THE WISDOM OF THE AGES
And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered
unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in
the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he
taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine:
"Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: and it came to pass,
as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came
and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not
much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of
earth: but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no
root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns
grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on
good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and
brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred."
And he said unto them:
"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked
of him the parable. And he said unto them:
"Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but
unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that
seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and
not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their
sins should be forgiven them."
And he said unto them:
"Know ye not this parable? And how then will ye know all parables?
The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where
the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately,
and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are
they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard
the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in
themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or
persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the
lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh
unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as
hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold,
some sixty, and some an hundred."
And he said unto them:
"Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not
to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not
be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should
come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."
And he said unto them:
"Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be
measured to you; and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he
that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall
be taken even that which he hath."
And he said:
"So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the
ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should
spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth
fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full
corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he
putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."
And he said:
"Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison
shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when
it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the
earth: but when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than
all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the
air may lodge under the shadow of it."
And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were
able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and
when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them:
"Let us pass over unto the other side."
And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was
in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And
there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so
that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship,
asleep on a pillow; and they awake him, and say unto him:
"Master, carest thou not that we perish?"
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea:
"Peace, be still."
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And he said unto them:
"Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?"
And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another:
"What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"