Maqus (Mark) — 4
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
1 Once again 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so He got into a boat. Then He sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore.
2 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.
4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.
5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.
6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it did not have deep roots, it died.
7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.
8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
9 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
10 Later, when 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA was alone with the twelve Talmidym and with the others who were gathered around, they asked Him what the parables meant.
11 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,
12 So that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’
13 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA said to them, “If you cannot understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?
14 The sower sows the Dabar of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the Dabar is sown. When they hear the Dabar, ha'shatan comes immediately and takes away the Dabar that was sown in their hearts.
16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the Dabar, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Dabar’s sake, immediately they stumble.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the Dabar of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the Dabar, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the Dabar of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and accept it, and the Dabar bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
Parable of the Lamp
21 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.
22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.
23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
24 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The more attention you pay listen, the more understanding you will be given and you will receive even more.
25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Parable of the Growing Seed
26 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA also said, “The Kingdom of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.
27 Night and day, while he is asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.
28 The Arath produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.
29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”
Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH? What story should I use to illustrate it?
31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds,
32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”
33 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.
34 In fact, in His public ministry 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA never taught without using parables; but afterward, when He was alone with his Talmidym, He explained everything to them.
YAHUSHA Calms the Storm
35 As evening came, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA said to his Talmidym, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.”
36 So they took 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).
37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion, and the Talmidym woke him up, shouting, “Master, do you not care that we are going to drown?”
39 When 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
40 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no Amunah?”
41 The Talmidym were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey Him!”