The Purpose of the Parables
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And e when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
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And he said to them, f "To you has been given g the secret of the kingdom of God, but for h those outside everything is in parables,
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i so that
"they j may indeed see but not perceive,
and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they k should turn and be forgiven."
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l And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
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m The sower sows n the word.
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And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.
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And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it o with joy.
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And they have no root in themselves, but p endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately q they fall away.
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And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word,
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but r the cares of s the world and t the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
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But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and u bear fruit, v thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."
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Cross References
Mark 4:34
He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
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Cross References
Matthew 19:11
But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive ...
Colossians 1:27
To them God chose to make known how great among...
1 Corinthians 2:6 - 10
Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, altho...
1 John 2:20
But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and...
1 John 2:27
But the anointing that you received from him ab...
Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Fath...
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Cross References
Romans 16:25
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 5:12 - 13
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
Colossians 4:5
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
1 Thessalonians 4:12
So that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
1 Timothy 3:7
Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
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Cross References
Isaiah 6:9 - 10
And he said, "Go, and say to this people: "'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 29:4
But to this day the Lord has not given you a he...
Jeremiah 5:21
Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who ...
Ezekiel 12:2
Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebelli...
Romans 11:8
As it is written, "God gave them a spirit of st...
2 Corinthians 3:14
But their minds were hardened. For to this day,...
2 Corinthians 4:4
In their case the god of this world has blinded...
Isaiah 42:19 - 20
Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my mess...
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Cross References
Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
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Cross References
Mark 4:13 - 20
And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
Matthew 13:18 - 23
Hear then the parable of the sower:
Luke 8:11 - 15
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
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Cross References
Mark 4:13 - 20
And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
Matthew 13:18 - 23
Hear then the parable of the sower:
Luke 8:11 - 15
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
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Cross References
Matthew 13:37
He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
John 4:36 - 37
Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.
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Cross References
Mark 4:33
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
Mark 2:2
And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.
Luke 1:2
Just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us.
Acts 8:4
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
James 1:21
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
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Cross References
Mark 6:20
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
Isaiah 58:2
Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.
Ezekiel 33:31 - 32
And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
John 5:35
He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
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Cross References
Galatians 1:6
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -
Hosea 6:4
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away.
Galatians 5:7
You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
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Cross References
Matthew 11:6
And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.
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Cross References
Matthew 6:25
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
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Cross References
2 Timothy 4:10
For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
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Cross References
1 Timothy 6:9 - 10
But those who desire to be rich fall into tempt...
1 Timothy 6:17
As for the rich in this present age, charge the...
Mark 10:23
And Jesus looked around and said to his discipl...
Matthew 19:23
And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say ...
Acts 5:1 - 11
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira...
Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another every day, as long as it...
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Cross References
Hosea 14:8
O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.
John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Philippians 1:11
Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Colossians 1:6
Which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing - as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.
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Cross References
Mark 4:8
And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.