The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
1 WBS The same day Jesus went 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 WBS And great multitudes were gathered to him, so that he went into a boat, and sat down; 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 WBS 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 WBS And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them: BSB BSB: And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
5 WBS Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith 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 WBS And when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had not root, they withered. 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 sprung up, and choked them: BSB BSB: Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
8 WBS But others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold. BSB BSB: Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.
9 WBS Who hath 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 WBS And the disciples came, and said to him, Why speakest thou to them in parables? BSB BSB: Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
11 WBS 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 WBS For whoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath. 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 WBS Therefore I speak 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 WBS And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye 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 WBS For this people's heart is become 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 WBS 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 WBS For verily I say to you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them ; and to hear the things which ye 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 WBS Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. BSB BSB: Consider, then, the parable of the sower:
19 WBS When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one , and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he who 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 WBS But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and immediately with joy receiveth it; BSB BSB: The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 WBS Yet he hath not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, forthwith 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 WBS He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becometh 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 WBS But he that receiveth seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it ; who also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundred fold, 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 WBS But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and departed. BSB BSB: But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away.
26 WBS But when the blade had 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 WBS So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath 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 WBS He said to them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said to him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them? BSB BSB: ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 WBS But he said, No; lest while ye gather the tares, ye 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 WBS Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye 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 WBS Another parable he proposed to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like 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 WBS Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge on its branches. 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 WBS Another parable he spoke to them; The kingdom of heaven is like 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 WBS All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable he spoke 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS He answered and said to them, He that soweth 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them who 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 WBS 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 WBS Then shall the righteous shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath 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 WBS Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field; which, when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth 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 WBS Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking goodly pearls: BSB BSB: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
46 WBS 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 WBS Again, the kingdom of heaven is like 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 WBS Which, when it was full, they drew to the shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast away the bad. 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS Jesus saith to them, Have ye understood all these things? They say to him, Yes, Lord. BSB BSB: Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.
52 WBS Then said he to them, Therefore every scribe who is instructed to the kingdom of heaven, is like a man that is a householder, who bringeth 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 WBS And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. BSB BSB: When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.
54 WBS And when he had come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath 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.
55 WBS Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? BSB BSB: “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
56 WBS And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath 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 WBS 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 WBS 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.