The Parable of the Sower
(Matthew 13:1-9; Luke 8:4-15)

1And again He began to teach beside the sea. And a great crowd was gathered together to Him, so that He, having entered into a boat, sat in the sea, and all the crowd was on the land, close to the sea.

2And He began teaching them many things in parables, and in His teaching He was saying to them, 3“Listen! Behold, the one sowing went out to sow. 4And it came to pass as he sowed, some fell along the road, and the birds came and devoured it.

5And other fell upon the rocky place where it had not much soil, and it sprang up immediately, because of not having depth of soil. 6And after the sun rose, it was scorched, and because of not having root, it withered away.

7And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

8And other fell into the good soil and began yielding fruit, growing up and increasing, and one bearing thirtyfold, and one sixty, and one a hundred.”

9And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Purpose of Jesus' Parables
(Matthew 13:10-17)

10And when He was alone, those around Him with the Twelve began asking Him about the parable.

11And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, everything is done in parables, 12so that,

‘Seeing, they might see and not perceive;

and hearing, they might hear and not understand;

lest ever they should turn,

and they should be forgiven.’a”

The Parable of the Sower Explained
(Matthew 13:18-23)

13And He says to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables?

14The one sowing sows the word. 15And these are those along the road, where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word having been sown in them.

16And these are likewise those sown upon the rocky places, who when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy, 17and they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Then tribulation or persecution having arisen on account of the word, immediately they fall away.

18And these are those sown among the thorns. These are those having heard the word, 19and the cares of this age and the deceit of riches, and the desires of the other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20And these are those having been sown upon the good soil, such as hear the word and receive it, and bring forth fruit: one thirtyfold, and one sixty, and one a hundred.”

The Lesson of the Lamp
(Luke 8:16-18)

21And He was saying to them, “The lamp is not brought in so that it might be put under the basket, or under the bed. Is it not that it might be put upon the lampstand? 22For there is nothing which is hidden except that it should be made manifest; nor has taken place a secret thing, but that it should come to light.

23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24And He was saying to them, “Take heed what you hear. With what measure you measure it will be measured to you, and more will be added to you. 25For whoever may have, it will be given to him; and he who does not have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.”

The Seed Growing Secretly

26And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is thus, as a man should cast the seed upon the earth, 27and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow—he not knows how. 28Of itself, the earth brings forth fruit—first a plant, then an ear, then full grain in the ear. 29And when the fruit offers itself, he sends the sickle immediately, for the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed
(Matthew 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19)

30And He was saying, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we present it? 31As a grain of mustard, which, when it has been sown upon the earth, is smallest of all the seeds that are upon the earth, 32and when it has been sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all the garden plants, and produces great branches, so that the birds of the air are able to encamp under its shadow.”

33And with many such parables He kept speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear, 34and He would not speak to them without parables; but privately He would explain all things to His own disciples.

Jesus Calms the Storm
(Matthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25)

35And on that day, evening having come, He says to them, “Let us pass over to the other side.” 36And having dismissed the crowd, they take Him with them since He was in the boat; and other boats were with Him.

37And a violent storm of wind comes, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat already is being filled up. 38And He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. And they awaken Him and say to Him, “Teacher, is it no concern to You that we perish?”

39And having been awoken, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Silence, be still!” And the wind abated, and there was a great calm.

40And He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Have you still no faith?”

41And they feared with great fear and were saying to each other, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”