Mark 4:1–11

The Parable of the Sower

4 Again q He began to teach r by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea. 2 He taught them many things in parables, s and in His teaching t He said to them: 3 “Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow. u 4 As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path, v and the birds came and ate w it up. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it sprang up right away, x since it didn’t have deep soil. 6 When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn’t have a root, it withered. y 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce a crop. 8 Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased z 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.” a 9 Then He said, “Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!” b

Why Jesus Used Parables

10 When He was alone with the Twelve, c those who were around Him asked Him about the parables. d 11 He answered them, “The * secret e of the kingdom of God f has been given to you, but to those outside, g everything comes in parables