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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Mark 4 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/mark/4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/mark/4-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > Mark 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../mark/3.htm" title="Mark 3">◄</a> Mark 4 <a href="../mark/5.htm" title="Mark 5">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/mark/4.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Once again Jesus 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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span><span class="red">“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="red">As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="red">Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="red">But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="red">Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="red">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!”</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Then he said, <span class="red">“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>He replied, <span class="red">“You are permitted to understand the secret<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span><span class="red">so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:</span></p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"><span class="red">‘When they see what I do,</span></p><p class="line2"><span class="red">they will learn nothing.</span></p><p class="line1"><span class="red">When they hear what I say,</span></p><p class="line2"><span class="red">they will not understand.</span></p><p class="line1"><span class="red">Otherwise, they will turn to me</span></p><p class="line2"><span class="red">and be forgiven.’<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a>”</span></p><p class="b"/><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Then Jesus said to them, <span class="red">“If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="red">The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span><span class="red">The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="red">The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="red">But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="red">The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word,</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="red">but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span><span class="red">And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”</span></p><p class="hdg">Parable of the Lamp</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Then Jesus asked them, <span class="red">“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.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="red">For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span><span class="red">Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Then he added, <span class="red">“Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">c</span></a>—and you will receive even more.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span><span class="red">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.”</span></p><p class="hdg">Parable of the Growing Seed</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Jesus also said, <span class="red">“The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span><span class="red">Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span><span class="red">The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span><span class="red">And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”</span></p><p class="hdg">Parable of the Mustard Seed</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Jesus said, <span class="red">“How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span><span class="red">It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds,</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span><span class="red">but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.</p><p class="hdg">Jesus Calms the Storm</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, <span class="red">“Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, <span class="red">“Silence! Be still!”</span> Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>Then he asked them, <span class="red">“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">4:11 </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">mystery.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">4:12 </span><span class="ft">Isa 6:9-10 (Greek version).</span><br><span class="fn">c</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">4:24 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">The measure you give will be the measure you get back.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of <a href="http://www.tyndale.com">Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</a>, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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