The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
1 AKJV And 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. BSB BSB: Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore.
2 AKJV And he taught them many things by parables, and said to them in his doctrine, BSB BSB: And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said,
3 AKJV Listen; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: BSB BSB: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 AKJV And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. BSB BSB: And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
5 AKJV And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: BSB BSB: Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.
6 AKJV But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. BSB BSB: But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7 AKJV And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. BSB BSB: Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.
8 AKJV And 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. BSB BSB: Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprouted, grew up, and produced a crop—one bearing thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold.”
9 AKJV And he said to them, He that has ears to hear, let him hear. BSB BSB: Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables (Isaiah 6:1–13; Matthew 13:10–17; Luke 8:9–10)
10 AKJV And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. BSB BSB: As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
11 AKJV And 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: BSB BSB: He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,
12 AKJV That 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. BSB BSB: so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’”
The Parable of the Sower Explained (Matthew 13:18–23; Luke 8:11–15)
13 AKJV And he said to them, Know you not this parable? and how then will you know all parables? BSB BSB: Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?
14 AKJV The sower sows the word. BSB BSB: The farmer sows the word.
15 AKJV And 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. BSB BSB: Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
16 AKJV And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; BSB BSB: Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
17 AKJV And 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. BSB BSB: But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
18 AKJV And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, BSB BSB: Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word,
19 AKJV And 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. BSB BSB: but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 AKJV And 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. BSB BSB: Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.”
The Lesson of the Lamp (Luke 8:16–18)
21 AKJV And 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? BSB BSB: Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
22 AKJV For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. BSB BSB: For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.
23 AKJV If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. BSB BSB: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24 AKJV And 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. BSB BSB: He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.
25 AKJV For he that has, to him shall be given: and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has. BSB BSB: For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
The Seed Growing Secretly 26 AKJV And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; BSB BSB: Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
27 AKJV And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knows not how. BSB BSB: Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
28 AKJV For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. BSB BSB: All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.
29 AKJV But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest is come. BSB BSB: And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31–32; Luke 13:18–19)
30 AKJV And he said, To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? BSB BSB: Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it?
31 AKJV It 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: BSB BSB: It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.
32 AKJV But 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. BSB BSB: But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”
33 AKJV And with many such parables spoke he the word to them, as they were able to hear it. BSB BSB: With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand.
34 AKJV But without a parable spoke he not to them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. BSB BSB: He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.
Jesus Calms the Storm (Psalm 107:1–43; Matthew 8:23–27; Luke 8:22–25)
35 AKJV And the same day, when the even was come, he says to them, Let us pass over to the other side. BSB BSB: When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”
37 AKJV And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. BSB BSB: Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.
38 AKJV And 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? BSB BSB: But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”
39 AKJV And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. BSB BSB: Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.
40 AKJV And he said to them, Why are you so fearful? how is it that you have no faith? BSB BSB: “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”
41 AKJV And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? BSB BSB: Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”