The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
1 WBS 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 boat, and sat on 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 WBS 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 WBS Hearken; Behold, a sower went out to sow: BSB BSB: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 WBS And it came to pass as he sowed, some fell by the way-side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it. BSB BSB: And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
5 WBS 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 WBS But when the sun had 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 WBS 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 WBS And other fell on good ground, and yielded fruit that sprang up, and increased, and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some a 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 WBS And he said to them, He that hath 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS And he said to them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye 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 WBS The sower soweth the word. BSB BSB: The farmer sows the word.
15 WBS And these are they by the way-side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh 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 WBS And these are they likewise who 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 WBS And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they relapse. 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 WBS And these are they who 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 WBS And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh 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 WBS And these are they who are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it , and bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a 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 WBS And he said to them, Is a candle brought to be put under a close vessel, 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 WBS For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither hath any thing been 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 WBS If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. BSB BSB: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24 WBS And he said to them, Take heed what ye hear: With the measure which ye give, 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 WBS For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. 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 WBS 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 WBS And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. BSB BSB: Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
28 WBS For the earth bringeth forth fruit of itself; 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 WBS But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth 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 WBS 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 WBS It is like a grain of mustard-seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth.BSB BSB: It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.
32 WBS But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under its shade. 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 WBS And with many such parables he spoke 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 WBS But without a parable he spoke 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 WBS And the same day, when the evening was come, he saith 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 WBS And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, 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 WBS And he was in the hinder part of the boat, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say to him, Master, carest thou 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 WBS 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 WBS And he said to them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? BSB BSB: “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”
41 WBS 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?”