Introduction
The Sea of Galilee where Jesus taught (v 1).
Jesus points out various ways we can react to his message in the parable of the sower. He shows how we should put faith into action in our lives.
Verses
1Again he began to teach by the seaside. A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea, and sat down. All the multitude were on the land by the sea.
2He taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching,
3“Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow,
5Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.
6When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7Others fell amongst the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8Others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some produced thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much.”
10When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
11He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
12that ‘seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’ ”
13He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables?
14The farmer sows the word.
15The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
16These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.
17They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble.
18Others are those who are sown amongst the thorns. These are those who have heard the word,
19and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20Those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times.”
21He said to them, “Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand?
22For there is nothing hidden, except that it should be made known; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light.
24He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you who hear.
25For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.”
26He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth,
27and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, though he doesn’t know how.
28For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
30He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?
31It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,
32yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.”
33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
34Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”
36Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.
37A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.
38He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?”
39He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
41They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Questions
1. In the first parable, what does the seed represent?
v 14 The farmer sows the word.
2. What sort of people is represented by the seed sown among thorns?
v 18 and 19 Others are those who are sown amongst the thorns. These are those who have heard the word, and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
3. What was the disciples’ problem with the storm, and what, did Jesus say, had caused them to feel that way?
v 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”
Summary Points
- v 1 to 20 A parable (story illustrating a lesson) showing different ways we can react to the message about the coming Kingdom of God
- The farmer sows seed in his field
- The seeds fall into different types of earth, representing different responses from people
- The message is that we should listen to God’s word and respond to it
- v 21 to 34 More parables showing different aspects of the message of the Kingdom of God
- v 21 to 29 The message of the Kingdom of God cannot be hidden and should be listened to
- v 30 to 34 The message of the Kingdom is like a small seed that develops into something as big as a tree
- v 35 to 41 Jesus stills a raging sea and questions the disciples' lack of faith
Questions for further study
Although Mark 5 is not part of the Plan Daily Schedule a Daily chapter page is available.
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