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馬可福音 4
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

撒種的比喻

4 耶穌又到湖邊講道，周圍聚集了許多人，耶穌只好上到湖邊的船上坐下，眾人都站在岸上。 2 耶穌用比喻教導他們許多事，在教導中祂說： 3 「聽著！有一個農夫出去撒種。 4 撒種的時候，有些種子落在路旁，被飛鳥吃掉了； 5 有些落在石頭地上，因為泥土不深，種子很快就發芽了， 6 然而因為沒有根，被太陽一曬就枯萎了； 7 有些落在荊棘叢中，荊棘長起來便把嫩苗擠住了，以致不能結實； 8 有些落在沃土裡，就發芽生長，結出果實，收成多達三十倍、六十倍、一百倍！」 9 然後祂說：「有耳可聽的，都應當聽。」

10 當耶穌獨自一人的時候，十二使徒和追隨祂的人來請教比喻的意思。 11 耶穌說：「上帝國的奧祕只讓你們知道，對於外人，我只用比喻， 12 使他們『看了又看，卻不領悟；聽了又聽，卻不明白，免得他們回心轉意，得到赦免。』」

13 耶穌又對他們說：「你們不明白這個比喻，又怎能明白其他比喻呢？ 14 農夫撒的是上帝的道。 15 種子落在路旁，是指人聽了道，撒旦立刻過來奪去了撒在他們心裡的道。 16 種子落在石頭地上，是指人聽了道後，立刻歡喜地接受了， 17 但他們心裡沒有根基，不過是暫時接受，一旦為道遭受患難和迫害，就立刻放棄了。 18 種子落在荊棘叢中，是指人雖然聽過道， 19 但生活的憂慮、錢財的迷惑和其他慾望把道擠住了，以致不能結出果實。 20 種子落在沃土裡，是指人聽了道，領受了，又結出果實，收成多達三十倍、六十倍、甚至一百倍。」

燈的比喻

21 耶穌繼續說：「人會把燈拿來放在籃子底下或床底下嗎？當然不會，他一定會把它放在燈臺上。 22 隱藏的事是不能掩蓋的，終會顯露出來。 23 有耳可聽的，就應當聽。」 24 耶穌又說：「要好好思想你們所聽到的，你們用什麼量器量給人，就用什麼量器量給你們，甚至要多給你們。 25 因為凡有的，還要給他更多；凡沒有的，連他僅有的也要奪去！」

種子生長的比喻

26 祂又說：「上帝的國就像一個人在地上撒種。 27 他天天日出而作，日落而息。種子就在他不知不覺中漸漸發芽長大。 28 大地會使種子生長，先發苗後吐穗，最終結出飽滿的籽粒。 29 莊稼成熟後，他就拿起鐮刀來收割，因為收成的時候到了。」

芥菜種的比喻

30 耶穌說：「我們拿什麼比作上帝的國呢？用什麼比喻來解釋呢？ 31 上帝的國就像一粒芥菜種。它是種子中最小的， 32 但種在地裡，卻能長得比各樣蔬菜都大，有粗大的枝條，可以讓飛鳥在它的樹蔭中築巢。」

33 耶穌用了許多類似的比喻，按照眾人所能領悟的，把上帝的道講給他們聽。 34 祂總是用比喻對他們講論，只有單獨和門徒在一起的時候，才把一切解釋清楚。

平息風浪

35 那天晚上，耶穌對門徒說：「我們渡到對面去吧。」 36 他們就離開眾人，上了耶穌乘坐的船，一起渡到湖的對岸，還有其他船隻跟著去。 37 忽然，湖面上狂風大作，波浪撞擊船身，船內幾乎灌滿了水。 38 耶穌卻還在船尾枕著枕頭睡覺。門徒叫醒了祂，說：「老師，我們快淹死了，你怎麼不管呢？」

39 耶穌起來斥責狂風，對著湖面說：「靜下來！停下來！」於是就風平浪靜了。 40 祂對門徒說：「你們為什麼這樣害怕呢？你們還是沒有信心嗎？」

41 他們極其害怕，彼此議論說：「祂到底是誰？連風浪都聽祂的！」

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Marc 4
Louis Segond

4 Jésus se mit de nouveau à enseigner au bord de la mer. Une grande foule s'étant assemblée auprès de lui, il monta et s'assit dans une barque, sur la mer. Toute la foule était à terre sur le rivage.

2 Il leur enseigna beaucoup de choses en paraboles, et il leur dit dans son enseignement:

3 Écoutez. Un semeur sortit pour semer.

4 Comme il semait, une partie de la semence tomba le long du chemin: les oiseaux vinrent, et la mangèrent.

5 Une autre partie tomba dans un endroit pierreux, où elle n'avait pas beaucoup de terre; elle leva aussitôt, parce qu'elle ne trouva pas un sol profond;

6 mais, quand le soleil parut, elle fut brûlée et sécha, faute de racines.

7 Une autre partie tomba parmi les épines: les épines montèrent, et l'étouffèrent, et elle ne donna point de fruit.

8 Une autre partie tomba dans la bonne terre: elle donna du fruit qui montait et croissait, et elle rapporta trente, soixante, et cent pour un.

9 Puis il dit: Que celui qui a des oreilles pour entendre entende.

10 Lorsqu'il fut en particulier, ceux qui l'entouraient avec les douze l'interrogèrent sur les paraboles.

11 Il leur dit: C'est à vous qu'a été donné le mystère du royaume de Dieu; mais pour ceux qui sont dehors tout se passe en paraboles,

12 afin qu'en voyant ils voient et n'aperçoivent point, et qu'en entendant ils entendent et ne comprennent point, de peur qu'ils ne se convertissent, et que les péchés ne leur soient pardonnés.

13 Il leur dit encore: Vous ne comprenez pas cette parabole? Comment donc comprendrez-vous toutes les paraboles?

14 Le semeur sème la parole.

15 Les uns sont le long du chemin, où la parole est semée; quand ils l'ont entendue, aussitôt Satan vient et enlève la parole qui a été semée en eux.

16 Les autres, pareillement, reçoivent la semence dans les endroits pierreux; quand ils entendent la parole, ils la reçoivent d'abord avec joie;

17 mais ils n'ont pas de racine en eux-mêmes, ils manquent de persistance, et, dès que survient une tribulation ou une persécution à cause de la parole, ils y trouvent une occasion de chute.

18 D'autres reçoivent la semence parmi les épines; ce sont ceux qui entendent la parole,

19 mais en qui les soucis du siècle, la séduction des richesses et l'invasion des autres convoitises, étouffent la parole, et la rendent infructueuse.

20 D'autres reçoivent la semence dans la bonne terre; ce sont ceux qui entendent la parole, la reçoivent, et portent du fruit, trente, soixante, et cent pour un.

21 Il leur dit encore: Apporte-t-on la lampe pour la mettre sous le boisseau, ou sous le lit? N'est-ce pas pour la mettre sur le chandelier?

22 Car il n'est rien de caché qui ne doive être découvert, rien de secret qui ne doive être mis au jour.

23 Si quelqu'un a des oreilles pour entendre, qu'il entende.

24 Il leur dit encore: Prenez garde à ce que vous entendez. On vous mesurera avec la mesure dont vous vous serez servis, et on y ajoutera pour vous.

25 Car on donnera à celui qui a; mais à celui qui n'a pas on ôtera même ce qu'il a.

26 Il dit encore: Il en est du royaume de Dieu comme quand un homme jette de la semence en terre;

27 qu'il dorme ou qu'il veille, nuit et jour, la semence germe et croît sans qu'il sache comment.

28 La terre produit d'elle-même, d'abord l'herbe, puis l'épi, puis le grain tout formé dans l'épi;

29 et, dès que le fruit est mûr, on y met la faucille, car la moisson est là.

30 Il dit encore: A quoi comparerons-nous le royaume de Dieu, ou par quelle parabole le représenterons-nous?

31 Il est semblable à un grain de sénevé, qui, lorsqu'on le sème en terre, est la plus petite de toutes les semences qui sont sur la terre;

32 mais, lorsqu'il a été semé, il monte, devient plus grand que tous les légumes, et pousse de grandes branches, en sorte que les oiseaux du ciel peuvent habiter sous son ombre.

33 C'est par beaucoup de paraboles de ce genre qu'il leur annonçait la parole, selon qu'ils étaient capables de l'entendre.

34 Il ne leur parlait point sans parabole; mais, en particulier, il expliquait tout à ses disciples.

35 Ce même jour, sur le soir, Jésus leur dit: Passons à l'autre bord.

36 Après avoir renvoyé la foule, ils l'emmenèrent dans la barque où il se trouvait; il y avait aussi d'autres barques avec lui.

37 Il s'éleva un grand tourbillon, et les flots se jetaient dans la barque, au point qu'elle se remplissait déjà.

38 Et lui, il dormait à la poupe sur le coussin. Ils le réveillèrent, et lui dirent: Maître, ne t'inquiètes-tu pas de ce que nous périssons?

39 S'étant réveillé, il menaça le vent, et dit à la mer: Silence! tais-toi! Et le vent cessa, et il y eut un grand calme.

40 Puis il leur dit: Pourquoi avez-vous ainsi peur? Comment n'avez-vous point de foi?

41 Ils furent saisis d'une grande frayeur, et ils se dirent les uns aux autres: Quel est donc celui-ci, à qui obéissent même le vent et la mer?

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Mark 4
New English Translation

The Parable of the Sower

4 Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat[a] on the lake and sat there while[b] the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake. 2 He taught them many things in parables,[c] and in his teaching said to them: 3 “Listen! A sower went out to sow.[d] 4 And as he sowed, some seed[e] fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground[f] where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.[g] 6 When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root,[h] it withered. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns,[i] and they grew up and choked it,[j] and it did not produce grain. 8 But[k] other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times.” 9 And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!”[l]

The Purpose of Parables

10 When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 He said to them, “The secret[m] of the kingdom of God[n] has been given[o] to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,

12 so that although they look they may look but not see,
and although they hear they may hear but not understand,
so they may not repent and be forgiven.”[p]

13 He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? Then[q] how will you understand any parable? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan[r] comes and snatches the word[s] that was sown in them. 16 These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. 17 But[t] they have no root in themselves and do not endure.[u] Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, 19 but[v] worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth,[w] and the desire for other things come in and choke the word,[x] and it produces nothing. 20 But[y] these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred.”

The Parable of the Lamp

21 He also said to them, “A lamp[z] isn’t brought to be put under a basket[aa] or under a bed, is it? Isn’t it to be placed on a lampstand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be revealed,[ab] and nothing concealed except to be brought to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, he had better listen!”[ac] 24 And he said to them, “Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive,[ad] and more will be added to you. 25 For whoever has will be given more, but[ae] whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”[af]

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 He also said, “The kingdom of God[ag] is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. 27 He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 By itself the soil produces a crop, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain[ah] in the head. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he sends in the sickle[ai] because the harvest has come.”[aj]

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 He also asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God,[ak] or what parable can we use to present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed[al] that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground— 32 when it is sown, it grows up,[am] becomes the greatest of all garden plants, and grows large branches so that the wild birds[an] can nest in its shade.”[ao]

The Use of Parables

33 So[ap] with many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable. But privately he explained everything to his own disciples.

Stilling of a Storm

35 On that day, when evening came, Jesus[aq] said to his disciples, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.”[ar] 36 So[as] after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat,[at] and other boats were with him. 37 Now[au] a great windstorm[av] developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. 38 But[aw] he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” 39 So[ax] he got up and rebuked[ay] the wind, and said to the sea,[az] “Be quiet! Calm down!” Then[ba] the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. 40 And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?” 41 They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, “Who then is this?[bb] Even the wind and sea obey him!”[bc]

Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:1 sn See the note at Mark 1:19 for a description of the first-century fishing boat discovered in 1986 near Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
  2. Mark 4:1 tn Grk “and all the crowd.” The clause in this phrase, although coordinate in terms of grammar, is logically subordinate to the previous clause.
  3. Mark 4:2 sn Though parables can contain a variety of figures of speech (cf. 2:19-22; 3:23-25; 4:3-9, 26-32; 7:15-17; 13:28), many times they are simply stories that attempt to teach spiritual truth (which is unknown to the hearers) by using a comparison with something known to the hearers. In general, parables usually advance a single idea, though there may be many parts and characters in a single parable and subordinate ideas may expand the main idea further. The beauty of using the parable as a teaching device is that it draws the listener into the story, elicits an evaluation, and demands a response.
  4. Mark 4:3 sn A sower went out to sow. The background for this well-known parable, drawn from a typical scene in the Palestinian countryside, is a field through which a well worn path runs. Sowing would occur in late fall or early winter (October to December) in the rainy season, looking for sprouting in April or May and a June harvest. The use of seed as a figure for God’s giving life has OT roots (Isa 55:10-11). The point of the parable of the sower is to illustrate the various responses to the message of the kingdom of God (cf. 4:11).
  5. Mark 4:4 tn Mark’s version of the parable, like Luke’s (cf. Luke 8:4-8), uses the collective singular to refer to the seed throughout, so singular pronouns have been used consistently throughout this parable in the English translation. However, the parallel account in Matt 13:1-9 begins with plural pronouns in v. 4 but then switches to the collective singular in v. 5 ff.
  6. Mark 4:5 sn The rocky ground in Palestine would be a limestone base lying right under the soil.
  7. Mark 4:5 tn Grk “it had no depth of earth.”
  8. Mark 4:6 tn Grk “it did not have root.”
  9. Mark 4:7 sn Palestinian weeds like these thorns could grow up to 6 feet in height and have a major root system.
  10. Mark 4:7 sn That is, crowded out the good plants.
  11. Mark 4:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in the final stage of the parable.
  12. Mark 4:9 tn The translation “had better listen!” captures the force of the third person imperative more effectively than the traditional “let him hear,” which sounds more like a permissive than an imperative to the modern English reader. This was Jesus’ common expression to listen and heed carefully (cf. Matt 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:23; Luke 8:8; 14:35).
  13. Mark 4:11 tn Grk “the mystery.”sn The key term secret (μυστήριον, mustērion) can mean either (1) a new revelation or (2) a revealing interpretation of existing revelation as in Dan 2:17-23, 27-30. Jesus seems to be explaining how current events develop old promises, since the NT consistently links the events of Jesus’ ministry and message with old promises (Rom 1:1-4; Heb 1:1-2). The traditional translation of this word, “mystery,” is misleading to the modern English reader because it suggests a secret which people have tried to uncover but which they have failed to understand (L&N 28.77).
  14. Mark 4:11 sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. The nature of the kingdom of God in the NT and in Jesus’ teaching has long been debated by interpreters and scholars, with discussion primarily centering around the nature of the kingdom (earthly, heavenly, or both) and the kingdom’s arrival (present, future, or both). An additional major issue concerns the relationship between the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus himself.
  15. Mark 4:11 tn This is an example of a “divine passive,” with God understood to be the source of the revelation (see ExSyn 437-38).
  16. Mark 4:12 sn A quotation from Isa 6:9-10. Thus parables both conceal or reveal depending on whether one is open to hearing what they teach.
  17. Mark 4:13 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
  18. Mark 4:15 sn Interestingly, the synoptic parallels each use a different word for Satan here: Matt 13:19 has “the evil one,” while Luke 8:12 has “the devil.” This illustrates the fluidity of the gospel tradition in often using synonyms at the same point of the parallel tradition.
  19. Mark 4:15 sn The word of Jesus has the potential to save if it germinates in a person’s heart, something the devil is very much against.
  20. Mark 4:17 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  21. Mark 4:17 tn Grk “are temporary.”
  22. Mark 4:19 tn Grk “and.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  23. Mark 4:19 tn Grk “the deceitfulness of riches.” Cf. BDAG 99 s.v. ἀπάτη 1, “the seduction which comes from wealth.”
  24. Mark 4:19 sn That is, their concern for spiritual things is crowded out by material things.
  25. Mark 4:20 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  26. Mark 4:21 sn The lamp is probably an ancient oil burning lamp or perhaps a candlestick. Jesus is comparing revelation to light, particularly the revelation of his ministry.
  27. Mark 4:21 tn Or “a bowl”; this refers to any container for dry material of about eight liters (two gallons) capacity. It could be translated “basket, box, bowl” (L&N 6.151).
  28. Mark 4:22 tn Or “disclosed.”
  29. Mark 4:23 tn The translation “had better listen!” captures the force of the third person imperative more effectively than the traditional “let him hear,” which sounds more like a permissive than an imperative to the modern English reader. This was Jesus’ common expression to listen and heed carefully (cf. Matt 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8; 14:35).
  30. Mark 4:24 tn Grk “by the measure with which you measure it will be measured to you.”
  31. Mark 4:25 tn Grk “and.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  32. Mark 4:25 sn What he has will be taken from him. The meaning is that the one who accepts Jesus’ teaching concerning his person and the kingdom will receive a share in the kingdom now and even more in the future, but for the one who rejects Jesus’ words, the opportunity that that person presently possesses with respect to the kingdom will someday be taken away forever.
  33. Mark 4:26 sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. The nature of the kingdom of God in the NT and in Jesus’ teaching has long been debated by interpreters and scholars, with discussion primarily centering around the nature of the kingdom (earthly, heavenly, or both) and the kingdom’s arrival (present, future, or both). An additional major issue concerns the relationship between the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus himself.
  34. Mark 4:28 tn KJV “corn” is the result of British English, in which “corn” refers to the main cereal crop of a district, wheat in England and oats in Scotland (British English uses “maize” to refer to American corn).
  35. Mark 4:29 tn The Greek word εὐθύς (euthus, often translated “immediately” or “right away”) has not been translated here. It sometimes occurs with a weakened, inferential use (BDAG 406 s.v. 2), not contributing significantly to the flow of the narrative. For further discussion, see R. J. Decker, Temporal Deixis of the Greek Verb in the Gospel of Mark with Reference to Verbal Aspect (SBG 10), 73-77.
  36. Mark 4:29 sn Because the harvest has come. This parable is found only in Mark (cf. Matt 13:24-30) and presents a complete picture of the coming of God’s kingdom: (1) sowing; (2) growth; (3) harvest. Some understand the parable as a reference to evangelism. While this is certainly involved, it does not seem to be the central idea. In contrast to the parable of the sower which emphasizes the quality of the different soils, this parable emphasizes the power of the seed to cause growth (with the clear implication that the mysterious growth of the kingdom is accomplished by God), apart from human understanding and observation.
  37. Mark 4:30 sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. See the note on this phrase in v. 26.
  38. Mark 4:31 sn Mustard seeds are known for their tiny size.
  39. Mark 4:32 tn Mark 4:31-32 is fairly awkward in Greek. Literally the sentence reads as follows: “As a mustard seed, which when sown in the earth, being the smallest of all the seeds in the earth, and when it is sown, it grows up…” The structure has been rendered in more idiomatic English, although some of the awkward structure has been retained for rhetorical effect.
  40. Mark 4:32 tn Grk “the birds of the sky” or “the birds of the heaven”; the Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated either “sky” or “heaven,” depending on the context. The idiomatic expression “birds of the sky” refers to wild birds as opposed to domesticated fowl (cf. BDAG 809 s.v. πετεινόν).
  41. Mark 4:32 sn The point of the parable seems to be that while the kingdom of God may appear to have insignificant and unnoticeable beginnings (i.e., in the ministry of Jesus), it will someday (i.e., at the second advent) be great and quite expansive. The kingdom, however, is not to be equated with the church, but rather the church is an expression of the kingdom. Also, there is important OT background in the image of a small plant that grew and became a tree: Ezek 17:22-24 pictures the reemergence of the Davidic house where people can find calm and shelter. Like the mustard seed, it would start out small but grow to significant size.
  42. Mark 4:33 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.
  43. Mark 4:35 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  44. Mark 4:35 tn The phrase “of the lake” is not in the Greek text but is clearly implied; it has been supplied here for clarity.
  45. Mark 4:36 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the response to Jesus’ request.
  46. Mark 4:36 tn It is possible that this prepositional phrase modifies “as he was,” not “they took him along.” The meaning would then be “they took him along in the boat in which he was already sitting” (see 4:1).sn A boat that held all the disciples would be of significant size. See the note at Mark 1:19 for a description of the first-century fishing boat discovered in 1986 near Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
  47. Mark 4:37 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
  48. Mark 4:37 tn Or “a squall.”sn The Sea of Galilee is located in a depression some 700 ft (200 m) below sea level and is surrounded by hills. Frequently a rush of wind and the right mix of temperatures can cause a storm to come suddenly on the lake. Storms on the Sea of Galilee were known for their suddenness and violence.
  49. Mark 4:38 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  50. Mark 4:39 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.
  51. Mark 4:39 tn Or “commanded” (often with the implication of a threat, L&N 33.331).
  52. Mark 4:39 sn Who has authority over the seas and winds is discussed in the OT: Pss 104:3; 135:7; 107:23-30. When Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea he was making a statement about who he was.
  53. Mark 4:39 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
  54. Mark 4:41 sn Jesus’ authority over creation raised a question for the disciples about who he was exactly (Who then is this?). This verse shows that the disciples followed Jesus even though they did not know all about him yet.
  55. Mark 4:41 sn This section in Mark (4:35-5:43) contains four miracles: (1) the calming of the storm; (2) the exorcism of the demon-possessed man; (3) the giving of life to Jairus’ daughter; (4) the healing of the woman hemorrhaging for twelve years. All these miracles demonstrate Jesus’ right to proclaim the kingdom message and his sovereign authority over forces, directly or indirectly, hostile to the kingdom. The last three may have been brought together to show that Jesus had power over all defilement, since contact with graves, blood, or a corpse was regarded under Jewish law as causing a state of ritual uncleanness.
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Mark 4
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The Parable of the Sower(A)(B)

4 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. 2 He taught them many things by parables,(D) and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.(E) 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 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)

9 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
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Mark 4
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4 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

14 The sower soweth the word.

15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

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