Mark 4:23-33

²³If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”

²⁴He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear, for the measure you use will be measured to you, and more will be added to you.

²⁵Because whoever has, to him will be given more, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken.”

²⁶He also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who sows his seed on the ground.

²⁷He sleeps at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

²⁸The earth bears grain by itself: First the blade, then the ear, then the mature grain in the ear.

²⁹When the crop is ripe, he immediately sends in the sickle because the harvest has come.”

³⁰Again he said, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to explain it?

³¹It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth.

³²Yet, when it is sown, it grows and becomes greater than all the garden plants, and it forms large branches, so that the birds of heaven can make their nests in its shade.”

³³With many parables like this he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to understand,