-time I will direct the reapers, Collect the darnel first, and make it up into bundles to burn it, but bring all the wheat into my barn.'"

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

(Mark 4:30-34; Luke 13:18-19)

31Another parable He put before them. "The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "is like a mustard-seed, which a man takes and sows in his ground. 32It is the smallest of all seeds, and yet when full-grown it is larger than any herb and forms a tree, so that the birds come and build in its branches."

The Parable of the Leaven

(Judges 20:18-23; 2 Samuel 2:12-32; 2 Chronicles 13:4-19; Luke 13:20-21)

33Another parable He spoke to them. "The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "is like yeast which a woman takes and buries in a bushel of flour, for it to work there till the whole mass has risen."

I will Open My Mouth in Parables

(Psalm 78:1-72)

34All this Jesus spoke to the people in figurative language, and except in figurative language He spoke nothing to them,

35in fulfilment of the saying of the Prophet, "I will open my mouth in figurative language, I will utter things kept hidden since the creation of all things."

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

(Zephaniah 1:1-6)

36When He had dismissed the people and had returned to the house, His disciples came to Him with the request, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel sown in the field." 37"The sower of the good seed," He replied, "is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world; the good seed—these are the sons of the Kingdom; the darnel, the sons of the Evil one. 39The enemy who sows the darnel is *the Devil*; the harvest is the Close of the Age; the reapers are the angels. 40As then the darnel is collected together and burnt up with fire, so will it be at the Close of the Age. 41The Son of Man will commission His angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom all causes of sin and all who violate His laws; 42and these they will throw into the fiery furnace. There will be the weeping aloud and the gnashing of teeth. 43Then will the righteous shine out like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Listen, every one who has ears!

The Parables of the Treasure and Pearl

(Matthew 6:19-21)

44"The Kingdom of the Heavens is like treasure buried in the open country, which a man finds, but buries again, and, in his joy about it, goes and sells all he has and buys that piece of ground.

45"Again the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a jewel merchant who is in quest of choice pearls. 46He finds one most costly pearl; he goes away; and though it costs all he has, he buys it.

The Parable of the Net

(Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11; John 1:35-42)

47"Again the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a draw-net let down into the sea, which encloses fish of all sorts. 48When full, they haul it up on the beach, and sit down and collect the good fish in baskets, while the worthless they throw away. 49So will it be at the Close of the Age. The angels will go forth and separate the wicked from among the righteous, 50and will throw them into the fiery furnace. There will be the weeping aloud and the gnashing of teeth."

51"Have you understood all this?" He asked. "Yes," they said. 52"Therefore," He said, "remember that every Scribe well trained for the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a householder who brings out of his storehouse new things and old."

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

(Isaiah 61:1-11; Matthew 2:19-23; Mark 6:1-6; Luke 2:39-40; Luke 4:16-30)

53Jesus concluded this series of parables and then departed. 54And He came into His own country and proceeded to teach in their synagogue, so that they were filled with astonishment and exclaimed, "Where did he obtain such wisdom, and these wondrous powers? 55Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers, James, Joseph, Simon and Judah? 56And his sisters—are they not all living here among us? Where then did he get all this?" 57So they turned angrily away from Him. But Jesus said to them, "There is no prophet left without honour except in his own country and among his own family." 58And He performed but few mighty deeds there because of their want of faith.