撒種的比喻

又一次,耶穌開始在湖邊[a]教導人。有一大群人聚集到他那裡,所以他上了湖中的一條船坐下來。眾人都在岸邊,面對湖站著。 耶穌用比喻教導他們很多事,在教導時對他們說: 「你們當聽好:看哪,有一個撒種的出去撒種。 他撒的時候,有的種子落在路邊,[b]飛鳥來了,就把它吃掉了。 另有落在岩石地上的,那裡沒有多少泥土,它立刻就發芽了,因為土不深; 當太陽升起,它被暴曬,就枯萎了,因為沒有根。 另有落進荊棘叢裡的,荊棘長起來把它擠住,它就結不出果實了。 可是另有落進好土壤裡的,就發芽、生長,不斷地結出果實,結出的有三十倍的、有六十倍的、有一百倍的。」 耶穌說:「凡是有耳可聽的,就應當聽!」

用比喻的原因

10 耶穌獨自一人的時候,跟隨他的人與十二使徒[c]一起問他這些比喻的意思。 11 耶穌對他們說:「神國的奧祕已經賜給你們了[d],但是對外人,一切都是用比喻的。 12 這是為要使

『他們看了又看,卻不明白,
聽了又聽,卻不領悟,
免得他們回轉過來,
[e]被赦免。』[f]

解明撒種的比喻

13 耶穌對他們說:「你們不明白這個比喻,又怎麼能領會所有的比喻呢? 14 撒種的人所撒的是話語。 15 那被撒上話語的『路邊之地』是這樣一些人:他們聽了話語以後,撒旦就立刻來把那撒在他們心裡[g]的話語奪走。 16 [h]那被撒上話語的『岩石地』是這樣一些人:他們一旦聽了這話語,就立刻懷著喜樂的心接受了它; 17 可是他們裡面沒有根而不能持久,一旦為這話語受患難或逼迫,他們立刻就放棄[i]了。 18 那被撒進話語的『荊棘叢』是另外一些人,那些人是這樣的:他們聽了這話語, 19 但今世的各種憂慮、財富的迷惑,以及其他各種欲望紛紛進來把這話語擠住了,他就成了不結果實的。 20 而那被撒上話語的『好土壤』是這樣的人:他們聽了這話語就接受,並且結出果實來,有三十倍的,有六十倍的,也有一百倍的。」

油燈的比喻

21 耶穌又對他們說:「油燈拿進來,難道是為了放在斗[j]底下,或床底下嗎?不是為了放在燈臺上嗎? 22 這樣,就算是隱祕的事,也沒有不顯明出來的;即使是隱藏的事,也沒有不顯露出來的。 23 凡是有耳可聽的,就應當聽!」 24 耶穌又說:「你們要留心所聽到的。你們用什麼量器[k]來衡量,也會同樣地被衡量,而且還將加添給你們[l] 25 因為凡是有的,還要賜給他;凡是沒有的,連他有的也將從他那裡被拿走。」

種子生長的比喻

26 耶穌又說:「神的國就像這樣:有人在地上撒了種子, 27 黑夜白晝,或睡或起,他卻不知道那種子怎樣發芽和長大。 28 大地自然長出五穀[m]——先長苗,再吐穗,然後穗上結出飽滿的子粒。 29 當果實成熟的時候,他立刻伸出鐮刀,因為收割的季節到了。」

芥菜種的比喻

30 耶穌又說:「我們把神的國比做什麼呢?用什麼比喻來表明[n]它呢? 31 它好像一粒芥菜種子,被種入地裡的時候,比地上所有的種子更小, 32 可是被種下去以後,它就長起來,長得比所有蔬菜更大,並且長出大枝子,以致天空的飛鳥能在它的蔭下搭窩。」

使用比喻

33 耶穌照著他們所能聽的,用許多這樣的比喻,向他們講道。 34 他向眾人講話,沒有不用比喻的。可是,他卻單獨給自己的門徒們解釋一切。

平靜風浪

35 那天晚上,耶穌對門徒們說:「我們渡到對岸去吧。」 36 門徒離開眾人,耶穌仍然在船上,他們就把他一同帶去;也有別的船[o]與他同行。 37 這時候,起了大風暴,以致波浪打進船裡,船幾乎灌滿了水。 38 耶穌卻在船尾靠著枕頭睡著了。門徒們叫醒他,說:「老師!我們沒命了,你不管嗎?」

39 耶穌就起來,斥責了風,對浪[p]說:「不許做聲!平靜下來!」於是風就停了,湖面就變得一片平靜。 40 耶穌對門徒們說:「為什麼膽怯呢?你們還沒有信嗎?」

41 門徒們就大為驚恐,彼此說:「這個人究竟是誰?連風和浪也聽從他!」

Footnotes

  1. 馬可福音 4:1 湖——原文直譯「海」;指「加利利湖(海)」。
  2. 馬可福音 4:4 有古抄本附「天空的」。
  3. 馬可福音 4:10 使徒——輔助詞語。
  4. 馬可福音 4:11 賜給你們了——有古抄本作「賜下來讓你們知道」。
  5. 馬可福音 4:12 有古抄本附「罪」。
  6. 馬可福音 4:12 《以賽亞書》6:9-10。
  7. 馬可福音 4:15 在他們心裡——有古抄本作「在他們裡面」。
  8. 馬可福音 4:16 有古抄本附「同樣,」。
  9. 馬可福音 4:17 放棄——原文直譯「絆倒」。
  10. 馬可福音 4:21 斗——指「一種度量穀物的量器」;容量約為9升。
  11. 馬可福音 4:24 量器——或譯作「尺度」或「標準」。
  12. 馬可福音 4:24 你們——有古抄本作「你們這些正在聽的人」。
  13. 馬可福音 4:28 長出五穀——原文直譯「結出果實」。
  14. 馬可福音 4:30 表明——或譯作「描述」;有古抄本作「比做」。
  15. 馬可福音 4:36 船——有古抄本作「小船」。
  16. 馬可福音 4:39 浪——或譯作「湖」;原文直譯「海」。

The Parable of the Sower(A)(B)

Again Jesus began to teach by the lake.(C) The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables,(D) and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.(E) As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”(F)

Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”(G)

10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God(H) has been given to you. But to those on the outside(I) everything is said in parables 12 so that,

“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
    and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’[a](J)

13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word.(K) 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan(L) comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth(M) and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

A Lamp on a Stand

21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?(N) 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.(O) 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”(P)

24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.(Q) 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”(R)

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like.(S) A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”(T)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed(U)

30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,(V) or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.(W) 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable.(X) But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Jesus Calms the Storm(Y)

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.(Z) There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”(AA)

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:12 Isaiah 6:9,10

A Story About Planting Seed

Another time Jesus began teaching by the lake. A great crowd gathered around him. So he got into a boat and went out on the lake. All the people stayed on the shore close to the water. Jesus used many stories to teach them. He said, “Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed. While the farmer was planting, some seed fell by the road. The birds came and ate all that seed. Some seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn’t much dirt. The seed grew very fast there because the ground was not deep. But when the sun rose, the plants withered. The plants died because they did not have deep roots. Some other seed fell among thorny weeds. The weeds grew and choked the good plants. So those plants did not make grain. Some other seed fell on good ground. In the good ground, the seed began to grow. It grew and made a crop of grain. Some plants made 30 times more grain, some 60 times more grain, and some 100 times more grain.”

Then Jesus said, “Let those with ears use them and listen!”

Jesus Tells Why He Used Stories

10 Later, when Jesus was alone, the 12 apostles and others around him asked him about the stories.

11 Jesus said, “Only you can know the secret truth about the kingdom of God. But to other people I tell everything by using stories. 12 I do this so that:

‘They will look and look, but they will not learn.
    They will listen and listen, but they will not understand.
If they did learn and understand,
    they would come back to me and be forgiven.’” Isaiah 6:9-10

Jesus Explains the Seed Story

13 Then Jesus said to the followers, “Do you understand this story? If you don’t, then how will you understand any story? 14 The farmer is like a person who plants God’s teaching in people. 15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the road. This is like some people. They hear the teaching of God. But Satan quickly comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them. 16 Others are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching and quickly accept it with joy. 17 But they don’t allow the teaching to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching, they quickly give up. 18 Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching. 19 But then other things come into their lives: worries, the love of money, and wanting all kinds of other things. These things stop the teaching from growing. So that teaching does not produce fruit[a] in their lives. 20 Others are like the seed planted in the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce fruit—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.”

Use What You Have

21 Then Jesus said to them, “Do you hide a lamp under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lampstand. 22 Everything that is hidden will be made clear. Every secret thing will be made known. 23 Let those with ears use them and listen!

24 “Think carefully about the things you hear. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you. But God will give you more than you give. 25 The person who has something will be given more. But the person who does not have much, even what he has will be taken from him.”

Jesus Uses a Story About Seed

26 Then Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who plants seed in the ground. 27 The seed comes up and grows night and day. It doesn’t matter whether the man is asleep or awake; the seed still grows. The man does not know how it grows. 28 Without any help, the earth produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head. 29 When the grain is ready, the man cuts it. This is the harvest time.”

A Story About Mustard Seed

30 Then Jesus said, “How can I show you what the kingdom of God is like? What story can I use to explain it? 31 The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 But when you plant this seed, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants. It produces large branches. Even the wild birds can make nests in it and be protected from the sun.”

33 Jesus used many stories like these to teach them. He taught them all that they could understand. 34 He always used stories to teach them. But when he and his followers were alone together, Jesus explained everything to them.

Jesus Stops a Storm

35 That evening, Jesus said to his followers, “Come with me across the lake.” 36 He and the followers left the people there. They went in the boat that Jesus was already sitting in. There were also other boats with them. 37 A very strong wind came up on the lake. The waves began coming over the sides and into the boat. It was almost full of water. 38 Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The followers went to him and woke him. They said, “Teacher, do you care about us? We will drown!”

39 Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and the waves to stop. He said, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and the lake became calm.

40 Jesus said to his followers, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 The followers were very afraid and asked each other, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Footnotes

  1. 4:19 produce fruit To produce fruit means to have in your life the good things God wants.