New Testament in a Year
Some Women Accompany Jesus
8 After this, Jesus[a] traveled from one city and village to another, preaching and spreading the good news about God’s kingdom. The Twelve were with him, 2 as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and illnesses: Mary, also called Magdalene,[b] from whom seven demons had gone out; 3 Joanna, the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza; Susanna; and many others. These women[c] continued to support them[d] out of their personal resources.
The Parable about a Farmer(A)
4 Now while a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus[e] from every city, he said in a parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, were trampled on, and birds from the sky ate them up. 6 Others fell on stony ground, and as soon as they came up, they dried up because they had no moisture. 7 Others fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes grew with them and choked them. 8 But others fell on good soil, and when they came up, they produced 100 times as much as was planted.” As he said this, he called out, “Let the person who has ears to hear, listen!”
The Purpose of the Parables(B)
9 Then his disciples began to ask him what this parable meant. 10 So he said, “You have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others they are given[f] in parables, so that
‘they might look but not see,
and they might listen but not understand.’”[g]
Jesus Explains the Parable about the Farmer(C)
11 “Now this is what the parable means. The seed is God’s word. 12 The ones on the path are the people who listen, but then the Devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 The ones on the stony ground are the people who joyfully welcome the word when they hear it. But since they don’t have any roots, they believe for a while, but in a time of testing they fall away. 14 The ones that fell among the thorn bushes are the people who listen, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries, wealth, and pleasures of life, and their fruit doesn’t mature. 15 But the ones on the good soil are the people who hear the word but also hold on to it with good and honest hearts, producing a crop through endurance.”
A Light under a Bowl(D)
16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it under a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see the light. 17 There is nothing hidden that won’t be revealed, and there is nothing secret that won’t become known and come to light. 18 So pay attention to how you listen, because to the one who has something, more will be given. However, from the one who doesn’t have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
The True Family of Jesus(E)
19 His mother and his brothers came to him, but they couldn’t get near him because of the crowd. 20 Jesus[h] was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and want to see you.”
21 But he answered those people,[i] “My mother and my brothers are those who hear a message from God and heed it.”
Jesus Calms the Sea(F)
22 One day, Jesus[j] and his disciples got into a boat. He told them, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they started out.
23 Now as they were sailing, Jesus[k] fell asleep. A violent storm swept over the lake, and they were taking on water and were in great danger. 24 So his disciples[l] went to him, woke him up, and kept telling him, “Master! Master! We’re going to die!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. They stopped, and there was calm.
25 Then he asked the disciples,[m] “Where’s your faith?”
Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this man? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!”
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