The Parable of the Sower
(Matthew 13:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)

1And again He began to teach by the seaside. And there is gathered to Him a very great multitude, so that He, having entered into a boat, was sitting in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land. 2And He taught them many things in parables, and said to them in His teaching,

3"Hearken! behold the sower went forth to sow. 4And it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it. 5And other fell on the rocky ground where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because of not having depth of earth; 6and, when the sun rose, it was scorched; and, because it had no root, it was dried up. 7And other fell among the thorns; and the thorns sprang up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8And others fell into the good ground, and were yielding fruit, springing up and growing; and bore, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold." 9And He said, "He that has ears to hear, let him hear."

The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables
(Matthew 13:10–17; Luke 8:9–10)

10And, when He was alone, those who were about Him with the twelve asked Him as to the parables. 11And He said to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those without all things are done in parables; 12that, seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and, hearing, they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn, and be forgiven."

The Parable of the Sower Explained
(Matthew 13:18–23; Luke 8:11–15)

13And He saith to them, "Know ye not this parable? And how will ye know all the parables? 14The sower sows the word. 15And these are those by the wayside, where the word is sown; and, when they hear, straightway Satan comes, and catches away the word which has been sown in them. 16And these likewise are those sown upon the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, straightway with joy receive it; 17and they have no root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, straightway they stumble. 18And others are those sown among the thorns. These are those who heard the word, 19and the anxieties of the age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires about other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20And these are the ones sown on the good ground: such as hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold."

The Lesson of the Lamp
(Luke 8:16–18)

21And He said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under the measure, or under the bed! Is it not, that it may be put on the lampstand? 22For there is nothing hid, except that it should be manifested; nor was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. 23If any one has ears to hear, let him hear." 24And He said to them, "Take heed what ye hear. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you; and more will be added. 25For he that has, to him shall be given; and he that has not, from him shall be taken away even what he has."

The Seed Growing Secretly

26And He said, "So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth; 27and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knows not how. 28The earth of itself bears fruit; first the blade, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29But, when the fruit permits, straightway he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest has come."

The Parable of the Mustard Seed
(Matthew 13:31–32; Luke 13:18–19)

30And He said, "How shall we liken the Kingdom of God, or in what parable shall we set it forth? 31It is like to a grain of mustard, which when it is sown upon the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are upon the earth, 32yet, when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under its shadow."

33And with many such parables He spake the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34And without a parable He spake not to them; but privately to His disciples He explained all things.

Jesus Calms the Storm
(Matthew 8:23–27; Luke 8:22–25)

35And on that day, when evening came, He saith to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 36And, leaving the multitude, they take Him with them, as He was, in the boat. And other boats were with Him. 37And there arises a great storm of wind, and the waves were beating into the boat, so that the boat was now being filled. 38And He Himself was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion; and they awake Him, and say to Him, "Teacher, is it no concern to Thee that we perish?" 39And, having been roused up, He rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And He said to them, "Why are ye fearful? Have ye not yet faith?" 41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, "Who, then, is This, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"