1And he began again to teach by the sea side : and there was gathered unto him a great multitude , so that he entered into a ship , and sat in the sea ; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land . 2And he taught them many things by parables , and said unto them in his doctrine , 3Hearken ; Behold , there went out a sower to sow : 4And it came to pass , as he sowed , some fell by the way side , and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up . 5And some fell on stony ground , where it had not much earth ; and immediately it sprang up , because it had no depth of earth : 6But when the sun was up , it was scorched ; and because it had no root , it withered away . 7And some fell among thorns , and the thorns grew up , and choked it , and it yielded no fruit . 8And other fell on good ground , and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased ; and brought forth , some thirty , and some sixty , and some an hundred . 9And he said unto them , He that hath ears to hear , let him hear . 10And when he was alone , they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable . 11And he said unto them , Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God : but unto them that are without , all these things are done in parables : 12That 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 . 13And he said unto them , Know ye not this parable ? and how then will ye know all parables ? 14The sower soweth the word . 15And 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 . 16And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground ; who , when they have heard the word , immediately receive it with gladness ; 17And 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 are offended . 18And these are they which are sown among thorns ; such as hear the word , 19And 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 . 20And these are they which are sown on good ground ; such as hear the word , and receive it , and bring forth fruit , some thirtyfold , some sixty , and some an hundred .
The Purpose of Parables
21And he said unto them , Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel , or under a bed ? and not to be set on a candlestick ? 22For there is nothing hid , which shall not be manifested ; neither was any thing kept secret , but that it should come abroad . 23If any man have ears to hear , let him hear . 24And he said unto them , Take heed what ye hear : with what measure ye mete , it shall be measured to you : and unto you that hear shall more be give n. 25For he that hath , to him shall be given : and he that hath not , from him shall be taken even that which he hath .
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26And he said , So is the kingdom of God , as if a man should cast seed into the ground ; 27And should sleep , and rise night and day , and the seed should spring and grow up , he knoweth not how . 28For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself ; first the blade , then the ear , after that the full corn in the ear . 29But when the fruit is brought forth , immediately he putteth in the sickle , because the harvest is come .
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30And he said , Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God ? or with what comparison shall we compare it ? 31It is like a grain of mustard seed , which , when it is sown in the earth , is less than all the seeds that be in the earth : 32But 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 the shadow of it . 33And with many such parables spake he the word unto them , as they were able to hear it . 34But without a parable spake he not unto them : and when they were alone , he expounded all things to his disciples .
Jesus Calms the Storm
35And the same day , when the even was come , he saith unto them , Let us pass over unto the other side . 36And when they had sent away the multitude , they took him even as he was in the ship . And there were also with him other little ships . 37And there arose a great storm of wind , and the waves beat into the ship , so that it was now full . 38And he was in the hinder part of the ship , asleep on a pillow : and they awake him , and say unto him , Master , carest thou not that we perish ? 39And he arose , and rebuked the wind , and said unto the sea , Peace , be still . And the wind ceased , and there was a great calm . 40And he said unto them , Why are ye so fearful ? how is it that ye have no faith ? 41And they feared exceedingly , and said one to another , What manner of man is this , that even the wind and the sea obey him ?