The Parable of the Sower
(Mark 4:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)

1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea-side. 2and there was so great a croud of people got about him, that he was oblig'd to go into a bark, where he sat, while the people all stood on the shore.

3Then he talk'd to them much in parables, and said, a sower went out to sow. 4and in sowing, part of the grain fell in the high-way, and the fowls light and peck'd them up: 5another part fell upon stony places, where it had not much earth: and it soon sprung up, because the soil was shallow: 6so that as the sun arose it was scorched, and for want of root, withered away. 7another part fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked it. 8but another part falling upon good soil, became fruitful, some grains yielding an hundred, some sixty, and some thirty. 9he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables
(Mark 4:10–12; Luke 8:9–10)

10And the disciples came, and said to him, why do you speak to them in parables? 11to whom he answered, because you are allowed to know the mysteries of the gospel-dispensation, but to them it is not allowed. 12for to him that uses what he has, shall be given, and he shall have abundantly: but from him that uses it not, shall be taken away, even what he hath. 13therefore speak I to them in parables: because they over-look what they see: and are inattentive to what they hear, neither will they comprehend.

14and in them is fulfilled that prophecy of Esaias, "by hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive.

15for the heart of this people is waxed 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 understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

16but happy are you that your eyes have sight; and that your ears have their hearing. 17for I declare unto you, that many prophets and just men have desired to see what ye see, and have not seen it: and to hear what ye hear, and have not heard it.

The Parable of the Sower Explained
(Mark 4:13–20; Luke 8:11–15)

18Hear then the meaning of this parable of the sower. 19when any one heareth the doctrine of the gospel, and considers it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away what was sown in his heart: he is the person meant by the high-way, where some of the seed was sown: but the stony ground, 20where other seed fell, denotes the man that heareth the word, and at first receives it with pleasure: 21but having no root in him he has only an occasional faith: for as soon as any oppression or persecution arises upon account of the gospel, he presently relapses. 22he that is meant by the thorny ground, where other seed fell, is one that heareth the word: which by cares of this life, and the deceitful love of riches, is soon stifled, and becomes unfruitful: 23but the ground that received the grain, represents those, who hear the word, and consider it, who all become fruitful, some in one degree, and some in another.

The Parable of the Weeds

24Another parable he propos'd to them in these words, the state of the gospel in this world may be compar'd to a man who sowed good grain in his field: 25but while the people slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26but when the blade was sprung up, and bore grain, the tares appeared too. 27so the servants of the yeoman came and said, Sir, did not you sow your field with good grain: how comes it then to have tares? 28'tis some enemy, said he, has done this, the servants replied, shall we go then and pull them up? 29no, said he, lest in pulling up the tares, you should root 30up the wheat with them, let both grow together till the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will thus direct the reapers, first of all gather the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: then lodge the wheat in my barn.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed
(Mark 4:30–34; Luke 13:18–19)

31He propos'd another parable to them, which was this; the gospel-state is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took to sow in his field. 32'tis one indeed of the smallest grains: but when it is grown, it is the largest of the pulse kind, and becomes a tree: so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.

The Parable of the Leaven
(Luke 13:20–21)

33Another of his parables was this; the gospel-state is like unto leaven, which a woman took and mixt with three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

I Will Open My Mouth in Parables

34All these things spake Jesus to the multitude in parables, and did not discourse to them without some parable.

35so that this saying of the prophet was fulfilled, "I will talk in parables, I will utter what has been kept secret from the foundation of the world."

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36Then Jesus leaving the multitude, went into the house: and his disciples coming to him, said, explain to us the parable of the tares of the field. 37he answered them, he that soweth the good seed, is the son of man: 38the field is the world: the good seed are the children of the kingdom: but the tares are the children of the wicked one: 39the enemy that sowed them is the devil: the harvest is the conclusion of the age: and the reapers are the angels. 40as then the tares are gathered and burnt in the fire; so shall it be at the conclusion of the age. 41the son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all that make others offend, and those who do iniquity; 42and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43then shall the just shine out like the sun, in the kingdom of their father, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl

44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field: a man finds this treasure and buries it again, then goes in great joy, sells all that he hath, and purchases that field.

45Again, the heavenly kingdom is like a merchant-man, who is in quest of curious pearls: 46and meeting with one of great value, presently sells all that he has to make the purchase.

The Parable of the Net

47Again, the gospel-kingdom is like a net that is cast into the sea, and draws all sorts of fish: 48when it is full, they drag it to shore, then sit down, and pick out the good to lay by, but throw the bad away. 49so it shall be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and after they have separated the wicked from the just, 50they shall cast the wicked into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

51Then Jesus said to them, have ye understood all this? 52they reply'd, yes, Lord, then said he to them, thus every teacher who is instructed in the doctrine of the gospel, is like the master of a family, who taketh out of his treasure things new and old.

The Rejection at Nazareth
(Mark 6:1–6; Luke 4:16–30)

53When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54and when he was come into his native country, he taught them in their synagogue, in such a manner that they cry'd out with astonishment, how came this man by all this wisdom, and extraordinary power? 55is not this the carpenter's son? is not Mary his mother? and James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas, are they not his brothers? 56and his sisters, don't they live just by us? how came he then by all this? 57and they were scandaliz'd at him, but Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without honour, except in his own country and in his own family. 58and he did not many miracles there, because of their incredulity.