The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
1 AKJV The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. BSB BSB: That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
2 AKJV And great multitudes were gathered together to him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. BSB BSB: Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.
3 AKJV And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; BSB BSB: And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 AKJV And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: BSB BSB: And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
5 AKJV Some fell on stony places, where they had not much earth: and immediately they sprung up, because they had no deepness 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 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they 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 sprung up, and choked them: BSB BSB: Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
8 AKJV But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred times, some sixty times, some thirty times. BSB BSB: Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.
9 AKJV Who has ears to hear, let him hear. BSB BSB: He who has ears, let him hear.”
The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables (Isaiah 6:1–13; Mark 4:10–12; Luke 8:9–10)
10 AKJV And the disciples came, and said to him, Why speak you to them in parables? BSB BSB: Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
11 AKJV He answered and said to them, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. BSB BSB: He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
12 AKJV For whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has. BSB BSB: Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
13 AKJV Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. BSB BSB: This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
14 AKJV And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive: BSB BSB: In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 AKJV For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. BSB BSB: For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 AKJV But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. BSB BSB: But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
17 AKJV For truly I say to you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them. BSB BSB: For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained (Mark 4:13–20; Luke 8:11–15)
18 AKJV Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. BSB BSB: Consider, then, the parable of the sower:
19 AKJV When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. BSB BSB: When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 AKJV But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it; BSB BSB: The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 AKJV Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution rises because of the word, by and by he is offended. BSB BSB: But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
22 AKJV He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. BSB BSB: The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
23 AKJV But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundred times, some sixty, some thirty. BSB BSB: But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.”
The Parable of the Weeds (Ezekiel 17:1–10)
25 AKJV But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. BSB BSB: But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away.
26 AKJV But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. BSB BSB: When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.
27 AKJV So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, did not you sow good seed in your field? from where then has it tares? BSB BSB: The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 AKJV He said to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Will you then that we go and gather them up? BSB BSB: ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 AKJV But he said, No; lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them. BSB BSB: ‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them.
30 AKJV Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. BSB BSB: Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30–34; Luke 13:18–19)
31 AKJV Another parable put he forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: BSB BSB: He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field.
32 AKJV Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. BSB BSB: Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
The Parable of the Leaven (Luke 13:20–21)
33 AKJV Another parable spoke he to them; The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. BSB BSB: He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”
I Will Open My Mouth in Parables (Psalm 78:1–72)
34 AKJV All these things spoke Jesus to the multitude in parables; and without a parable spoke he not to them: BSB BSB: Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.
35 AKJV That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. BSB BSB: So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
The Parable of the Weeds Explained (Zephaniah 1:1–6)
36 AKJV Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came to him, saying, Declare to us the parable of the tares of the field. BSB BSB: Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
37 AKJV He answered and said to them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man; BSB BSB: He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
38 AKJV The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; BSB BSB: The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
39 AKJV The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. BSB BSB: and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40 AKJV As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. BSB BSB: As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
41 AKJV The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; BSB BSB: The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.
42 AKJV And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. BSB BSB: And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43 AKJV Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear. BSB BSB: Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
The Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl 44 AKJV Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to treasure hid in a field; the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. BSB BSB: The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 AKJV Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: BSB BSB: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
46 AKJV Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. BSB BSB: When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Net 47 AKJV Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: BSB BSB: Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.
48 AKJV Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. BSB BSB: When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.
49 AKJV So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, BSB BSB: So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous
50 AKJV And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. BSB BSB: and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 AKJV Jesus says to them, Have you understood all these things? They say to him, Yes, Lord. BSB BSB: Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.
52 AKJV Then said he to them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed to the kingdom of heaven is like to a man that is an householder, which brings forth out of his treasure things new and old. BSB BSB: Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
The Rejection at Nazareth (Mark 6:1–6; Luke 4:16–30)
53 AKJV And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed there. BSB BSB: When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.
54 AKJV And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, From where has this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? BSB BSB: Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.
56 AKJV And his sisters, are they not all with us? From where then has this man all these things? BSB BSB: Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?”
57 AKJV And they were offended in him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house. BSB BSB: And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
58 AKJV And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. BSB BSB: And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.