The Picture-Story of the Man Who Planted Seed ^(A)

4 Jesus began to teach by the sea-shore again. Many people gathered around Him. There were so many He had to get into a boat and sit down. The people were on the shore. ² He taught them many things by using picture-stories. As He taught, He said, ³ “Listen! A man went out to plant seed. ⁴ As he planted the seed, some fell by the side of the road. Birds came and ate them. ⁵ Some seed fell among rocks. It came up at once because there was so little ground. ⁶ But it dried up when the sun was high in the sky because it had no root. ⁷ Some seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew and did not give the seed room to grow. This seed gave no grain. ⁸ Some seed fell on good ground. It came up and grew and gave much grain. Some gave thirty times as much grain. Some gave sixty times as much grain. Some gave one hundred times as much grain.” ⁹ He said to them, “You have ears, then listen!” ¹⁰ Those who were with Jesus and the twelve followers came to Him when He was alone. They asked about the picture-story. ¹¹ He said to them, “You were given the secrets about the holy nation of God. Everything is told in picture-stories to those who are outside the holy nation of God. ¹² They see, but do not know what it means. They hear, but do not understand. If they did, they might turn to God and have their sins forgiven.” ^(B)

Jesus Tells about the Man Who Planted the Seed

¹³ Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this picture-story? Then how will you understand any of the picture-stories? ¹⁴ What the man plants is the Word of God. ¹⁵ Those by the side of the road are the ones who hear the Word. As soon as they hear it, the devil comes and takes away the Word that is planted in their hearts. ¹⁶ The seed that fell among rocks is like people who receive the Word with joy when they hear it. ¹⁷ Their roots are not deep so they live only a short time. When sorrow and trouble come because of the Word, they give up and fall away. ¹⁸ The seed that was planted among thorns is like some people who listen to the Word. ¹⁹ But the cares of this life let thorns come up. A love for riches and always wanting other things let thorns grow. These things do not give the Word room to grow so it does not give grain. ²⁰ The seed that fell on good ground is like people who hear the Word and understand it. They give much grain. Some give thirty times as much grain. Some give sixty times as much grain. Some give one hundred times as much grain.”

The Picture-Story of the Lamp

²¹ He said to them, “Is a lamp to be put under a pail or under a bed? Should it not be put on a lamp-stand? ²² Everything that is hidden will be brought into the light. Everything that is a secret will be made known. ²³ You have ears, then listen!”

²⁴ Jesus said to them, “Be careful what you listen to. The same amount you give will be given to you, and even more. ²⁵ He who has, to him will be given. To him who does not have, even the little he has will be taken from him.”

The Picture-Story of the Grain

²⁶ He said, “The holy nation of God is like a man who plants seed in the ground. ²⁷ He goes to sleep every night and gets up every day. The seed grows, but he does not know how. ²⁸ The earth gives fruit by itself. The leaf comes first and then the young grain can be seen. And last, the grain is ready to gather. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ready, he cuts it. The time of gathering the grain has come.”

The Picture-Story of the Mustard Seed

³⁰ Jesus said, “In what way can we show what the holy nation of God is like? Or what picture-story can we use to help you understand? ³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed that is planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds. ³² After it is put in the ground, it grows and becomes the largest of the spices. It puts out long branches so birds of the sky can live in it.” ³³ As they were able to understand, He spoke the Word to them by using many picture-stories. ³⁴ Jesus helped His followers understand everything when He was alone with them.

The Wind and Waves Obey Jesus ^(C)

³⁵ It was evening of that same day. Jesus said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ After sending the people away, they took Jesus with them in a boat. It was the same boat He used when He taught them. Other little boats went along with them. ³⁷ A bad wind storm came up. The waves were coming over the side of the boat. It was filling up with water. ³⁸ Jesus was in the back part of the boat sleeping on a pillow. They woke Him up, crying out, “Teacher, do You not care that we are about to die?” ³⁹ He got up and spoke sharp words to the wind. He said to the sea, “Be quiet! Be still.” At once the wind stopped blowing. There were no more waves. ⁴⁰ He said to His followers, “Why are you so full of fear? Do you not have faith?” ⁴¹ They were very much afraid and said to each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey Him!”

Demons Ask Jesus to Let Them Live in Pigs ^(D)

5 Jesus and His followers came to the other side of the sea to the country of the Gerasenes. ² He got out of the boat. At once a man came to Him from among the graves. This man had a demon. ³ He lived among the graves. No man could tie him, even with chains. ⁴ Many times he had been tied with chains on his feet. He had broken the chains as well as the irons from his hands and legs. No man was strong enough to keep him tied. ⁵ Night and day he was among the graves and in the mountains. He would cry out and cut himself with stones.

⁶ When the man with the demon saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and worshiped Him. ⁷ The man spoke with a loud voice and said, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I ask You, in the name of God, do not hurt me!” ⁸ At the same time, Jesus was saying, “Come out of the man, you demon!” ⁹ Jesus asked the demon, “What is your name?” He said, “My name is Many, for there are many of us.” ¹⁰ The demons asked Jesus not to send them out of the country. ¹¹ There were many pigs feeding on the mountain side. ¹² The demons asked Him saying, “Send us to the pigs that we may go into them.” ¹³ Then Jesus let them do what they wanted to do. So they went into the pigs. The pigs ran fast down the side of the mountain and into the sea and died. There were about 2,000. ¹⁴ The men who cared for the pigs ran fast to the town and out to the country telling what had been done. People came to see what had happened. ¹⁵ They came to Jesus and saw the man who had had the demons. He was sitting with clothes on and in his right mind. The men were afraid. ¹⁶ Those who had seen it told what had happened to the man who had had the demons. They told what had happened to the pigs. ¹⁷ Then they asked Jesus to leave their country.

¹⁸ Jesus got into the boat. The man who had had the demons asked to go with Him. ¹⁹ Jesus would not let him go but said to him, “Go home to your own people. Tell them what great things the Lord has done for you. Tell them how He had pity on you.” ²⁰ The man went his way and told everyone in the land of Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him. All the people were surprised and wondered.

Two Were Healed through Faith ^(E)

²¹ Then Jesus went by boat over to the other side of the sea. Many people gathered around Him. He stayed by the sea-shore. ²² Jairus was one of the leaders of the Jewish place of worship. As Jairus came to Jesus, he got down at His feet. ²³ He cried out to Jesus and said, “My little daughter is almost dead. Come and put Your hand on her that she may be healed and live.” ²⁴ Jesus went with him. Many people followed and pushed around Jesus.

²⁵ A woman had been sick for twelve years with a flow of blood. ²⁶ She had suffered much because of having many doctors. She had spent all the money she had. She had received no help, but became worse. ²⁷ She heard about Jesus and went among the people who were following Him. She touched His coat. ²⁸ For she said to herself, “If I can only touch His coat, I will be healed.” ²⁹ At once the flow of blood stopped. She felt in her body that she was healed of her sickness.

³⁰ At the same time Jesus knew that power had gone from Him. He turned and said to the people following Him, “Who touched My coat?” ³¹ His followers said to Him, “You see the many people pushing on every side. Why do You ask, ‘Who touched My coat?’” ³² He looked around to see who had done it. ³³ The woman was filled with fear when she knew what had happened to her. She came and got down before Jesus and told Him the truth. ³⁴ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free from your sickness.”

³⁵ While Jesus spoke, men came from the house of the leader of the place of worship. They said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher anymore?” ³⁶ Jesus heard this. He said to the leader of the Jewish place of worship, “Do not be afraid, just believe.” ³⁷ He allowed no one to go with Him but Peter and James and John, the brother of James. ³⁸ They came to the house where the leader of the place of worship lived. Jesus found many people making much noise and crying. ³⁹ He went in and asked them, “Why is there so much noise and crying? The girl is not dead. She is sleeping.”

⁴⁰ They laughed at Jesus. But He sent them all out of the room. Then He took the girl’s father and mother and those who were with Him. They went into the room where the girl was. ⁴¹ He took the girl by the hand and said, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ⁴² At once the girl got up and walked. She was twelve years old. They were very much surprised and wondered about it. ⁴³ He spoke sharp words to them that they should not tell anyone. He told them to give her something to eat.

Jesus Visits His Own Town, Nazareth ^(F)

6 Jesus went from the house of Jairus and came to His home town. His followers came after Him. ² On the Day of Rest He began to teach in the Jewish place of worship. Many people heard Him. They were surprised and wondered, saying, “Where did this Man get all this? What wisdom is this that has been given to Him? How can He do these powerful works with His hands? ³ Is He not a Man Who makes things from wood? Is He not the Son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Do not His sisters live here with us?” The people were ashamed of Him and turned away from Him. ⁴ Jesus said to them, “One who speaks for God is respected everywhere but in his own country and among his own family and in his own house.”

⁵ So Jesus could do no powerful works there. But He did put His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ He wondered because they had no faith. But He went around to the towns and taught as He went.

Jesus Calls Twelve Followers and Sends Them Out ^(G)

⁷ Jesus called the twelve followers to Him and began to send them out two by two. He gave them power over demons. ⁸ He told them to take nothing along with them but a walking stick. They were not to take a bag or food or money in their belts. ⁹ They were to wear shoes. They were not to take two coats.

¹⁰ He said to them, “Whatever house you go into, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹ Whoever does not take you in or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet. By doing that, you will speak against them. For sure, I tell you, it will be easier for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day men stand before God and are judged than for that city.”

¹² Then they left. They preached that men should be sorry for their sins and turn from them. ¹³ They put out many demons. They poured oil on many people that were sick and healed them.

John the Baptist Is Put in Prison ^(H)

¹⁴ King Herod heard about Jesus because everyone was talking about Him. Some people said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why he is doing such powerful works.” ¹⁵ Other people said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is one who speaks for God like one of the early preachers.” ¹⁶ When Herod heard this, he said, “It is John the Baptist, whose head I cut off. He has been raised from the dead.” ¹⁷ For Herod had sent men to take John and put him into prison. He did this because of his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of his brother Philip. ¹⁸ John the Baptist had said to Herod, “It is wrong for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ Herodias became angry with him. She wanted to have John the Baptist killed but she could not. ²⁰ Herod was afraid of John. He knew he was a good man and right with God, and he kept John from being hurt or killed. He liked to listen to John preach. But when he did, he became troubled.

John the Baptist Is Killed ^(I)

²¹ Then Herodias found a way to have John killed. Herod gave a big supper on his birthday. He asked the leaders of the country and army captains and the leaders of Galilee to come. ²² The daughter of Herodias came in and danced before them. This made Herod and his friends happy. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” ²³ Then he made a promise to her, “Whatever you ask for, I will give it to you. I will give you even half of my nation.” ²⁴ She went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask for?” The mother answered, “I want the head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ At once the girl went to Herod. She said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate now.”

²⁶ Herod was very sorry. He had to do it because of his promise and because of those who ate with him. ²⁷ At once he sent one of his soldiers and told him to bring the head of John the Baptist. The soldier went to the prison and cut off John’s head. ²⁸ He took John’s head in on a plate and gave it to the girl. The girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ John’s followers heard this. They went and took his body and buried it.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand ^(J)

³⁰ The followers of Jesus came back to Him. They told Jesus all they had done and taught. ³¹ He said to them, “Come away from the people. Be by yourselves and rest.” There were many people coming and going. They had had no time even to eat. ³² They went by themselves in a boat to a desert. ³³ Many people saw them leave and knew who they were. People ran fast from all the cities and got there first. ³⁴ When Jesus got out of the boat, He saw many people gathered together. He had loving-pity for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them many things.

³⁵ The day was almost gone. The followers of Jesus came to Him. They said, “This is a desert. It is getting late. ³⁶ Tell the people to go to the towns and villages and buy food for themselves.” ³⁷ He said to them, “Give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “Are we to go and buy many loaves of bread and give it to them?” ³⁸ He said to them, “How many loaves of bread do you have here? Go and see.” When they knew, they said, “Five loaves of bread and two fish.” ³⁹ Then He told them to have all the people sit down together in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ They sat down in groups of fifty people and in groups of one hundred people. ⁴¹ Jesus took the five loaves of bread and two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke the loaves in pieces and gave them to the followers to set before the people. He divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² They all ate and were filled. ⁴³ After that the followers picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. ⁴⁴ About five thousand men ate the bread.

Jesus Walks On The Water ^(K)

⁴⁵ At once Jesus had His followers get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to the town of Bethsaida. He sent the people away. ⁴⁶ When they were all gone, He went up to the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ It was evening. The boat was half-way across the sea. Jesus was alone on the land. ⁴⁸ He saw His followers were in trouble. The wind was against them. They were working very hard rowing the boat. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them walking on the sea. He would have gone past them. ⁴⁹ When the followers saw Him walking on the water, they thought it was a spirit and cried out with fear. ⁵⁰ For they all saw Him and were afraid. At once Jesus talked to them. He said, “Take hope. It is I, do not be afraid.” ⁵¹ He came over to them and got into the boat. The wind stopped. They were very much surprised and wondered about it. ⁵² They had not learned what they should have learned from the loaves because their hearts were hard.

People Are Healed at Gennesaret ^(L)

⁵³ Then they crossed the sea and came to the land of Gennesaret and went to shore. ⁵⁴ When Jesus got out of the boat, the people knew Him at once. ⁵⁵ They ran through all the country bringing people who were sick on their beds to Jesus. ⁵⁶ Wherever He went, they would lay the sick people in the streets in the center of town where people gather. They begged Him that they might touch the bottom of His coat. Everyone who did was healed. This happened in the towns and in the cities and in the country where He went.