Mark 4:28-35

²⁸For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

²⁹But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

³⁰He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?

³¹It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,

³²yet when it is sown, grows up and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.”

³³With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.

³⁴Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

³⁵On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”