撒種的比喻

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。 耶穌用比喻教導他們許多事,在教導中祂說: 「聽著!有一個農夫出去撒種。 撒種的時候,有些種子落在路旁,被飛鳥吃掉了; 有些落在石頭地上,因為泥土不深,種子很快就發芽了, 然而因為沒有根,被太陽一曬就枯萎了; 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; 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!」 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!」

撒种的比喻

耶稣又到湖边讲道,周围聚集了许多人,耶稣只好上到湖边的船上坐下,众人都站在岸上。 耶稣用比喻教导他们许多事,在教导中祂说: “听着!有一个农夫出去撒种。 撒种的时候,有些种子落在路旁,被飞鸟吃掉了; 有些落在石头地上,因为泥土不深,种子很快就发芽了, 然而因为没有根,被太阳一晒就枯萎了; 有些落在荆棘丛中,荆棘长起来便把嫩苗挤住了,以致不能结实; 有些落在沃土里,就发芽生长,结出果实,收成多达三十倍、六十倍、一百倍!” 然后祂说:“有耳可听的,都应当听。”

10 当耶稣独自一人的时候,十二使徒和追随祂的人来请教比喻的意思。 11 耶稣说:“上帝国的奥秘只让你们知道,对于外人,我只用比喻, 12 使他们‘看了又看,却不领悟;听了又听,却不明白,免得他们回心转意,得到赦免。’”

13 耶稣又对他们说:“你们不明白这个比喻,又怎能明白其他比喻呢? 14 农夫撒的是上帝的道。 15 种子落在路旁,是指人听了道,撒旦立刻过来夺去了撒在他们心里的道。 16 种子落在石头地上,是指人听了道后,立刻欢喜地接受了, 17 但他们心里没有根基,不过是暂时接受,一旦为道遭受患难和迫害,就立刻放弃了。 18 种子落在荆棘丛中,是指人虽然听过道, 19 但生活的忧虑、钱财的迷惑和其他欲望把道挤住了,以致不能结出果实。 20 种子落在沃土里,是指人听了道,领受了,又结出果实,收成多达三十倍、六十倍、甚至一百倍。”

灯的比喻

21 耶稣继续说:“人会把灯拿来放在篮子底下或床底下吗?当然不会,他一定会把它放在灯台上。 22 隐藏的事是不能掩盖的,终会显露出来。 23 有耳可听的,就应当听。” 24 耶稣又说:“要好好思想你们所听到的,你们用什么量器量给人,就用什么量器量给你们,甚至要多给你们。 25 因为凡有的,还要给他更多;凡没有的,连他仅有的也要夺去!”

种子生长的比喻

26 祂又说:“上帝的国就像一个人在地上撒种。 27 他天天日出而作,日落而息。种子就在他不知不觉中渐渐发芽长大。 28 大地会使种子生长,先发苗后吐穗,最终结出饱满的籽粒。 29 庄稼成熟后,他就拿起镰刀来收割,因为收成的时候到了。”

芥菜种的比喻

30 耶稣说:“我们拿什么比作上帝的国呢?用什么比喻来解释呢? 31 上帝的国就像一粒芥菜种。它是种子中最小的, 32 但种在地里,却能长得比各样蔬菜都大,有粗大的枝条,可以让飞鸟在它的树荫中筑巢。”

33 耶稣用了许多类似的比喻,按照众人所能领悟的,把上帝的道讲给他们听。 34 祂总是用比喻对他们讲论,只有单独和门徒在一起的时候,才把一切解释清楚。

平息风浪

35 那天晚上,耶稣对门徒说:“我们渡到对面去吧。” 36 他们就离开众人,上了耶稣乘坐的船,一起渡到湖的对岸,还有其他船只跟着去。 37 忽然,湖面上狂风大作,波浪撞击船身,船内几乎灌满了水。 38 耶稣却还在船尾枕着枕头睡觉。门徒叫醒了祂,说:“老师,我们快淹死了,你怎么不管呢?”

39 耶稣起来斥责狂风,对着湖面说:“静下来!停下来!”于是就风平浪静了。 40 祂对门徒说:“你们为什么这样害怕呢?你们还是没有信心吗?”

41 他们极其害怕,彼此议论说:“祂到底是谁?连风浪都听祂的!”

The Parable of the Sower

Again he began to teach beside the lake. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’ And he said, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’

The Purpose of the Parables

10 When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret[a] of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; 12 in order that

“they may indeed look, but not perceive,
    and may indeed listen, but not understand;
so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.”’

13 And he said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. 17 But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.[b] 18 And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. 20 And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’

A Lamp under a Bushel Basket

21 He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. 23 Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ 24 And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 25 For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’

The Use of Parables

33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Jesus Stills a Storm

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’

Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:11 Or mystery
  2. Mark 4:17 Or stumble

4 The parable of the sower. 14 And the meaning thereof. 18 Thorns. 21 The candle. 26 Of him that sowed, and then slept. 31 The grain of mustard seed. 38 Christ sleepeth in the ship.

And (A)he began again to teach by the [a]seaside, and there gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat [b]in the sea, and all the people was by the seaside on the land.

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

[c]Hearken: Behold, there went out a sower to sow.

And it came to pass as he sowed, that some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the heaven came, and devoured it up.

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth, and by and by sprang up, because it had not depth of earth.

But as soon as the Sun was up, it was burnt up, and because it had not root, it withered away.

And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, so that it gave no fruit.

Some again fell in good ground, and did yield fruit that sprung up, and grew, and it brought forth, some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some an hundredfold.

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

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

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

12 (B)That they seeing, may see, and not discern: and they hearing, may hear, and not understand, lest at any time they should turn, and their sins should be forgiven them.

13 Again he said unto them, Perceive ye not this parable? how then should ye understand all other parables?

14 The sower soweth the word.

15 And these are they that receive the seed by the wayside, in whom the word is sown: but when they have heard it, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16 And likewise they that receive the seed in stony ground, are they, which when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with gladness.

17 Yet have they no root in themselves, and endure but a time: for when trouble and persecution ariseth for the word, immediately they be offended.

18 Also they that receive the seed among the thorns, are such as hear the word:

19 But the cares [g]of this world, and the (C)deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things enter in, and choke the word, and it is unfruitful.

20 But they that have received seed in good ground, are they that hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit: one corn thirty, another sixty, and some an hundred.

21 [h]Also he said unto them, (D)Cometh the candle in, to be put under a bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put in a candlestick?

22 (E)For there is nothing hid, that shall not be opened, neither is there a secret, but that it shall come to light.

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

24 [i]And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear. (F)With what measure you mete, it shall be measured unto you: and unto you that hear, shall more be given.

25 (G)For unto him that hath, shall it be given, and from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that he hath.

26 [j]Also he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed in the ground.

27 And [k]should sleep, and rise up night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he [l]not knowing how.

28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit [m]of itself, first the blade, then the ears, after that full corn in the ears.

29 And as soon as the fruit showeth itself, anon he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

30 (H)[n]He said moreover, 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 the least of all seeds that be in the earth:

32 But after that it is sown, it groweth up, and is greatest of all herbs, and beareth great branches, so that the fowls of the heaven may build under the shadow of it.

33 And (I)with many such parables he preached the word unto them, [o]as they were able to hear it.

34 And without parables spake he nothing unto them: but he [p]expounded all things to his disciples apart.

35 (J)Now the same day when even was come, he said unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 And they left the multitude, and took him as he was in the ship, and there was also with him other little ships.

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

38 And he was in the stern asleep on a pillow: and they awoke him, and said to him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

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

40 Then he said unto them, [r]Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who is this, that both the wind and sea obey him?

Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:1 Seaside of Tiberias.
  2. Mark 4:1 In a ship which was launched into the sea.
  3. Mark 4:3 The selfsame doctrine of the Gospel is sown everywhere, but it hath not like success indeed through the fault of man, but yet by the just judgment of God.
  4. Mark 4:10 Word for word, solitary.
  5. Mark 4:10 They that followed him at the heels.
  6. Mark 4:11 That is to say, to strangers, and such as are none of ours.
  7. Mark 4:19 Which pertain to this life.
  8. Mark 4:21 Although the light of the Gospel be rejected of the world, yet it ought to be lighted, if it were for no other cause than this, that the wickedness of the world might be made manifest.
  9. Mark 4:24 The more liberally that we communicate such gifts as God hath given us with our brethren, the more bountiful will God be toward us.
  10. Mark 4:26 The Lord soweth and reapeth after a manner unknown to men.
  11. Mark 4:27 That is, when he hath done sowing, should pass the time both day and night, nothing doubting, but that the seed would spring which groweth both day and night.
  12. Mark 4:27 It is the part of the ministers, to labor the ground with all diligence, and commend the success to God: for that mighty working whereby the seed cometh to blade and ear, is secret and only known by the fruit.
  13. Mark 4:28 By a certain power which moveth itself.
  14. Mark 4:30 God far otherwise than men use, beginneth with the least, and endeth with the greatest.
  15. Mark 4:33 According to the capacity of the hearers.
  16. Mark 4:34 Word for word, Loosed, as you would say, read them the hard riddles.
  17. Mark 4:37 They that sail with Christ, although he seems to sleep never so soundly when they are in danger, yet they are preserved of him in time convenient, being awakened.
  18. Mark 4:40 How cometh it to pass that you have no faith?