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!”

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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?

The Parable of the Sower(A)

And (B)again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. Then He taught them many things by parables, (C)and said to them in His teaching:

“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds [a]of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no [b]crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

And He said [c]to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Purpose of Parables(D)

10 (E)But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to (F)know the [d]mystery of the kingdom of God; but to (G)those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that

(H)‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’

The Parable of the Sower Explained(I)

13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 (J)The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the (K)cares of this world, (L)the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, [e]accept it, and bear (M)fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Light Under a Basket(N)

21 (O)Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 (P)For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23 (Q)If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. (R)With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 (S)For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 And He said, (T)“The kingdom of God is as if a man should [f]scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and (U)grow, he himself does not know how. 28 For the earth (V)yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain ripens, immediately (W)he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed(X)

30 Then He said, (Y)“To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

Jesus’ Use of Parables

33 (Z)And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, (AA)He explained all things to His disciples.

Wind and Wave Obey Jesus(AB)

35 (AC)On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, (AD)“Teacher, (AE)do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 Then He arose and (AF)rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, (AG)“Peace,[g] be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? (AH)How[h] is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:4 NU, M omit of the air
  2. Mark 4:7 Lit. fruit
  3. Mark 4:9 NU, M omit to them
  4. Mark 4:11 secret or hidden truths
  5. Mark 4:20 receive
  6. Mark 4:26 sow
  7. Mark 4:39 Lit. Be quiet
  8. Mark 4:40 NU Have you still no faith?