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 began to teach by the seaside. And a large crowd was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea, and sat down. And the whole crowd was on the land by the sea.
2 Then he taught them many parables. While he was teaching them, he told them [this]:
And then he taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching,
3 “Consider [well the meaning of this illustration]: A man/farmer went out [to his field] to sow [some seeds].
"Listen. Look, the sower who went out to sow.
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 it happened, as he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and devoured it.
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 others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.
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 came up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
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 others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded 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 others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth thirty times, and sixty times, and one hundred times."
9 Then Jesus said, “If you want to understand this [MTY], you should consider [carefully what I have just said].”
And he said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."
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 alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
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 has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
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}.”
that 'seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn and be forgiven.'"
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, "Do you not understand this parable? And how will you understand all of the parables?
14 [In the illustration that I told you], the man who sows [seeds represents someone who] declares God’s message [DOU].
The farmer sows 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 the ones by the road where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown 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 these in a similar way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive 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 are short-lived. Then, when oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble.
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 who are sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard 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 the age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (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 those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times."
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, "Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not put on a stand?
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].
For there is nothing hidden, except that it should be made known; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light.
23 If you want to understand this, you should consider [carefully] what you [have just heard].”
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
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, "Consider carefully what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you, 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.”
For whoever has, more will be given, and he who does not have, even that which he has will be taken away from him."
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, "The Kingdom of God is like someone who scatters seed on 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 he sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed springs up and grows; he doesn't know how.
28 First the stalks [appeared]. Then the heads [appeared]. Then the full kernels in the heads [appeared].
The earth bears fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
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 fruit is ripe, immediately he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest 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, "To what will we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable will we use for it?
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's like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the soil, though it is less than all the seeds that are upon the soil,
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.”
And when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the garden plants, and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow."
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 many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear 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 he did not speak to them without a parable; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
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 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 leaving the crowd, they took him with them, even 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 big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.
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 stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are dying?"
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 awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace. Be still." And the wind ceased, 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 so afraid? Do you still have 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 they were greatly afraid, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
