Mark 4:3-25
Christian Standard Bible
3 “Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.(A) 4 As he sowed, some seed fell along the path,(B) and the birds came and devoured(C) it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly,(D) since the soil wasn’t deep. 6 When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.(E) 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce fruit. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground and it grew up, producing fruit that increased(F) thirty, sixty, and a hundred times.”(G) 9 Then he said, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”(H)
Why Jesus Used Parables
10 When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve(I) asked him about the parables.(J) 11 He answered them, “The secret(K) of the kingdom of God(L) has been given to you, but to those outside,(M) everything comes in parables 12 so that
they may indeed look,
and yet not perceive;
they may indeed listen,
and yet not understand;(N)
otherwise, they might turn back
and be forgiven.”[a][b] (O)
The Parable of the Sower Explained
13 Then(P) he said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable?(Q) How then will you understand all of the parables? 14 The sower sows(R) the word.(S) 15 Some are like the word sown on the path.(T) When they hear, immediately Satan(U) comes and takes away the word(V) sown in them.[c] 16 And others are like seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.(W) 17 But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distress(X) or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away.(Y) 18 Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the worries(Z) of this age,(AA) the deceitfulness[d](AB) of wealth,(AC) and the desires(AD) for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.(AE) 20 And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word,(AF) welcome it, and produce fruit(AG) thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.”
Using Your Light
21 He(AH) also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed?(AI) Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?(AJ) 22 For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed,(AK) and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.”(AL) 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure(AM) you use,(AN) it will be measured to you—and more will be added(AO) to you. 25 For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”(AP)
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Mark 4:3-25
New Living Translation
3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.
11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret[a] of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they see what I do,
they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
and be forgiven.’[b]”
13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Parable of the Lamp
21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given[c]—and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 4:11 Greek mystery.
- 4:12 Isa 6:9-10 (Greek version).
- 4:24 Or The measure you give will be the measure you get back.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
