Mark 4
1 Another time Jesus began to teach [people] alongside Lake [Galilee. As he was doing that, a very large crowd gathered around him. Because people were jostling him], he got into a boat in the lake [so that he could speak to the crowd better. Then he sat in it and began to teach the crowd from the boat]. At the same time, the crowd was on the shore close to the lake.
And again he was teaching by the seaside. And a very great number of people had come to him, so that he got into a boat on the sea and took his seat; and all the people were on the land by the seaside.
2 Then he taught them many parables. While he was teaching them, he told them [this]:
And he gave them teaching about a number of things in the form of stories, and said to them in his teaching, Give ear:
3 “Consider [well the meaning of this illustration]: A man/farmer went out [to his field] to sow [some seeds].
A man went out to put seed in the earth:
4 As he was scattering them [over the soil], some [of the] seeds fell on the path. Then some birds came and ate those seeds.
And while he was doing it, some was dropped by the wayside, and the birds came and took it for food.
5 Other [seeds] fell on ground where there was not much soil [on top of] rock. Very soon the [seeds] sprouted because [the sun warmed] the moist soil quickly where it was not deep.
And some went on the stones, where it had not much earth; and it came up straight away, because the earth was not deep:
6 But after the sun shone [on those young plants], they became scorched. Then they withered because they did not have [deep] roots.
And when the sun was high, it was burned; and because it had no root, it became dry and dead.
7 As the farmer sowed, other [seeds] fell on [ground that contained roots of] thorny plants. [The] seeds [grew, but] the thorny plants also grew up and crowded out [the] good [plants. So the plants] produced no grain.
And some went among the thorns, and the thorns came up, and it had no room for growth and gave no fruit.
8 But as the farmer sowed, other [seeds] fell on good soil. As a result, they sprouted, they grew well, and then they produced [plenty of] grain. [Some] plants bore 30 [grains]. [Some] bore 60 [grains]. [Some] bore 100 [grains].”
And some, falling on good earth, gave fruit, coming up and increasing, and giving thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much.
9 Then Jesus said, “If you want to understand this [MTY], you should consider [carefully what I have just said].”
And he said to them, Whoever has ears, let him give ear.
10 [Later], when only the twelve [disciples] and a few [other] people were with him, they asked him about the parables.
And when he was by himself, those who were round him with the twelve put questions to him about the purpose of the stories.
11 He said to them, “People have not understood before [the new message] about how God wants to rule people’s lives. It is to you that this is being made known {that I am making this known}. But I tell about this [only] (in parables/figuratively) to those who have not [yet invited God to rule their lives].
And he said to them, To you is given the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are given in the form of stories;
12 As a result [it is true what a prophet has written], Although they see [what I do], they do not perceive [what it means] [DOU]. Although they hear [what I say], they do not understand [what it means] [DOU]. So they do not (repent/turn away from their sinful behavior) in order that they would be forgiven {[God] would forgive them}.”
So that seeing they may see, and it will not be clear to them; and hearing it, they will not get the sense; for fear that they may be turned again to me and have forgiveness.
13 He also said to them, “([I am disappointed that] you do not understand this illustration!/Can you not understand this illustration?) [RHQ] [If you do not understand] this, (you will certainly not understand any of the [other] illustrations!/how will you understand any of the [other] illustrations?) [RHQ] [Nevertheless, I will explain it to you].
And he said to them, If you are not clear about this story, how will you be clear about the others?
14 [In the illustration that I told you], the man who sows [seeds represents someone who] declares God’s message [DOU].
The seed is the word.
15 [Some people are like] the path on which [some of] the seeds fell. When they hear [the message], Satan comes at once and causes them to forget what they have heard.
And these are they by the wayside, where the word is planted; and when they have given ear, the Evil One comes straight away and takes away the word which has been planted in them.
16 [Some people are like the ground where the soil was not very deep over] rock. When they hear [God’s] message, they immediately accept it with joy.
And in the same way, these are they who are planted on the stones, who, when the word has come to their ears, straight away take it with joy;
17 But, because [the message does not penetrate deeply] [MET] [into their hearts/inner beings, they] believe it for [only a short time. They are like the plants that] did not have deep roots. When others treat such people badly or cause them to suffer because [they believe], those people [who are suffering] soon stop believing God’s message.
And they have no root in themselves, but go on for a time; then, when trouble comes or pain, because of the word, they quickly become full of doubts.
18 [Some people are like] the [soil that had roots of] thorny weeds in it. [Although] those people hear [God’s] message,
And others are those planted among the thorns; these are they who have given ear to the word,
19 they desire to be rich, and they desire to own many other things. So they worry [only] about material things. The result is that they forget [God’s] message and they do not do [the things that God wants them to do]. (aiōn g165)
And the cares of this life, and the deceits of wealth, and the desire for other things coming in, put a stop to the growth of the word, and it gives no fruit. (aiōn g165)
20 [But some people] are like the good soil. They hear [God’s] message and they accept it [and they believe] it. [Then they do the things that God wants them to do. They are like the good plants that produced] 30, 60 or 100 [grains].”
And these are they who were planted on the good earth; such as give ear to the word, and take it into their hearts, and give fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundred times as much.
21 He also told them [another parable], saying, “(People certainly do not [light] an oil lamp and then bring it [in the house] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} under a container or under a bed./Would anyone [light] an oil lamp and then bring it [in the house] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} under a container or under a bed?) [RHQ] (No, [they light it] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} in a place [where it lights the house].[/Wouldn’t they light it] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} in a place [where it lights the house]?) [RHQ]
And he said to them, When the light comes in, do people put it under a vessel, or under the bed, and not on its table?
22 [Similarly], there are some [parts of God’s message] that people do not know. [But he intends that] people will understand all the things that they do not know [now].
There is nothing covered which will not be seen openly, and nothing has been made secret which will not come to light.
23 If you want to understand this, you should consider [carefully] what you [have just heard].”
If any man has ears, let him give ear.
24 Then he said to them, “Consider carefully what you hear [me say to you], for [God] will let you [understand] to the same degree that you [consider what I say]. [He] will let you [understand] even more than that.
And he said to them, Take care what you give ear to: in the same measure as you give you will get, and more will be given to you.
25 Those who [consider what I say] and understand it, [God] will enable them to understand more. But those who do not [consider carefully what I say], they will forget even what they already know.”
He who has, to him will be given: and he who has not, from him will be taken even that which he has.
26 Jesus also said, “God [has the power to change] people who let him rule their lives. I [will illustrate how that can happen] [MET]. A man planted seeds in the ground.
And he said, Such is the kingdom of God, as if a man put seed in the earth,
27 Afterwards he slept each night and rose each day [without worrying about the seeds]. [During that time] the seeds sprouted and grew in a way that he did not understand, because by itself the soil [caused the plants to grow and produce grain].
And went to sleep and got up, night and day, and the seed came to growth, though he had no idea how.
28 First the stalks [appeared]. Then the heads [appeared]. Then the full kernels in the heads [appeared].
The earth gives fruit by herself; first the leaf, then the head, then the full grain.
29 As soon as the grain was ripe he sent [people] [MTY] to harvest it because it was time to harvest [the grain].”
But when the grain is ready, he quickly sends men to get it cut, because the time for cutting has come.
30 [Jesus told them] another [parable. He] said, “I will tell you [RHQ] how the [number of people] whose lives God rules in a new way [will continue to grow] (OR, each continue to have more and more influence in this world). I hope [RHQ] that this illustration will show this [to you].
And he said, What picture may we give of the kingdom of God, or with what story may we make it clear?
31 [You know what happens to] mustard seeds when we plant them. Though mustard seeds are among the smallest of seeds, [here in Israel] they become large plants.
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is put in the earth, is smaller than all the seeds on the earth,
32 After they are planted, they grow up and become larger than the other garden plants. They put out big branches so that birds are able to make nests in their shade.”
But when it is planted, it comes up, and becomes taller than all the plants, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of heaven are able to take rest in its shade.
33 Jesus used many such illustrations when he talked to the people about God. If they were able to understand [some, he kept telling them more].
And with a number of such stories he gave them his teaching, as they were able to take it:
34 He always used parables when he spoke to them. But he explained all [the illustrations] to his own disciples when he was alone with them.
And without a story he said nothing to them: but privately to his disciples he made all things clear.
35 On that same day, when the sun was setting, Jesus said to [his disciples], “Let’s cross over to the opposite side of [Lake Galilee in the boat].”
And on that day, when the evening had come, he said to them, Let us go over to the other side.
36 So they left the crowd, [got in] the boat where Jesus [already] was, and left. [Other people] went with them in other boats.
And going away from the people, they took him with them, as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.
37 A strong wind came up and the waves started coming into the boat! The boat was soon nearly full [of water]!
And a great storm of wind came up, and the waves came into the boat, so that the boat was now becoming full.
38 Jesus was in the back part of the boat. He was sleeping, [with his head] on a cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! (You ought to be concerned that we are about to die!/Are you not concerned that we are about to die?) [RHQ]”
And he himself was in the back of the boat, sleeping on the cushion: and they, awaking him, said, Master, is it nothing to you that we are in danger of destruction?
39 So Jesus got up and rebuked the wind. Then he said to the lake, “Be quiet! Be still! [DOU]” The wind [immediately] blowing and then [the lake] became very calm.
And he came out of his sleep, and gave strong orders to the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be at rest. And the wind went down, and there was a great calm.
40 He said to the disciples, “([I am disappointed that] you are afraid [like that]!/Why are you afraid [like that]?) [RHQ] Do you not yet believe [that I can protect you]?”
And he said to them, Why are you full of fear? have you still no faith?
41 They were very awestruck. They said to one another, “[Not only do the demons obey this man, but] even the wind and the waves obey him! “(What kind of man is he?/This man is [not like ordinary] people!) [RHQ]”
And their fear was great, and they said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea do his orders?
