1 Another|strong="G3825" time|strong="G1909" Jesus|strong="G0846" began|strong="G0757" teaching|strong="G1321" by|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" lake|strong="G2281", and|strong="G2532" a|strong="G1510" large|strong="G4183" crowd|strong="G3793" gathered|strong="G4863" around|strong="G4314" him|strong="G0846". He|strong="G2532" got|strong="G1684" into|strong="G1519" a|strong="G1510" boat|strong="G4143" so|strong="G2532" that|strong="G5620" he|strong="G2532" could sit|strong="G2521" and|strong="G2532" teach|strong="G1321" from|strong="G3844" the|strong="G3956" lake|strong="G2281". All|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" people|strong="G3793" stayed|strong="G1510" on|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3956" shore|strong="G1093" near|strong="G4314" the|strong="G3956" water.
2 Jesus|strong="G0846" used stories to|strong="G3004" teach|strong="G1321" them|strong="G0846" many|strong="G4183" things|strong="G4183". One|strong="G1438" of|strong="G1722" his|strong="G0846" lessons included this|strong="G3588" story:
3 “Listen|strong="G0191"! A|strong="G3708" farmer went|strong="G1831" out|strong="G1831" to|strong="G0191" sow|strong="G4687" seed.
4 While|strong="G1722" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3739" scattering the|strong="G3588" seed|strong="G4098", some|strong="G3588" of|strong="G3598" it|strong="G0846" fell|strong="G4098" by|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" road|strong="G3598". The|strong="G3588" birds|strong="G4071" came|strong="G2064" and|strong="G2532" ate|strong="G2719" all|strong="G3588" that|strong="G3739" seed|strong="G4098".
5 Other|strong="G0243" seed|strong="G4098" fell|strong="G4098" on|strong="G1909" rocky|strong="G4075" ground|strong="G1093", where|strong="G3699" there|strong="G3699" was|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" enough|strong="G4183" dirt. It|strong="G1223" grew quickly|strong="G2112" there|strong="G3699" because|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" soil|strong="G1093" was|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" deep|strong="G0899".
6 But|strong="G2532" then|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" sun|strong="G2246" rose and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" plants were|strong="G3588" burned. They|strong="G2532" died because|strong="G1223" they|strong="G2532" did|strong="G2192" not|strong="G3361" have|strong="G2192" deep roots|strong="G4491".
7 Some|strong="G3588" other|strong="G0243" seed|strong="G4098" fell|strong="G4098" among|strong="G1519" thorny weeds. The|strong="G3588" weeds grew|strong="G0305" and|strong="G2532" stopped the|strong="G3588" good plants from|strong="G4098" growing. So|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" did|strong="G1325" not|strong="G3756" make|strong="G1325" grain|strong="G2590".
8 But|strong="G2532" some|strong="G3588" of|strong="G1520" the|strong="G3588" seed|strong="G4098" fell|strong="G4098" on|strong="G1519" good|strong="G2570" ground|strong="G1093". There it|strong="G5342" began to|strong="G1519" grow|strong="G0837", and|strong="G2532" it|strong="G5342" made|strong="G5342" grain|strong="G2590". Some|strong="G3588" plants made|strong="G5342" 30 times more|strong="G0243" grain|strong="G2590", some|strong="G3588" 60 times more|strong="G0243", and|strong="G2532" some|strong="G3588" 100 times more|strong="G0243".”
9 Then|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G3004" said|strong="G3004", “You|strong="G3739" people|strong="G0191" who|strong="G3739" hear|strong="G0191" me|strong="G3004", listen|strong="G0191"!”
10 Later, Jesus|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" away from|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846". The|strong="G3588" twelve|strong="G1427" apostles and|strong="G2532" his|strong="G0846" other|strong="G0846" followers asked|strong="G2065" him|strong="G0846" about|strong="G4012" the|strong="G3588" stories.
11 Jesus|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004", “Only|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" can|strong="G3004" know the|strong="G3956" secret truth about|strong="G1722" God’s|strong="G2316" kingdom|strong="G0932". But|strong="G1161" to|strong="G3004" those|strong="G3588" other|strong="G1161" people|strong="G3956" I|strong="G2532" tell|strong="G3004" everything|strong="G3956" by|strong="G1722" using|strong="G3004" stories.
12 I|strong="G2532" do|strong="G3708" this|strong="G0846" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443"
13 Then|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3956" followers, “Do|strong="G1492" you|strong="G3004" understand|strong="G1097" this|strong="G3778" story? If|strong="G2532" you|strong="G3004" don’t|strong="G3756", how|strong="G4459" will|strong="G3778" you|strong="G3004" understand|strong="G1097" any|strong="G3956" story?
14 The|strong="G3588" farmer is|strong="G3588" like someone who|strong="G3588" plants God’s teaching|strong="G3056" in|strong="G3056" people|strong="G3588".
15 Sometimes the|strong="G3588" teaching|strong="G3056" falls|strong="G2064" on|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" path|strong="G3598". That|strong="G0191" is|strong="G1510" like|strong="G0846" some|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" hear|strong="G0191" the|strong="G3588" teaching|strong="G3056" of|strong="G3056" God|strong="G0846". As|strong="G1519" soon|strong="G1722" as|strong="G1519" they|strong="G0846" hear|strong="G0191" it|strong="G0846", Satan|strong="G4567" comes|strong="G2064" and|strong="G2532" takes|strong="G0142" away|strong="G0142" the|strong="G3588" teaching|strong="G3056" that|strong="G0191" was|strong="G1510" planted in|strong="G1722" them|strong="G0846".
16 “Other|strong="G3739" people|strong="G0846" are|strong="G1510" like|strong="G3668" the|strong="G3588" seed planted on|strong="G1909" rocky|strong="G4075" ground. They|strong="G0846" hear|strong="G0191" the|strong="G3588" teaching|strong="G3056", and|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" quickly|strong="G2112" and|strong="G2532" gladly accept|strong="G2983" it|strong="G0846".
17 But|strong="G0235" they|strong="G2532" don’t|strong="G3756" allow it|strong="G1223" to|strong="G2532" go deep into|strong="G1096" their|strong="G1438" lives. They|strong="G2532" keep|strong="G2192" it|strong="G1223" only|strong="G3756" a|strong="G2192" short time. As|strong="G1722" soon|strong="G1722" as|strong="G1722" trouble|strong="G2347" or|strong="G2228" persecution|strong="G1375" comes|strong="G1096" because|strong="G1223" of|strong="G3056" the|strong="G3588" teaching|strong="G3056" they|strong="G2532" accepted, they|strong="G2532" give|strong="G1096" up.
18 “Others|strong="G0243" are|strong="G1510" like the|strong="G3588" seed planted among|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" thorny weeds. They|strong="G2532" hear|strong="G0191" the|strong="G3588" teaching|strong="G3056",
19 but|strong="G2532" their|strong="G2532" lives become|strong="G1096" full of|strong="G3056" other|strong="G3062" things|strong="G3062": the|strong="G3588" worries|strong="G3308" of|strong="G3056" this|strong="G3588" life, the|strong="G3588" love of|strong="G3056" money, and|strong="G2532" everything else|strong="G3062" they|strong="G2532" want. This|strong="G3588" keeps the|strong="G3588" teaching|strong="G3056" from|strong="G2532" growing, and|strong="G2532" it|strong="G2532" does|strong="G1096" not|strong="G2532" produce a|strong="G1096" crop in|strong="G2532" their|strong="G2532" lives.
20 “And|strong="G2532" others|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" like the|strong="G3588" seed planted on|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3588" good|strong="G2570" ground|strong="G1093". They|strong="G2532" hear|strong="G0191" the|strong="G3588" teaching|strong="G3056" and|strong="G2532" accept|strong="G3858" it|strong="G0191". Then|strong="G2532" they|strong="G2532" grow and|strong="G2532" produce a|strong="G1510" good|strong="G2570" crop—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and|strong="G2532" sometimes 100 times more.”
21 Then|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G2443" them|strong="G0846", “You|strong="G3754" don’t|strong="G3756" take|strong="G5087" a|strong="G2228" lamp|strong="G3088" and|strong="G2532" hide it|strong="G0846" under|strong="G5259" a|strong="G2228" bowl or|strong="G2228" a|strong="G2228" bed|strong="G2825", do|strong="G3004" you|strong="G3754"? Of|strong="G1909" course not|strong="G3756". You|strong="G3754" put|strong="G5087" it|strong="G0846" on|strong="G1909" a|strong="G2228" lampstand|strong="G3087".
22 Everything that|strong="G2443" is|strong="G1510" hidden|strong="G2927" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" made|strong="G1096" clear|strong="G5319". Every secret|strong="G2927" thing will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" made|strong="G1096" known|strong="G5318".
23 You|strong="G1487" people|strong="G5100" who|strong="G5100" hear|strong="G0191" me|strong="G2192", listen|strong="G0191"!
24 Think carefully about|strong="G1722" what|strong="G5101" you|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3739" hearing|strong="G0191". God|strong="G0846" will|strong="G5101" know how|strong="G5101" much to|strong="G3004" give|strong="G0191" you|strong="G5210" by|strong="G1722" how|strong="G5101" much you|strong="G5210" understand|strong="G0191" now|strong="G2532". But|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" will|strong="G5101" give|strong="G0191" you|strong="G5210" more|strong="G4369" than|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" deserve.
25 The|strong="G2532" people|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3739" have|strong="G2192" some|strong="G3739" understanding will|strong="G3739" receive|strong="G2192" more|strong="G3756". But|strong="G2532" those|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3739" do|strong="G2192" not|strong="G3756" have|strong="G2192" much will|strong="G3739" lose even|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" small amount they|strong="G0846" have|strong="G2192".”
26 Then|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G3004" said|strong="G3004", “God’s|strong="G2316" kingdom|strong="G0932" is|strong="G1510" like|strong="G5613" a|strong="G5613" man|strong="G0444" who|strong="G3588" plants seed|strong="G4703" in|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3588" ground|strong="G1093".
27 The|strong="G3588" seed|strong="G4703" begins to|strong="G2532" grow. It|strong="G0846" grows|strong="G3373" night|strong="G3571" and|strong="G2532" day|strong="G2250". It|strong="G0846" doesn’t|strong="G3756" matter whether|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" man is|strong="G3588" sleeping|strong="G2518" or|strong="G2532" awake|strong="G1453", the|strong="G3588" seed|strong="G4703" still grows|strong="G3373". He|strong="G2532" doesn’t|strong="G3756" know|strong="G1492" how|strong="G5613" it|strong="G0846" happens.
28 Without any help the|strong="G3588" ground|strong="G1093" produces|strong="G2592" grain|strong="G4621". First|strong="G4413" the|strong="G3588" plant grows, then|strong="G1534" the|strong="G3588" head|strong="G4719", and|strong="G1093" then|strong="G1534" all|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" grain|strong="G4621" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" head|strong="G4719".
29 When|strong="G3752" the|strong="G3588" grain|strong="G2590" is|strong="G3588" ready, the|strong="G3588" man cuts it|strong="G1161". This|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" harvest|strong="G2326" time.”
30 Then|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004", “What|strong="G5101" can|strong="G3004" I|strong="G2532" use to|strong="G3004" show you|strong="G1722" what|strong="G5101" God’s|strong="G2316" kingdom|strong="G0932" is|strong="G2316" like|strong="G3666"? What|strong="G5101" story can|strong="G3004" I|strong="G2532" use to|strong="G3004" explain it|strong="G0846"?
31 God’s kingdom is|strong="G1510" like|strong="G5613" a|strong="G5613" mustard|strong="G4615" seed|strong="G4690", which|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" smaller|strong="G3398" than|strong="G3398" any|strong="G3956" other|strong="G3739" seed|strong="G4690" on|strong="G1909" earth|strong="G1093" that|strong="G3739" you|strong="G3739" can plant.
32 But|strong="G2532" when|strong="G3752" you|strong="G3752" plant it|strong="G0846", it|strong="G0846" grows|strong="G0305" and|strong="G2532" becomes|strong="G1096" the|strong="G3956" largest of|strong="G3956" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" plants|strong="G3001" in|strong="G2532" your|strong="G4160" garden|strong="G3001". It|strong="G0846" has|strong="G1096" branches|strong="G2798" that|strong="G5620" are|strong="G3956" very|strong="G0846" big|strong="G3173". The|strong="G3956" wild birds|strong="G4071" can|strong="G1410" come|strong="G1096" and|strong="G2532" make|strong="G4160" nests there|strong="G1096" and|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1096" protected from|strong="G5259" the|strong="G3956" sun.”
33 Jesus|strong="G0846" used many|strong="G4183" stories like|strong="G2531" these|strong="G3588" to|strong="G1410" teach the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846". He|strong="G2532" taught them|strong="G0846" all|strong="G3588" they|strong="G0846" could|strong="G1410" understand|strong="G0191".
34 He|strong="G0846" always|strong="G3956" used stories to|strong="G2596" teach them|strong="G0846". But|strong="G1161" when|strong="G1161" he|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" alone|strong="G0846" with|strong="G2596" his|strong="G0846" followers, Jesus|strong="G0846" explained everything|strong="G3956" to|strong="G2596" them|strong="G0846".
35 That|strong="G1565" day|strong="G2250", at|strong="G1722" evening|strong="G3798", Jesus|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" his|strong="G0846" followers, “Come|strong="G1096" with|strong="G1722" me|strong="G3004" across|strong="G4008" the|strong="G3588" lake.”
36 So|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" left|strong="G0863" the|strong="G3588" crowd|strong="G3793" behind|strong="G3326" and|strong="G2532" went with|strong="G3326" Jesus|strong="G0846" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" boat|strong="G4143" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" already in|strong="G1722". There|strong="G1510" were|strong="G1510" also|strong="G2532" other|strong="G0243" boats|strong="G4143" that|strong="G0846" went with|strong="G3326" them|strong="G0846".
37 A|strong="G1096" very|strong="G2532" bad wind|strong="G0417" came|strong="G1096" up|strong="G1519" on|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" lake. The|strong="G3588" waves|strong="G2949" were|strong="G1096" coming|strong="G1096" over|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" sides and|strong="G2532" into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" boat|strong="G4143", and|strong="G2532" it|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" almost full of|strong="G1519" water.
38 Jesus|strong="G0846" was|strong="G1510" inside|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" boat, sleeping|strong="G2518" with|strong="G1722" his|strong="G0846" head on|strong="G1909" a|strong="G1510" pillow. The|strong="G3588" followers went and|strong="G2532" woke|strong="G1453" him|strong="G0846". They|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004", “Teacher|strong="G1320", don’t|strong="G3756" you|strong="G4771" care|strong="G3199" about|strong="G1909" us|strong="G3004"? We|strong="G2532" are|strong="G1510" going to|strong="G3004" drown!”
39 Jesus|strong="G3004" stood up and|strong="G2532" gave a|strong="G1096" command|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" wind|strong="G0417" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" water. He|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", “Quiet|strong="G4623"! Be|strong="G1096" still|strong="G5392"!” Then|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" wind|strong="G0417" stopped|strong="G2869", and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" lake|strong="G2281" became|strong="G1096" calm|strong="G1055".
40 He|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" his|strong="G0846" followers, “Why|strong="G5101" are|strong="G1510" you|strong="G1510" afraid|strong="G1169"? Do|strong="G2192" you|strong="G1510" still|strong="G3768" have|strong="G2192" no|strong="G3756" faith|strong="G4102"?”
41 They|strong="G0846" were|strong="G1510" very|strong="G0846" afraid|strong="G5399" and|strong="G2532" asked|strong="G3004" each|strong="G0240" other|strong="G0240", “What|strong="G5101" kind of|strong="G2281" man|strong="G3778" is|strong="G1510" this|strong="G3778"? Even|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" wind|strong="G0417" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" water obey|strong="G5219" him|strong="G0846"!”