Mark 4
1 Once more He began to teach by the side of the Lake, and a vast multitude of people came together to listen to Him. He therefore went on board the boat and sat there, a little way from the land; and all the people were on the shore close to the water.
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.
2 Then He proceeded to teach them many lessons in figurative language; and in His teaching He said,
Then he taught them many parables. While he was teaching them, he told them [this]:
3 "Listen: the sower goes out to sow.
“Consider [well the meaning of this illustration]: A man/farmer went out [to his field] to sow [some seeds].
4 As he sows, some of the seed falls by the way-side, and the birds come and peck it up.
As he was scattering them [over the soil], some [of the] seeds fell on the path. Then some birds came and ate those seeds.
5 Some falls on the rocky ground where it finds but little earth, and it shoots up quickly because it has no depth of soil;
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.
6 but when the sun is risen, it is scorched, and through having no root it withers away.
But after the sun shone [on those young plants], they became scorched. Then they withered because they did not have [deep] roots.
7 Some, again, falls among the thorns; and the thorns spring up and stifle it, so that it yields no crop.
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.
8 But some of the seed falls into good ground, and gives a return: it comes up and increases, and yields thirty, sixty, or a hundred-fold."
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].”
9 "Listen," He added, "every one who has ears to listen with!"
Then Jesus said, “If you want to understand this [MTY], you should consider [carefully what I have just said].”
10 When He was alone, the Twelve and the others who were about Him requested Him to explain His figurative language.
[Later], when only the twelve [disciples] and a few [other] people were with him, they asked him about the parables.
11 "To you," He replied, "has been entrusted the secret truth concerning the Kingdom of God; but to those others outside your number all this is spoken in figurative language;
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].
12 that "'They may look and look but not see, and listen and listen but not understand, lest perchance they should return and be pardoned.'"
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}.”
13 "Do you all miss the meaning of this parable?" He added; "how then will you understand the rest of my parables?"
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].
14 "What the sower sows is the Message.
[In the illustration that I told you], the man who sows [seeds represents someone who] declares God’s message [DOU].
15 Those who receive the seed by the way-side are those in whom the Message is sown, but, when they have heard it, Satan comes at once and carries away the Message sown in them.
[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.
16 In the same way those who receive the seed on the rocky places are those who, when they have heard the Message, at once accept it joyfully,
[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.
17 but they have no root within them. They last for a time; then, when suffering or persecution comes because of the Message, they are immediately overthrown.
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.
18 Others there are who receive the seed among the thorns: these are they who have heard the Message,
[Some people are like] the [soil that had roots of] thorny weeds in it. [Although] those people hear [God’s] message,
19 but worldly cares and the deceitfulness of wealth and the excessive pursuit of other objects come in and stifle the Message, and it becomes unfruitful. (aiōn g165)
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)
20 Those, on the other hand, who have received the seed on the good ground, are all who hear the Message and welcome it, and yield a return of thirty, sixty, or a hundred fold."
[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].”
21 He went on to say, "Is the lamp brought in in order to be put under the bushel or under the bed? Is it not rather in order that it may be placed on the lampstand?
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]
22 Why, there is nothing hidden except with a view to its being ultimately disclosed, nor has anything been made a secret but that it may at last come to light.
[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].
23 Listen, every one who has ears to listen with!"
If you want to understand this, you should consider [carefully] what you [have just heard].”
24 He also said to them, "Take care what you hear. With what measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and that with interest.
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.
25 For those who have will have more given them; and from those who have not, even what they have will be taken away."
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.”
26 Another saying of His was this: "The Kingdom of God is as if a man scattered seed over the ground:
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.
27 he spends days and nights, now awake, now asleep, while the seed sprouts and grows tall, he knows not how.
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].
28 Of itself the land produces the crop-- first the blade, then the ear; afterwards the perfect grain is seen in the ear.
First the stalks [appeared]. Then the heads [appeared]. Then the full kernels in the heads [appeared].
29 But no sooner is the crop ripe, than he sends the reapers, because the time of harvest has come."
As soon as the grain was ripe he sent [people] [MTY] to harvest it because it was time to harvest [the grain].”
30 Another saying of His was this: "How are we to picture the Kingdom of God? or by what figure of speech shall we represent it?
[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].
31 It is like a mustard-seed, which, when sown in the earth, is the smallest of all the seeds in the world;
[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.
32 yet when sown it springs up and becomes larger than all the herbs, and throws out great branches, so that the birds build under its shadow."
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.”
33 With many such parables He used to speak the Message to them according to their capacity for receiving it.
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].
34 But except in figurative language He spoke nothing to them; while to His own disciples He expounded everything, in private.
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.
35 The same day, in the evening, He said to them, "Let us cross to the other side."
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].”
36 So they got away from the crowd, and took Him--as He was--in the boat; and other boats accompanied Him.
So they left the crowd, [got in] the boat where Jesus [already] was, and left. [Other people] went with them in other boats.
37 But a heavy squall came on, and the waves were now dashing into the boat, so that it was fast filling.
A strong wind came up and the waves started coming into the boat! The boat was soon nearly full [of water]!
38 But He Himself was in the stern asleep, with His head on the cushion: so they woke Him. "Rabbi," they cried, "is it nothing to you that we are drowning?"
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]”
39 So He roused Himself and rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" The wind sank, and a perfect calm set in.
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.
40 "Why are you so timid?" He asked; "have you still no faith?"
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]?”
41 Then they were filled with terror, and began to say to one another, "Who is this, then? For even wind and sea obey Him."
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]”
