The Parable of the Sower

(Matthew 13:1-9; Luke 8:4-15)

1And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered to him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2And he taught them many things by parables, and said to them in his doctrine, 3Listen; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. 9And he said to them, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

The Purpose of Jesus' Parables

(Matthew 13:10-17)

10And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11And he said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

(Matthew 13:18-23)

13And he said to them, Know you not this parable? and how then will you know all parables? 14The sower sows the word. 15And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution rises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty times, some sixty, and some an hundred.

The Lesson of the Lamp

(Luke 8:16-18)

21And he said to them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 24And he said to them, Take heed what you hear: with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you: and to you that hear shall more be given. 25For he that has, to him shall be given: and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has.

The Seed Growing Secretly

26And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knows not how. 28For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

(Matthew 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19)

30And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: 32But when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

33And with many such parables spoke he the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34But without a parable spoke he not to them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

Jesus Stills the Storm

(Matthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25)

35And the same day, when the even was come, he said to them, Let us pass over to the other side. 36And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say to him, Master, care you not that we perish? 39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And he said to them, Why are you so fearful? how is it that you have no faith? 41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?