|
4:42-44
When day came he went out to a desert
place and the crowds looked for him.
They came to him and detained him so he could not leave them. He said to them. It behooves me to go to other cities to preach the kingdom of God because that was why I was
sent. And he was proclaiming in the synagogues of Judea
|
8:1-21
It came to pass that he afterwards journeyed through every city and village proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God.
The twelve (disciples) were with him. There were also certain women with them
who had been healed from evil spirits and from infirmities. There was Mary called Magdalene from whom
seven demons had gone out. There was
Joanna wife of Chuza the steward of Herod.
There was Susanna and many others who ministered to them out of
their possessions. And when a great
crowd came together and people in each city were going to him, he spoke a
parable. "There was a person
who went out to sow seed. As he
sowed some fell by the wayside and was trodden underfoot. The birds of the air devoured it. Other seed fell on the rock and once it
was grown it withered because it did not have moisture. Other seed fell into thorns and on
growing up with the thorns it was choked.
Other (seed) fell into good soil.
It grew up and produced fruit a hundredfold. "On saying these things he called
out. "Whoever has ears, let him hear." His disciples questioned him about what
this parable may mean. He said.
"To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
But the rest are given parables so 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 the ones by the wayside are those who hear it. Then the devil comes and takes the word
from their heart lest believing they may be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who
when they hear receive the word with joy.
But they do not have roots.
They believe for a time but when in a time of trial they
withdraw. There are the ones who are
like the seed falling into the thorns.
These are the ones who hear.
But they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of
life. They do not bear fruit to
maturity. And there the ones who are
like the good soil. These are those
who have a good and worthy heart. On
hearing the word they hold fast to it and bear fruit in patience.
Now
no one on having lit a lamp hides it with a vessel. Nor do they put it
under a couch. But they put it on a
lamp stand so that those who come in may see the light. There is nothing hidden which will not
become manifest. There is nothing
secret which will not be known and be manifest in time to come. Take note therefore how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to
him (her). Whoever does not have,
even what he appears to have will be taken away. And it happened his mother
and his brothers were unable to come up to him because of the crowd. This was reported to him. Your mother and your brothers are
standing outside and wish to see you.
But he, answering said to them.
The people hearing and doing the word of God are my mother and my
brothers.
|