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Mark 4:10-25
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Mark 4:10-25
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
The Purpose of the Parables. 10 And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. 11 [a]He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, 12 so that
‘they may look and see but not perceive,
and hear and listen but not understand,
in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.’”(A)
13 [b]Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?(B) Then how will you understand any of the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. 17 But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, 19 but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. 20 But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”
Parable of the Lamp. 21 (C)He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?(D) 22 For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.(E) 23 Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” 24 He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.(F) 25 To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”(G)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 4:11–12 These verses are to be viewed against their background in Mk 3:6, 22 concerning the unbelief and opposition Jesus encountered in his ministry. It is against this background that the distinction in Jesus’ method becomes clear of presenting the kingdom to the disbelieving crowd in one manner and to the disciples in another. To the former it is presented in parables and the truth remains hidden; for the latter the parable is interpreted and the mystery is partially revealed because of their faith; see notes on Mt 13:11 and Mt 13:13.
- 4:13–20 See note on Mt 13:18–23.
Mark 4:10-25
New International Version
Mark 4:10-25
New International Version
10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God(A) has been given to you. But to those on the outside(B) everything is said in parables 12 so that,
“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’[a]”(C)
13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word.(D) 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan(E) comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth(F) and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
A Lamp on a Stand
21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?(G) 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.(H) 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”(I)
24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.(J) 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”(K)
Footnotes
- Mark 4:12 Isaiah 6:9,10
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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