Mark 4
Jesus taught a large crowd by the sea, using parables, including the parable of the sower, which describes how people respond to the word of God. He explained the parable to his disciples, saying that some people's hearts are hardened, some are superficial, some are distracted by worldly concerns, and some are receptive and fruitful. Jesus also taught that the kingdom of God is like a seed that grows and produces fruit, and like a mustard seed that grows into a large plant. After teaching, Jesus and his disciples crossed the sea, where Jesus calmed a storm by rebuking the wind and sea, and his disciples were amazed by his power.
1And again, he began to teach by the sea. And a great crowd was gathered to him, so much so that, climbing into a boat, he was seated on the sea. And the entire crowd was on the land along the sea2And he taught them many things in parables, and he said to them, in his doctrine3"Listen. Behold, the sower went out to sow4And while he was sowing, some fell along the way, and the birds of the air came and ate it5Yet truly, others fell upon stony ground, where it did not have much soil. And it rose up quickly, because it had no depth of soil6And when the sun was risen, it was scorched. And because it had no root, it withered away7And some fell among thorns. And the thorns grew up and suffocated it, and it did not produce fruit8And some fell on good soil. And it brought forth fruit that grew up, and increased, and yielded: some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred.9And he said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.10And when he was alone, the twelve, who were with him, questioned him about the parable11And he said to them: "To you, it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those who are outside, everything is presented in parables12‘so that, seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing, they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they may be converted, and their sins would be forgiven them.’ 13And he said to them: "Do you not understand this parable? And so, how will you understand all the parables14He who sows, sows the word15Now there are those who are along the way, where the word is sown. And when they have heard it, Satan quickly comes and takes away the word, which was sown in their hearts16And similarly, there are those who were sown upon stony ground. These, when they have heard the word, immediately accept it with gladness17But they have no root in themselves, and so they are for a limited time. And when next tribulation and persecution arises because of the word, they quickly fall away18And there are others who are sown among thorns. These are those who hear the word19but worldly tasks, and the deception of riches, and desires about other things enter in and suffocate the word, and it is effectively without fruit20And there are those who are sown upon good soil, who hear the word and accept it; and these bear fruit: some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred.21And he said to them: "Would someone enter with a lamp in order to place it under a basket or under a bed? Would it not be placed upon a lampstand22For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. Neither was anything done in secret, except that it may be made public23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.24And he said to them: "Consider what you hear. With whatever measure you have measured out, it shall be measured back to you, and more shall be added to you25For whoever has, to him it shall be given. And whoever has not, from him even what he has shall be taken away.26And he said: "The kingdom of God is like this: it is as if a man were to cast seed on the land27And he sleeps and he arises, night and day. And the seed germinates and grows, though he does not know it28For the earth bears fruit readily: first the plant, then the ear, next the full grain in the ear29And when the fruit has been produced, immediately he sends out the sickle, because the harvest has arrived.30And he said: "To what should we compare the kingdom of God? Or to what parable should we compare it31It is like a grain of mustard seed which, when it has been sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds which are in the earth32And when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the plants, and it produces great branches, so much so that the birds of the air are able to live under its shadow.33And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to hear34But he did not speak to them without a parable. Yet separately, he explained all things to his disciples35And on that day, when evening had arrived, he said to them, "Let us cross over.36And dismissing the crowd, they brought him, so that he was in one boat, and other boats were with him37And a great wind storm occurred, and the waves broke over the boat, so that the boat was being filled38And he was in the stern of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, does it not concern you that we are perishing?39And rising up, he rebuked the wind, and he said to the sea: "Silence. Be stilled." And the wind ceased. And a great tranquility occurred40And he said to them: "Why are you afraid? Do you still lack faith?"41And they were struck with a great fear. And they said to one another, "Who do you think this is, that both wind and sea obey him?"
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