Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



And He said to them, "Take heed what ye hear. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you; and more will be added.


On that day Jesus, having gone out of the house, was sitting by the seaside. And there were gathered to Him great multitudes; so that He, having entered into a boat, sat down, and all the multitudes were standing on the beach. And He spake to them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went forth to sow. read more.
And, in his sowing, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the birds, coming, devoured them. And others fell on the rocky places, where they had not much earth; and straightway they sprang up, because they had not depth of earth. And, the sun having risen, they were scorched; and, because they had no root, they withered away. And others fell upon the thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. And others fell on the good ground, and were yielding fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He that has ears let him hear." And the disciples, having come near, said to Him, "Wherefore dost Thou speak to them in parables?" And He, answering, said to them, "Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall be made to abound; but whosoever has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him. On this account, I speak to them in parables; because, seeing, they see not; and, hearing, they hear not, nor understand. And to them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, 'With hearing ye will hear, and will not understand; and, seeing, ye will see, and will not perceive; for the heart of this people was made gross, and with their ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I should heal them.' But happy are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For verily I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what ye are seeing, and did not see them; and to hear what ye are hearing, and did not hear them. Hear ye, therefore, the parable of the sower. When any one hears the word of the Kingdom, and understands it not, the evil one comes, and snatches away what has been sown in his heart: this is he that was sown by the wayside. And he that was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and straightway with joy receives it; yet he has not root in himself, but is only temporary; and, when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, straightway he stumbles. And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that hears the word; and the anxiety of the age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But he that was sown on the good ground, this is he that hears the word and understands it; who, indeed, bears fruit, and produces, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

And again He began to teach by the seaside. And there is gathered to Him a very great multitude, so that He, having entered into a boat, was sitting in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land. And He taught them many things in parables, and said to them in His teaching, "Hearken! behold the sower went forth to sow. read more.
And it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it. And other fell on the rocky ground where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because of not having depth of earth; and, when the sun rose, it was scorched; and, because it had no root, it was dried up. And other fell among the thorns; and the thorns sprang up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And others fell into the good ground, and were yielding fruit, springing up and growing; and bore, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold." And He said, "He that has ears to hear, let him hear." And, when He was alone, those who were about Him with the twelve asked Him as to the parables. And He said to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those without all things are done in parables; that, seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and, hearing, they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn, and be forgiven." And He saith to them, "Know ye not this parable? And how will ye know all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are those by the wayside, where the word is sown; and, when they hear, straightway Satan comes, and catches away the word which has been sown in them. And these likewise are those sown upon the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, straightway with joy receive it; and they have no root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, straightway they stumble. And others are those sown among the thorns. These are those who heard the word, and the anxieties of the age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires about other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And these are the ones sown on the good ground: such as hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold." And He said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under the measure, or under the bed! Is it not, that it may be put on the lampstand? For there is nothing hid, except that it should be manifested; nor was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. If any one has ears to hear, let him hear." And He said to them, "Take heed what ye hear. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you; and more will be added. For he that has, to him shall be given; and he that has not, from him shall be taken away even what he has."

And, when a large multitude was coming together, and those from city after city were coming to Him, He spake through a parable: "The sower went forth to sow his seed. And in his sowing some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the birds of the heaven devoured it. And another fell upon the rock; and, springing up, it was withered because of not having moisture. read more.
And another fell amid the thorns; and the thorns growing with it choked it. And another fell into the good ground; and, growing, it produced fruit, a hundredfold." Saying these things, He was crying aloud, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." And His disciples were asking Him, what this parable might be. And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables; that, seeing, they may not see, and, hearing, they may not understand. Now this is the parable: The seed is the word of God. And those by the wayside are those who heard; then the Devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart; lest, having believed, they should be saved. "And those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root; who, for a season, believe, and in time of temptation fall away. "And that which fell among the thorns, these are those who heard; and, going forth, they are choked with anxieties, and riches, and pleasures of life, and bear no fruit to perfection. "And that in the good ground, these are such as, in a good and honest heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bear fruit with patience. "And no one, having lighted a lamp, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a lamp-stand, that those coming in may see the light; for nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; nor hidden, that shall not be known, and become manifest. Take heed, therefore, how ye hear; for whosoever has, to him shall be given; and whosoever has not, even what he seems to have shall be taken from him."


And, as they were hearing these things, adding, He spake a parable, because He was nigh to Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was about immediately to appear. He said, therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And, calling ten servants of his, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' read more.
But his citizens were hating him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, 'We do not wish this man to be king over us.' And it came to pass, when he came back, having received the kingdom, that he commanded the servants to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they accomplished in business. "And the first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your pound gained ten pounds.' And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your pound gained five pounds.' And he said also to this man, 'Be thou also over five cities.' And the other came, saying, 'Lord, behold, your pound which I had lying away in a napkin; for I feared you, because you are a harsh man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.' He says to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, O evil servant! You knew that I am a harsh man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping where I did not sow; and wherefore did you not put my money in bank; and I, at my coming, would have exacted it with interest.' And he said to those standing by, 'Take away from him the pound, and give it to him who has the ten pounds.' And they said, 'Lord, he has ten pounds.' 'I say to you that to every one who has shall be given; but from him who has not shall be taken away even that which he has. But, these my enemies, who did not wish me to be king over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.'"

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like to a man who was a householder, who went forth early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard; and, having agreed with the laborers for a denary a day, he sent them into his vineyard. "And, going forth about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace idle; read more.
and to them he said, 'Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.' And they went away. "Again, going forth about the sixth and the ninth hour, he did likewise. And about the eleventh hour, going forth, he found others standing, and he says to them, 'Why stand ye here all the day idle?' They say to him, 'Because no man hired us.' He says to them, 'Go ye also into the vineyard.' "And, evening having come, the lord of the vineyard says to his steward, 'Call the laborers, and pay them the wages, beginning from the last to the first.' "And those who were hired about the eleventh hour, coming, received, each, a denary. And the first, coming, supposed that they would receive more; and they also received, each, a denary. And, having received it, they murmured against the householder, saying, 'These last wrought but one hour, and you made them equal with us, who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!' "But he, answering, said to one of them, 'Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denary? Take up your own, and go. But I will to give to the last even as to you: Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?' So the last shall be first, and the first last.

Another parable He set before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field; and, while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares in the midst of the wheat, and went away. And, when the blade sprang up, and produced fruit, then appeared the tares also. read more.
And the servants of the house-holder, corning near, said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Whence, then, has it tares?' And he said to them, 'An enemy did this.' The servants say to him, 'Do you wish, then, that we, going, should gather them up?' He says, 'No; lest, while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them. Suffer both to grow together until the harvest. And, in the season of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them into bundles, with the view of burning them; but gather the wheat into my barn.'" Another parable He set before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man, having taken, sowed in his field: which, indeed, is less than all the seeds; but, when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and roost in its branches." Another parable He spake to them: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven, which a woman, taking, hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." All these things Jesus spake to the multitudes in parables; and, without a parable, He was wont to speak nothing to them; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world." Then, leaving the multitudes, He went into the house; and His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." And, answering, He said, "He that sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world: and the good seed, these are the sons of the Kingdom; but the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them is the Devil; and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. As, therefore, the tares are gathered up, and are burned with fire, so shall it be in the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of the Kingdom all the stumbling-blocks, and those who do iniquity; and they will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth! Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He that has ears let him hear. "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and in his joy he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls; and, having found one pearl of great price, departing, he has sold all that he had, and bought it. "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net, cast into the sea, and gathering of every kind; which, when it was filled having drawn it up again upon the beach, and sitting down, they gathered the good into vessels, but cast away the bad. So will it be at the end of the age. The angels will go forth, and will separate the wicked from the midst of the righteous, and will cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth. "Did ye understand all these things?" They say to Him, "Yes;" and He said to them, "Therefore, every scribe, having been made a disciple to the Kingdom of heaven, is like a householder, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old."

Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a king who wished to make a reckoning with his servants. And, when he began to reckon, there was brought to him one debtor of ten thousand talents; but, as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded that he be sold, and his wife, and his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. read more.
The servant, falling down, therefore, was bowing to him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And, moved with compassion, the lord of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt. But, going forth, that servant found one of his fellow-servants, who was owing him a hundred denaries; and, having laid hold of him, he was choking him, saying, 'Pay, if you are owing anything!' His fellow-servant, falling down, therefore, was entreating him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you! And he would not; but, going away, he cast him into prison, till he should pay what was due. Therefore, his fellow-servants, seeing what was done, were exceedingly grieved; and, going, they made known to their lord all that was done. "Then, calling him to him, his lord says to him, 'Evil servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you besought me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow-servant, as I had mercy on you?' And, being angry, his lord delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all the debt. So also will My Heavenly Father do to you, if ye forgive not, each one his brother, from your hearts."

And one of those reclining with Him, hearing these things, said to Him, "happy is he who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God!" But He said to him, "A certain man was making a great supper, and invited many. And he sent forth his servant, at the hour of the supper, to say to those invited, 'Come; because all things are now ready.' read more.
"And they all, with one consent, began to make excuse. The first said to him, 'I bought a field, and I must go out to see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to prove them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I married a wife; and, therefore, I cannot come.' "And, coming near, the servant reported these things to his lord. Then the householder, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city; and bring in here the poor, and maimed, and blind, and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and still there is room.' And the lord said to the servant, 'Go forth into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled; for I say to you, that no one of those men who have been invited shall taste of my supper."

"Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be likened to ten virgins, who, taking their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five wise; for the foolish, taking their lamps, did not take oil with them; read more.
but the wise took oil in the vessels with their lamps. Now, the bridegroom tarrying, they all became drowsy, and were sleeping; but at midnight a cry has been made, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him!' "Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Perhaps there will not be enough for us and you; go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And, while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and the ready ones went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. "And afterward come also the remaining virgins, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he, answering, said, 'Verily I say to you, I know you not.' Watch, therefore, because ye know not the day, nor the hour! "For it is as when a man, going abroad, called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods: and to one, indeed, he gave five talents; and to another, two; and to another, one??o each according to his own ability; and he went abroad. "Straightway the one receiving the five talents, going, traded with them, and gained five others. Likewise he also who received two gained other two. And he who received one, going away, digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. And, after a long time, the lord of those servants comes, and makes a reckoning with them. And the one who received the five talents, coming near brought other five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; behold, I gained other five talents.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many; enter into the joy of your lord.' "He also, who received the two talents, coming near, said, 'You delivered to me two talents; behold, I gained other two talents.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things: enter into the joy of your lord.' And he who received the one talent, coming near said, 'Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man; reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter; and, being afraid, going away, I hid your talent in the earth: behold, you have your own.' But his lord, answering, said to him, 'Wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter. It behooved you, therefore, to put my money to the bankers; and, at my coming, I would have received my own with interest. Take from him, therefore, the talent, and give it to him who has the ten talents.' For, to every one that has, shall be given, and he shall be made to abound; but from him that has not shall be taken away even what he has; and cast out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth!

"The Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a man?? king??ho made a marriage feast for his son. And he sent forth his servants to call those who had been invited to the marriage feast, and they were not willing to come. "Again he sent forth other servants, saying, 'Say to those who have been invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatlings have been slain, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.' read more.
"But they, neglecting it, went away; one, indeed, to his own farm, another to his merchandise; and the rest, having laid hold on his servants, maltreated and slew them. "And the king was enraged; and, sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he says to his servants, 'The marriage feast, indeed is ready; but those who had been invited were not worthy; go, therefore, to the outlets of the highways; and as many as ye find, invite to the marriage feast.' And the servants, going out into the highways, gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good; and the bridal-hall was filled with guests. "And he saw there a man not having on a wedding-garment; and he says to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here, not having on a wedding-garment?' And He was speechless. Then said the king to the attendants, 'Having bound his feet and hands, cast him forth into the outer darkness:' there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth! For many are called, but few chosen.'"

And He said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under the measure, or under the bed! Is it not, that it may be put on the lampstand? For there is nothing hid, except that it should be manifested; nor was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. If any one has ears to hear, let him hear." read more.
And He said to them, "Take heed what ye hear. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you; and more will be added. For he that has, to him shall be given; and he that has not, from him shall be taken away even what he has." And He said, "So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth; and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knows not how. The earth of itself bears fruit; first the blade, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But, when the fruit permits, straightway he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest has come." And He said, "How shall we liken the Kingdom of God, or in what parable shall we set it forth? It is like to a grain of mustard, which when it is sown upon the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are upon the earth, yet, when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under its shadow." And with many such parables He spake the word to them, as they were able to hear it. And without a parable He spake not to them; but privately to His disciples He explained all things.

And He said, "To what is the Kingdom of God like? and to what shall I liken it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man, taking, cast into his own garden; and it grew, and became a tree; and the birds of the heaven lodged in its branches." And again He said, "To what shall I liken the Kingdom of God? read more.
It is like leaven which a woman, taking, hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened."


On that day Jesus, having gone out of the house, was sitting by the seaside. And there were gathered to Him great multitudes; so that He, having entered into a boat, sat down, and all the multitudes were standing on the beach. And He spake to them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went forth to sow. read more.
And, in his sowing, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the birds, coming, devoured them. And others fell on the rocky places, where they had not much earth; and straightway they sprang up, because they had not depth of earth. And, the sun having risen, they were scorched; and, because they had no root, they withered away. And others fell upon the thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. And others fell on the good ground, and were yielding fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He that has ears let him hear." And the disciples, having come near, said to Him, "Wherefore dost Thou speak to them in parables?" And He, answering, said to them, "Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall be made to abound; but whosoever has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him. On this account, I speak to them in parables; because, seeing, they see not; and, hearing, they hear not, nor understand. And to them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, 'With hearing ye will hear, and will not understand; and, seeing, ye will see, and will not perceive; for the heart of this people was made gross, and with their ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I should heal them.' But happy are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For verily I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what ye are seeing, and did not see them; and to hear what ye are hearing, and did not hear them. Hear ye, therefore, the parable of the sower. When any one hears the word of the Kingdom, and understands it not, the evil one comes, and snatches away what has been sown in his heart: this is he that was sown by the wayside. And he that was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and straightway with joy receives it; yet he has not root in himself, but is only temporary; and, when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, straightway he stumbles. And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that hears the word; and the anxiety of the age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But he that was sown on the good ground, this is he that hears the word and understands it; who, indeed, bears fruit, and produces, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Another parable He set before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field; and, while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares in the midst of the wheat, and went away. And, when the blade sprang up, and produced fruit, then appeared the tares also. And the servants of the house-holder, corning near, said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Whence, then, has it tares?' And he said to them, 'An enemy did this.' The servants say to him, 'Do you wish, then, that we, going, should gather them up?' He says, 'No; lest, while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them. Suffer both to grow together until the harvest. And, in the season of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them into bundles, with the view of burning them; but gather the wheat into my barn.'" Another parable He set before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man, having taken, sowed in his field: which, indeed, is less than all the seeds; but, when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and roost in its branches." Another parable He spake to them: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven, which a woman, taking, hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." All these things Jesus spake to the multitudes in parables; and, without a parable, He was wont to speak nothing to them; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world." Then, leaving the multitudes, He went into the house; and His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." And, answering, He said, "He that sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world: and the good seed, these are the sons of the Kingdom; but the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them is the Devil; and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. As, therefore, the tares are gathered up, and are burned with fire, so shall it be in the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of the Kingdom all the stumbling-blocks, and those who do iniquity; and they will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth! Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He that has ears let him hear. "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and in his joy he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls; and, having found one pearl of great price, departing, he has sold all that he had, and bought it. "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net, cast into the sea, and gathering of every kind; which, when it was filled having drawn it up again upon the beach, and sitting down, they gathered the good into vessels, but cast away the bad. So will it be at the end of the age. The angels will go forth, and will separate the wicked from the midst of the righteous, and will cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth. "Did ye understand all these things?" They say to Him, "Yes;" and He said to them, "Therefore, every scribe, having been made a disciple to the Kingdom of heaven, is like a householder, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old."

And He taught them many things in parables, and said to them in His teaching, "Hearken! behold the sower went forth to sow. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it. read more.
And other fell on the rocky ground where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because of not having depth of earth; and, when the sun rose, it was scorched; and, because it had no root, it was dried up. And other fell among the thorns; and the thorns sprang up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And others fell into the good ground, and were yielding fruit, springing up and growing; and bore, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold." And He said, "He that has ears to hear, let him hear." And, when He was alone, those who were about Him with the twelve asked Him as to the parables. And He said to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those without all things are done in parables; that, seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and, hearing, they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn, and be forgiven." And He saith to them, "Know ye not this parable? And how will ye know all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are those by the wayside, where the word is sown; and, when they hear, straightway Satan comes, and catches away the word which has been sown in them. And these likewise are those sown upon the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, straightway with joy receive it; and they have no root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, straightway they stumble. And others are those sown among the thorns. These are those who heard the word, and the anxieties of the age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires about other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And these are the ones sown on the good ground: such as hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold." And He said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under the measure, or under the bed! Is it not, that it may be put on the lampstand? For there is nothing hid, except that it should be manifested; nor was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. If any one has ears to hear, let him hear." And He said to them, "Take heed what ye hear. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you; and more will be added. For he that has, to him shall be given; and he that has not, from him shall be taken away even what he has." And He said, "So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth; and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knows not how. The earth of itself bears fruit; first the blade, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But, when the fruit permits, straightway he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest has come." And He said, "How shall we liken the Kingdom of God, or in what parable shall we set it forth? It is like to a grain of mustard, which when it is sown upon the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are upon the earth, yet, when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under its shadow." And with many such parables He spake the word to them, as they were able to hear it.