The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
1 CPDV And again, he began to teach by the sea. And a great crowd was gathered to him, so much so that, climbing into a boat, he was seated on the sea. And the entire crowd was on the land along the sea. 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 CPDV And he taught them many things in parables, and he said to them, in his doctrine: BSB BSB: And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said,
3 CPDV “Listen. Behold, the sower went out to sow. BSB BSB: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 CPDV And while he was sowing, some fell along the way, and the birds of the air came and ate it. BSB BSB: And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
5 CPDV Yet truly, others fell upon stony ground, where it did not have much soil. And it rose up quickly, because it had no depth of soil. BSB BSB: Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.
6 CPDV And when the sun was risen, 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 CPDV And some fell among thorns. And the thorns grew up and suffocated it, and it did not produce fruit. BSB BSB: Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.
8 CPDV And some fell on good soil. And it brought forth fruit that grew up, and increased, and yielded: some thirty, some sixty, and some one 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 CPDV And he said, “Whoever 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 CPDV And when he was alone, the twelve, who were with him, questioned him about the parable. BSB BSB: As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
11 CPDV And he said to them: “To you, it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those who are outside, everything is presented 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 CPDV ‘so that, seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing, they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they may be converted, and their sins would 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 CPDV And he said to them: “Do you not understand this parable? And so, how will you understand all the parables? BSB BSB: Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?
14 CPDV He who sows, sows the word. BSB BSB: The farmer sows the word.
15 CPDV Now there are those who are along the way, where the word is sown. And when they have heard it, Satan quickly comes and takes away the word, which 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 CPDV And similarly, there are those who were sown upon stony ground. These, when they have heard the word, immediately accept 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 CPDV But they have no root in themselves, and so they are for a limited time. And when next tribulation and persecution arises because of the word, they quickly fall away. 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 CPDV And there are others who are sown among thorns. These are those who hear the word, BSB BSB: Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word,
19 CPDV but worldly tasks, and the deception of riches, and desires about other things enter in and suffocate the word, and it is effectively without fruit. 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 CPDV And there are those who are sown upon good soil, who hear the word and accept it; and these bear fruit: some thirty, some sixty, and some one 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 CPDV And he said to them: “Would someone enter with a lamp in order to place it under a basket or under a bed? Would it not be placed upon a lampstand? 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 CPDV For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. Neither was anything done in secret, except that it may be made public. BSB BSB: For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.
23 CPDV If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” BSB BSB: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24 CPDV And he said to them: “Consider what you hear. With whatever measure you have measured out, it shall be measured back to you, and more shall be added to you. 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 CPDV For whoever has, to him it shall be given. And whoever has not, from him even what he has shall be taken away.” 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 CPDV And he said: “The kingdom of God is like this: it is as if a man were to cast seed on the land. BSB BSB: Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
27 CPDV And he sleeps and he arises, night and day. And the seed germinates and grows, though he does not know it. BSB BSB: Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
28 CPDV For the earth bears fruit readily: first the plant, then the ear, next the full grain 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 CPDV And when the fruit has been produced, immediately he sends out the sickle, because the harvest has arrived.” 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 CPDV And he said: “To what should we compare the kingdom of God? Or to what parable should 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 CPDV It is like a grain of mustard seed which, when it has been sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds which are in the earth. BSB BSB: It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.
32 CPDV And when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the plants, and it produces great branches, so much so that the birds of the air are able to live under its shadow.” 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 CPDV And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to hear. BSB BSB: With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand.
34 CPDV But he did not speak to them without a parable. Yet separately, he explained 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 CPDV And on that day, when evening had arrived, he said to them, “Let us cross over.” BSB BSB: When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”
37 CPDV And a great wind storm occurred, and the waves broke over the boat, so that the boat was being filled. BSB BSB: Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.
38 CPDV And he was in the stern of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, does it not concern you that we are perishing?” 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 CPDV And rising up, he rebuked the wind, and he said to the sea: “Silence. Be stilled.” And the wind ceased. And a great tranquility occurred. 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 CPDV And he said to them: “Why are you afraid? Do you still lack faith?” And they were struck with a great fear. And they said to one another, “Who do you think this is, that both wind and sea obey him?” BSB BSB: “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”