Light Under a Basket(A)

21 (B)Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 (C)For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23 (D)If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. (E)With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 (F)For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 And He said, (G)“The kingdom of God is as if a man should [a]scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and (H)grow, he himself does not know how. 28 For the earth (I)yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain ripens, immediately (J)he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed(K)

30 Then He said, (L)“To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

Jesus’ Use of Parables

33 (M)And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, (N)He explained all things to His disciples.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:26 sow

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?(A) 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.(B) 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”(C)

24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.(D) 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”(E)

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like.(F) A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”(G)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed(H)

30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,(I) or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.(J) 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable.(K) But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

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20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; (A)yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And (B)do not turn aside; (C)for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. 22 For (D)the Lord will not forsake (E)His people, (F)for His great name’s sake, because (G)it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord (H)in ceasing to pray for you; but (I)I will teach you the (J)good and the right way. 24 (K)Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for (L)consider what (M)great things He has done for you.

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20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil;(A) yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless(B) idols.(C) They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake(D) of his great name(E) the Lord will not reject(F) his people, because the Lord was pleased to make(G) you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray(H) for you. And I will teach(I) you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear(J) the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart;(K) consider(L) what great(M) things he has done for you.

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