Old/New Testament

Christ, with his apostles, goes from town to town and preaches, explains the parable of the seed, says who is his mother and his brother, and stills the raging of the sea. He delivers the possessed man and drives the devils into the herd of swine, and helps the sick woman and Jairus’ daughter.

8 And it happened after that, that he went throughout cities and towns, preaching and proclaiming the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, ² and also certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, ³ and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to them from their substance. 

⁴ When crowds of people were gathered together, having come to him out of all places, he spoke by a similitude: ⁵ A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden under foot, and the fowls of the air devoured it up. ⁶ And some fell on stone, and as soon as it had sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. ⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. ⁸ And some fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bore fruit a hundredfold.

And as he said these things, he called: He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

⁹ His disciples asked him, saying, What manner of similitude is this? ¹⁰ And he said, To you it is given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others they remain in similitudes, so that when they see, they will not see, and when they hear, they will not understand.

¹¹ The similitude is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those who are beside the way are the people that hear, but afterward the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the stones are people who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. But these have no roots, and for a while believe, but in time of trial go away. ¹⁴ As for that which fell among thorns, this is those who hear and go forth, but are choked with cares, and with riches and voluptuous living, and bring forth no fruit. ¹⁵ As for that in the good ground, this is those who with a good and pure heart hear the word, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

¹⁶ No man lights a candle and covers it under a vessel, neither puts it under the table, but sets it on a candlestick, so that those who enter in may see the light. ¹⁷ Nothing is in secret that may not become clear, nor anything hid that may not be known and come to light. ¹⁸ Take heed therefore how you hear. For whosoever has, to him will be given, and whosoever has not, from him shall be taken even that same which he supposes that he has.

¹⁹ Then Jesus’ mother and his brethren came looking for him, but could not come in to him because of the press of people. ²⁰ And they told him, saying, Your mother and your brethren are standing outside and want to see you. ²¹ He answered and said to them, My mother and my brethren are these who hear the word of God and do it.

²² And it happened on a certain day that he got into a boat, and his disciples also, and he said to them, Let us go over to the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. ²³ And as they sailed, he fell asleep. And there arose a storm of wind on the lake, and they were filled with water and were in jeopardy. ²⁴ And the disciples went to him and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we are lost! Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the tempest of water, and they ceased, and it became calm. ²⁵ And he said to them, Where is your faith?

They feared and wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this? For he commands both the winds and water, and they obey him.