CHAPTER 4
Once
again,
Jesus began
to teach
beside
the
sea,
and
such a large
crowd
gathered
around
Him
that
He
got into
a boat
and sat
in
it.
All
the
people
crowded
along
the
shore,
Other seed
fell
on
rocky ground,
where
it did not have
much
soil.
It sprang up
quickly,
because
the soil
was shallow.
Still
other seed
fell
on
good
soil,
where it sprouted,
grew up,
and
produced
a crop—
one
bearing
thirtyfold,
another
sixtyfold,
and
another
a hundredfold.”
As soon as
Jesus was
alone
with the
Twelve
and
those
around
Him,
they asked
Him
about the
parable.
And
He told
them,
“The
mystery
of the
kingdom
of God
has been given
to you,
but
to those
on the outside,
everything
is expressed
in
parables,
so that,
‘they may be ever seeing
but
never
perceiving,
and
ever hearing
but
never
understanding;
otherwise
they might turn
and
be forgiven.’”
Then
Jesus said
to them,
“Do you not understand
this
parable?
Then
how
will you understand
any of
the
parables?
Some
are like
the seeds
along
the
path,
where
the
word
is sown.
As soon as
they hear it,
Satan
comes
and
takes away
the
word
that
was sown
in
them.
Others
are
like
the seeds
sown
on
rocky places.
They
hear
the
word
and at once
receive
it
with
joy.
But
they themselves have
no
root,
and
they remain
for only a season.
When
trouble
or
persecution
comes
because of
the
word,
they quickly fall away.
but
the
cares
of this life,
the
deceitfulness
of
wealth,
and
the
desire
for
other things
come in
and choke
the
word,
and
it becomes
unfruitful.
Yet
others
are like
the seeds
sown
on
good
soil.
They
hear
the
word,
receive it,
and
produce a crop—
thirtyfold,
sixtyfold,
or
a
hundredfold.”
Jesus also said
to them,
“Does anyone bring in
a
lamp
so
he can place it
under
a basket
or
under
a bed?
Doesn’t he
set it
on
a lampstand?
For
everything
hidden
is
meant
to
be revealed,
and everything
concealed
is meant
to be brought
to
light.
He went on to say,
“Pay attention to
what
you hear.
With
the
measure
you use,
it will be measured
to you,
and
even more will be added
to you.
For
whoever
has
will be given
more,
but
whoever
does not have,
even
what
he has
will be taken away
from
him.”
All by itself
the
earth
produces a crop—
first
the stalk,
then
the head,
then
grain
that ripens
within.
Then
He asked,
“To what
can we compare
the
kingdom
of God?
With
what
parable
shall we present
it?
But
after
it is planted,
it grows
to be
larger
than all
garden plants
and
puts forth
great
branches,
so that
the
birds
of the
air
nest
in
its
shade."
He did not say anything
to them
without
a parable.
But
privately
He explained
all things
to His
own
disciples.
After
they had dismissed
the
crowd,
they took Jesus with them,
since
He was already
in
the
boat.
And
there were
other
boats
with
Him.
Soon
a violent
windstorm
came up,
and
the
waves
were breaking
over
the
boat,
so that
it
was being swamped.
But
Jesus
was
in
the
stern,
sleeping
on
the
cushion.
So
they woke
Him
and
said,
“Teacher,
don’t You care
that
we are perishing?”
Then
Jesus got up
and rebuked
the
wind
and
the
sea.
“Silence!”
He commanded.
“Be still!”
And
the
wind
died down,
and
it was
perfectly
calm.
Overwhelmed with fear,
they asked
one another,
“Who
is
this,
that
even
the
wind
and
the
sea
obey
Him?”