The Parable of the Sower

13 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.^{(A) 2} Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.^(B)

³ Then he told them many things in parables,^(C) saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. ⁴ As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. ⁶ But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.^{(D) 9} Let anyone who has ears^[a] listen.”^(E)

Why Jesus Used Parables

¹⁰ Then the disciples^(F) came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?” ^(G)

¹¹ He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know,^(H) but it has not been given to them. ¹² For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.^{(I) 13} That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see,^(J) and hearing they do not listen or understand.^{(K) 14} Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

¹⁶ “Blessed are your eyes^(N) because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.^{(O) 17} For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but didn’t see them, to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them.^(P)

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹⁸ “So listen to the parable of the sower: ^{(Q) 19} When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.^{(R) 20} And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.^{(S) 21} But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution^(T) comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. ²² Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age^(U) and the deceitfulness^[c] of wealth^(V) choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and of the Leaven

³¹ He^(A) presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven^(B) is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. ³² It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”^(C)

The Great Commission

¹⁶ The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them.^{(A) 17} When they saw him, they worshiped,^[a] but some doubted. ¹⁸ Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.^{(B) 19} Go, therefore, and make disciples^(C) of^[b] all nations,^(D) baptizing^(E) them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,^[c] I am with you always,^[d] to the end of the age.”^(F)

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit^(A)—just as you were called to one hope^[a](B) at your calling— ⁵ one Lord,^(C) one faith,^(D) one baptism, ⁶ one God^(E) and Father^(F) of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^(G)

⁷ Now grace was given to each one of us^(H) according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ For it says:

⁹ But what does “he ascended” mean except that he^[c] also descended to the lower parts of the earth?^{[d](K) 10} The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens,^(L) to fill all things.^{(M) 11} And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,^{(N) 13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,^(O) growing into maturity with a stature^(P) measured by Christ’s fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,^(Q) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.

Waiting for the Lord

⁷ Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.^{(A) 8} You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.^(B)

A Call to Good Works

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles^(A) to abstain^(B) from sinful^(C) desires that wage war against the soul.^{(D) 12} Conduct^(E) yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,^[a] so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.^(F)