(Once) again (Jesus) began to teach beside the sea , and (such) a large crowd gathered around Him that He got into ... a boat (and) sat in - (it) , while all the people crowded ... ... ... along the shore.
And He taught them many things in parables , and in His - teaching He said - ,
“ Listen ... ! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
And - as - he was sowing , - some (seed) fell along the path , and the birds came and devoured it.
- Some fell on - rocky ground , where vvv it did not have much soil. - It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow ... ... ....
But when the sun rose , (the seedlings) were scorched , and they withered because - they had no root.
- Other ( seed ) fell among - thorns , - - (which) grew up and choked (the seedlings) , and (they) yielded no crop.
Still other (seed) fell on - - good soil , (where it) sprouted , - grew up , and produced a crop — - one bearing thirtyfold , - another sixtyfold , and another a hundredfold. ”
Then (Jesus) said , “ He who has ears to hear , let him hear. ”
As soon as ... (Jesus) was vvv alone (with) the Twelve and those around Him , they asked Him (about) the parable.
- He replied - , “ The mystery of the kingdom - of God has been given to you , but to those - on the outside - everything is expressed in parables ,
so that , ‘ vvv they may be ever seeing (but) never perceiving , and vvv ever hearing (but) never understanding ; otherwise ... they might turn and be forgiven ....’ ”
Then (Jesus) said to them , “ vvv Do you not understand this - parable ? Then how will you understand (any of) the parables ?
- (Some) are like the (seeds) along the path , where the word is sown. - As soon as ... they hear (it) , - Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
- (Some) are like the (seeds) sown on - rocky ground. (They) - hear the word (and) at once receive it with joy.
But they themselves have ... ... no root , (and) they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word , vvv they quickly fall away.
(Others) ... are like the (seeds) sown among the thorns. (They) ... ... hear the word ,
but the worries - of this life , - the deceitfulness of wealth , and the desire for - other things come in (and) choke the word , and it becomes unfruitful.
Still (others) are like the (seeds) sown on - - good soil. (They) hear the word , - receive (it) , and produce a crop — - thirtyfold , - - sixtyfold , (or) a hundredfold. ”
vvv (Jesus) also said to them , - “ Does (anyone) bring in a lamp vvv to put (it) under - a basket or under - a bed ? Doesn’t - he set it on - a stand ?
For there is nothing - hidden - that will not be disclosed , and nothing vvv concealed - that will (not) be brought to light.
If anyone has ears to hear , let him hear. ”
- He went on to say - , “ Pay attention to what you hear. With (the) measure you (use) , it will be measured to you , and even more will be added to you.
For whoever has will be given (more). (But) whoever vvv does not have , even what he has will be taken away from him. ”
vvv (Jesus) also said , “ The kingdom - of God is like ... a man who scatters - seed on the ground.
- Night and day he sleeps and wakes , and the seed sprouts and grows , (though) he knows not how.
All by itself the earth produces a crop — first (the) stalk , then (the) head , then grain (that) ripens within ... ....
And as soon as ... the grain is ripe , he swings the sickle , because the harvest has come. ”
Then He asked , “ To what can we compare the kingdom - of God ? - With what parable shall we present it ?
It is like a mustard seed ... , which - is (the) smallest of all - seeds sown ... ... ... - upon the earth.
But after it is planted , it grows - to be the largest of all - garden plants and puts forth great branches , so that the birds of the air - nest in its - shade. ”
- vvv With many such parables (Jesus) spoke the word to them , to the extent that they could understand.
- vvv He did not tell them (anything) ... without using a parable. But vvv privately He explained everything to His own disciples.
When - that - vvv vvv evening came , He said to (His disciples) , “ Let us cross to the other side. ”
After they had dismissed the crowd , they took (Jesus) with them ... , since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him.
Soon a violent windstorm ... came up , and the waves were breaking over the boat , so that - (it) vvv was being swamped.
But (Jesus) was in the stern , sleeping on the cushion. (So) they woke Him and said - , “ Teacher , vvv don’t You care ... that we are perishing ? ”
Then (Jesus) got up (and) rebuked the wind and the sea. “ Silence ! ” He commanded. “ Be still ! ” And the wind died down , and it was perfectly calm.
“ Why are you so afraid ? ” - He asked -. “ Do you still have no ... faith ? ”
- Overwhelmed with fear ... ... , - they asked ... one another , “ Who - is this , that even the wind and the sea obey Him ? ”