Luke 8:4-21

Parable of the Sower

4 1When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:
5 "The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.
6 "Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
7 "Other seed fell among * the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.
8 "Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "2He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
9 3His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.
10 And He said, "4To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that 5SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
11 "Now the parable is this: 6the seed is the word of God.
12 "Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
13 "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 "The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15 "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

Parable of the Lamp

16 "Now 7no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.
17 "8For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
18 "So take care how you listen; 9for whoever * has, to him more shall be given; and whoever * does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him."
19 10And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable * to get to Him because of the crowd.
20 And it was reported to Him, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You."
21 But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these 11who hear the word of God and do it."

Cross References 11

  • 1. Luke 8:4-8: {Matthew 13:2-9; Mark 4:1-9}
  • 2. Matthew 11:15; Mark 7:16; Luke 14:35; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; Revelation 3:6, 13, 22; Revelation 13:9
  • 3. Luke 8:9-15: {Matthew 13:10-23; Mark 4:10-20}
  • 4. Matthew 13:11
  • 5. Isaiah 6:9; Matthew 13:14; Acts 28:26
  • 6. 1 Peter 1:23
  • 7. Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21; Luke 11:33
  • 8. Matthew 10:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 12:2
  • 9. Matthew 13:12; Matthew 25:29; Luke 19:26
  • 10. Luke 8:19-21: {Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35}
  • 11. Luke 11:28

Footnotes 5

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