Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

He began again to teach by the sea side. A great multitude had gathered, and he taught them many things by parables. He said, "A sower went out to sow," as he sowed, some seed fell by the way side, and birds came and devoured it.

Some fell on stony ground where it had little soil; immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. When the sun rose, it was scorched because it had no root to sustain it, and so it withered away. Some fell among thorns, where they grew up and choked it, preventing it from producing any fruit.

Other seed fell on good ground, yielding fruit that sprouted and grew in abundance, producing some thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and even a hundredfold. He said to them, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."

When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parable. He said, "To you it is given to know the mystery of God's Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables." Seeing they may see, and not perceive; hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

He said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables?" The sower scatters the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard it, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

And these are they who receive the word with gladness, but have no root in themselves and are short-lived. They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, and they immediately stumble. They are those who hear the word, but have no depth of understanding and are easily distracted by life's worries.

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, making it unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word and receive it, bringing forth fruit with varying degrees of abundance, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.

A lamp is brought to be placed on a stand, not hidden under a bed. For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing kept secret but what will come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen carefully.

Take heed to what you hear: with the measure you use to judge others, it will be measured back to you; and more will be given to those who listen. For whoever has, to him will be given; and he who doesn't have, even what little he has will be taken away from him.

God's Kingdom is like a farmer who casts seed on the earth and then sleeps and rises night and day without knowing how it grows. God's Kingdom is like a man who casts seed on the earth, sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed springs up and grows without him knowing how.

For the earth produces fruit of its own accord; first the blade, then the ear, and finally the full grain in the ear. When the fruit is fully ripe, he immediately brings in the harvest, because the time of reaping has come. And he said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison can we compare it?"

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown in the earth, grows up and becomes greater than all the other plants. When it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, shooting out large branches. And with many such parables he spoke to them the word, as they were able to hear it.

But without using parables, he spoke to them in private and explained everything to his disciples. On that same day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." When they had dismissed the crowds, they took him aboard the boat just as he was, and there were other small boats with him.

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves crashed into the ship so violently that it was now completely overwhelmed. He was in the stern of the boat, reclining on a cushion, while they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

He arose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still." The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He asked them, "Why are you so afraid? Why don't you have faith?" They were filled with awe and said to one another, "What kind of person is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"