Mark 4 : 1 (HCSB)
Again He began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea.
Mark 4 : 2 (HCSB)
He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them:
Mark 4 : 3 (HCSB)
"Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.
Mark 4 : 4 (HCSB)
As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
Mark 4 : 5 (HCSB)
Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn't have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn't have deep soil.
Mark 4 : 6 (HCSB)
When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn't have a root, it withered.
Mark 4 : 7 (HCSB)
Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn't produce a crop.
Mark 4 : 8 (HCSB)
Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased 30, 60, and 100 times *what was sown ."
Mark 4 : 9 (HCSB)
Then He said, "Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!"
Mark 4 : 10 (HCSB)
When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.
Mark 4 : 11 (HCSB)
He answered them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been granted to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables
Mark 4 : 12 (HCSB)
so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen, yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back-- and be forgiven."
Mark 4 : 13 (HCSB)
Then He said to them: "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables?
Mark 4 : 14 (HCSB)
The sower sows the word.
Mark 4 : 15 (HCSB)
These are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.
Mark 4 : 16 (HCSB)
And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.
Mark 4 : 17 (HCSB)
But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When affliction or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.
Mark 4 : 18 (HCSB)
Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,
Mark 4 : 19 (HCSB)
but the worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Mark 4 : 20 (HCSB)
But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times *what was sown ."
Mark 4 : 21 (HCSB)
He also said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it to be put on a lampstand?
Mark 4 : 22 (HCSB)
For nothing is concealed except to be revealed, and nothing hidden except to come to light.
Mark 4 : 23 (HCSB)
If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!"
Mark 4 : 24 (HCSB)
Then He said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you.
Mark 4 : 25 (HCSB)
For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away."
Mark 4 : 26 (HCSB)
"The kingdom of God is like this," He said. "A man scatters seed on the ground;
Mark 4 : 27 (HCSB)
he sleeps and rises-- night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows-- he doesn't know how.
Mark 4 : 28 (HCSB)
The soil produces a crop by itself-- first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head.
Mark 4 : 29 (HCSB)
But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because harvest has come."
Mark 4 : 30 (HCSB)
And He said: "How can we illustrate the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to describe it?
Mark 4 : 31 (HCSB)
It's like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground.
Mark 4 : 32 (HCSB)
And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade."
Mark 4 : 33 (HCSB)
He would speak the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand.
Mark 4 : 34 (HCSB)
And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.
Mark 4 : 35 (HCSB)
On that day, when evening had come, He told them, "Let's cross over to the other side *of the lake ."
Mark 4 : 36 (HCSB)
So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was *already in the boat. And other boats were with Him.
Mark 4 : 37 (HCSB)
A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.
Mark 4 : 38 (HCSB)
But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, "Teacher! Don't you care that we're going to die?"
Mark 4 : 39 (HCSB)
He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mark 4 : 40 (HCSB)
Then He said to them, "Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?"
Mark 4 : 41 (HCSB)
And they were terrified and asked one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!"
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