Chronological
Jesus Teaches with Picture-Stories (A)
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the shore of the lake. 2 Then He got in a boat and sat down because so many people had gathered around Him. Many people were standing on the shore.
The Picture-Story of the Man Who Planted Seeds
3 Jesus taught them many things by using picture-stories. He said, “A man went out to plant seeds. 4 As he planted the seeds, some fell by the side of the road. The birds came and ate the seeds. 5 Some seeds fell between rocks. The seeds came up at once because there was so little ground. 6 When the sun was high in the sky, they dried up and died because they had no root. 7 Some seeds fell among thorns. The thorns grew and did not give the seeds room to grow. 8 Some seeds fell on good ground and gave much grain. Some gave one hundred times as much grain. Some gave sixty times as much grain. Some gave thirty times as much grain. 9 You have ears, then listen.”
Why Jesus Used Picture-Stories
10 The followers of Jesus came to Him and said, “Why do You speak to them in picture-stories?” 11 He said to the followers, “You were given the secrets about the holy nation of heaven. The secrets were not given to the others. 12 He who has will have more given to him. He will have even more than enough. But he who has little will have even that taken away from him.
13 “This is why I speak to them in picture-stories. They have eyes but they do not see. They have ears but they do not hear and they do not understand. 14 It happened in their lives as Isaiah said it would happen. He said, ‘You hear and hear but do not understand. You look and look but do not see. 15 The hearts of these people have become fat. They hear very little with their ears. They have closed their eyes. If they did not do this, they would see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts. Then they would be changed in their ways, and I would heal them.’ (B) 16 But how great are your eyes because they see. How great are your ears because they hear. 17 For sure, I tell you, that many early preachers and men right with God have wanted to see the things you see, but they did not see them. They wanted to hear the things you hear, but they did not hear them.
Jesus Tells about the Man Who Planted Seeds
18 “Listen to the picture-story of the man who planted seeds in the ground. 19 When anyone hears the Word about the holy nation and does not understand it, the devil comes and takes away what was put in his heart. He is like the seed that fell by the side of the road. 20 The seed which fell between rocks is like the person who receives the Word with joy as soon as he hears it. 21 Its root is not deep and it does not last long. When troubles and suffering come because of the Word, he gives up and falls away. 22 The seed which fell among thorns is like the person who hears the Word but the cares of this life, and the love for money let the thorns come up and do not give the seed room to grow and give grain. 23 The seed which fell on good ground is like the one who hears the Word and understands it. He gives much grain. Some seed gives one hundred times as much grain. Some gives sixty times as much grain. Some gives thirty times as much grain.”
The Picture-Story of the Good Seed and the Weed Seed
24 Jesus told them another picture-story. He said, “The holy nation of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field. 25 During the night someone who hated him came and planted weed seed with the good seed in his field and went away. 26 When the good seed started to grow and give grain, weeds came up also.
27 “The servants of the man who planted the seed came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not plant good seed in your field? Why does it have weeds also?’ 28 The man who planted the seed said, ‘Someone who hates me has done this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Should we go and pull the weeds out from among the good grain?’ 29 He said, ‘No, because if you pull out the weeds, the good grain will come up also. 30 Let them grow together until the time to gather the grain. Then I will say to the workmen, “Gather the weeds first and put them together to be burned. Then gather the good grain into my building.”’”
The Picture-Story of the Mustard Seed
31 Jesus told them another picture-story. He said, “The holy nation of heaven is like mustard seed which a man planted in his field. 32 It is the smallest of seeds. But when it is full-grown, it is larger than the grain of the fields and it becomes a tree. The birds of the sky come and stay in its branches.”
The Picture-Story of the Yeast
33 Jesus gave them another picture-story. He said, “The holy nation of heaven is like yeast that a woman put into three pails of flour until it had become much more than at first.”
34 Jesus told all these things using picture-stories to the many people. He did not speak to them without using picture-stories. 35 It happened as the early preacher said it would happen, “I will open My mouth in picture-stories. I will tell things which have been kept secret from the beginning of the world.” (C)
Jesus Tells about the Weed Seed
36 After Jesus sent the people away, He went into the house. His followers came to Him and said, “Tell us what You mean by the picture-story of the weeds in the field.” 37 Jesus said, “He Who plants the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world. The good seeds are the children of the holy nation. The weeds are the children of the devil. 39 The devil is the one who got in and planted the weeds. The time to gather is the end of the world. The men who gather are the angels. 40 As the weeds are gathered together and burned in the fire, so will it be in the end of the world. 41 The Son of Man will send His angels. They will gather out of His holy nation all things that cause people to sin and those who do sin. 42 They will put them into a stove of fire. There will be loud crying and grinding of teeth. 43 Then the ones right with God will shine as the sun in the holy nation of their Father. You have ears, then listen!”
The Picture-Stories of the Gold Buried in the Field and of Buying a Pearl
44 “The holy nation of heaven is like a box of riches buried in a field. A man found it and then hid it again. In his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the holy nation of heaven is like a man who buys and sells. He is looking for good pearls. 46 When he finds one good pearl worth much money, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
The Picture-Story of the Fish Net
47 “The holy nation of heaven is like a big net which was let down into the sea. It gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, they took it to the shore. They sat down and put the good fish into pails. They threw the bad fish away. 49 It will be like this in the end of the world. Angels will come and take the sinful people from among those who are right with God. 50 They will put the sinful people into a stove of fire where there will be loud crying and grinding of teeth.”
51 Jesus asked them, “Have you understood all these picture-stories?” They said, “Yes, Lord!” 52 He said to them, “Every teacher of the Law who has become a follower of the holy nation of heaven is like a man who owns his house. He takes new and old riches from his house.”
They Do Not Believe in Jesus in Nazareth (D)
53 When Jesus had finished these picture-stories, He went away from there. 54 He came to His own town and taught them in their places of worship. They were surprised and wondered, saying, “Where did this Man get this wisdom? How can He do these powerful works? 55 Is not this the son of the man who makes things from wood? Is not Mary His mother? Are not James and Joseph and Simon and Judas His brothers? 56 And are not all His sisters here? Then where did He get all these things?” 57 And they were ashamed of Him and turned away because of Him. Jesus said to them, “One who speaks for God is shown no respect in his own town and in his own house.”
58 He did not do many powerful works there because they did not put their trust in Him.
Jesus Teaches in Galilee
8 After this Jesus went to all the cities and towns preaching and telling the Good News about the holy nation of God. The twelve followers were with Him. 2 Some women who had been healed of demons and diseases were with Him. Mary Magdalene, who had had seven demons put out of her, was one of them. 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza who was one of Herod’s helpers, was another one. Susanna and many others also cared for Jesus by using what they had.
The Picture-Story of the Man Who Planted Seed (A)
4 Many people came together from every town to Jesus. He told them a picture-story.
5 “A man went out to plant seed. As he planted the seed, some fell by the side of the road. It was walked on and birds came and ate it. 6 Some seed fell between rocks. As soon as it started to grow, it dried up because it had no water. 7 Some seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew and did not give the seed room to grow. 8 Some seed fell on good ground. It grew and gave one hundred times as much grain.” When Jesus had finished saying this, He cried out, “You have ears, then listen!”
9 His followers asked Him what this picture-story meant. 10 Jesus said, “You were given the secrets about the holy nation of God. Others are told picture-stories. As they look, they do not see. As they hear, they do not understand.
Jesus Tells about the Man Who Planted Seed
11 “This is what the picture-story means. The seed is the Word of God. 12 Those by the side of the road hear the Word. Then the devil comes and takes the Word from their hearts. He does not want them to believe and be saved from the punishment of sin. 13 Those which fell among rocks are those who when they hear the Word receive it with joy. These have no root. For awhile they believe, but when they are tempted they give up. 14 Those which fell among thorns hear the Word but go their own way. The cares of this life let the thorns grow. A love for money lets the thorns grow also. And the fun of this life lets the thorns grow. Their grain never becomes full-grown. 15 But those which fell on good ground have heard the Word. They keep it in a good and true heart and they keep on giving good grain.
The Picture-Story of the Lamp
16 “No man lights a lamp and puts it under a pail or under a bed. He puts it on a lamp-stand so all who come into the room may see it. 17 Nothing is secret but what will be known. Anything that is hidden will be brought into the light. 18 Be careful how you listen! Whoever has, to him will be given. Whoever does not have, even the little he has will be taken from him.”
The New Kind of Family (B)
19 The mother of Jesus and His brothers came to Him. They could not get near Him because of so many people. 20 Someone said to Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to see You.” 21 Jesus said to them, “My mother and brothers are these who hear the Word of God and do it.”
The Wind and Waves Obey Jesus (C)
22 On one of those days Jesus and His followers got into a boat. Jesus said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” Then they pushed out into the water. 23 As they were going, Jesus fell asleep. A wind storm came over the lake. The boat was filling with water and they were in danger. 24 The followers came to awake Jesus. They said, “Teacher! Teacher! We are going to die!” Then Jesus got up and spoke sharp words to the wind and the high waves. The wind stopped blowing and there were no more waves. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” The followers were surprised and afraid. They said to each other, “What kind of a man is He? He speaks to the wind and the waves and they obey Him.”
Demons Ask Jesus to Let Them Live in Pigs (D)
26 They came to the land of the Gadarenes, which is on the other side of the country of Galilee. 27 As Jesus stepped out on land, a man met Him who had come from the city. This man had demons in him. For a long time he had worn no clothes. He did not live in a house, but lived among the graves. 28 When he saw Jesus, he got down before Him and cried with a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High? I beg of You not to hurt me!” 29 For Jesus had spoken to the demon to come out of the man. Many times the demon had taken hold of him. The man had to be tied with chains. But he would break the chains and be taken by the demon into the desert.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And the demon answered, “Many,” because many demons had gone into him. 31 The demons asked Jesus not to send them to the hole without a bottom in the earth. 32 There were many pigs feeding on the side of the mountain. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. Jesus said they could. 33 The demons came out of the man and went into the pigs. Then the many pigs ran down the side of the mountain into the water and died.
34 The men who cared for the pigs ran fast and told what had happened in the town and in the country. 35 People came to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the man from whom the demons had been sent. He was sitting at the feet of Jesus with clothes on and had the right use of his mind. The people were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told how the man who had had the demons was healed. 37 Then all the people of the country of the Gadarenes begged Jesus to go away from them. They were very much afraid. Jesus got into the boat and went back to the other side.
38 The man out of whom the demons had gone begged to go with Jesus. But Jesus sent him away and said, 39 “Go back to your house and tell everything God has done for you.” He went back and told all the people of the city what great things Jesus had done for him.
Two Were Healed through Faith (E)
40 Many people were glad to see Jesus when He got back. They were waiting for Him. 41 A man named Jairus was a leader of the Jewish place of worship. As he came to Jesus, he got down at His feet. He asked Jesus if He would come to his house. 42 He had only one daughter and she was dying. This girl was about twelve years old. As Jesus went, the people pushed Him from every side.
43 A woman had been sick for twelve years with a flow of blood. (*She had spent all the money she had on doctors.) But she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came behind Jesus and touched the bottom of His coat. At once the flow of blood stopped. 45 Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” Everyone said that they had not touched Him. Peter said, “Teacher, so many people are pushing You from every side and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 46 Then Jesus said, “Someone touched Me because I know power has gone from Me.” 47 When the woman saw she could not hide it, she came shaking. She got down before Jesus. Then she told Jesus in front of all the people why she had touched Him. She told how she was healed at once. 48 Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
49 While Jesus was yet talking, a man came from the house of the leader of the place of worship. This man said to Jairus, “Your daughter is dead. Do not make the Teacher use anymore of His time.” 50 Jesus heard it and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid, only believe. She will be made well.”
51 Jesus went into the house. He let only Peter and James and John and the father and mother of the girl go in with Him. 52 Everyone was crying and full of sorrow because of her. Jesus said, “Do not cry. She is not dead, but is sleeping.” 53 Then they laughed at Jesus because they knew she was dead. 54 Jesus sent them all out. He took the girl by the hand and said, “Child, get up!” 55 Her spirit came back and she got up at once. Jesus told them to bring her food. 56 Her parents were surprised and wondered about it. Then Jesus told them they should tell no one what had happened.
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