8But as the farmer sowed, other seeds fell on good soil. As a result, they sprouted, they grew well, and then they produced plenty of grain. Some plants bore 30 grains. Some bore 60 grains. Some bore 100 grains.”
9Then Jesus said, “If you want to understand this MTY, you should consider carefully what I have just said.”
10Later, when only the twelve disciples and a few other people were with him, they asked him about the parables.
11He said to them, “People have not understood before the new message about how God wants to rule people's lives. It is to you that this is being made known {that I am making this known}. But I tell about this only ◄in parables/figuratively► to those who have not yet invited God to rule their lives.
12As a result it is true what a prophet has written, Although they see what I do, they do not perceive what it means DOU. Although they hear what I say, they do not understand what it means DOU. So they do not ◄repent/turn away from their sinful behavior► in order that they would be forgiven { God would forgive them}.”
13He also said to them, “◄ I am disappointed that you do not understand this illustration!/Can you not understand this illustration?► RHQ If you do not understand this, ◄you will certainly not understand any of the other illustrations!/how will you understand any of the other illustrations?► RHQ Nevertheless, I will explain it to you.
14In the illustration that I told you, the man who sows seeds represents someone who declares God's message DOU.
15Some people are like the path on which some of the seeds fell. When they hear the message, Satan comes at once and causes them to forget what they have heard.
16Some people are like the ground where the soil was not very deep over rock. When they hear God's message, they immediately accept it with joy.
17But, because the message does not penetrate deeply MET into their hearts/inner beings, they believe it for only a short time. They are like the plants that did not have deep roots. When others treat such people badly or cause them to suffer because they believe, those people who are suffering soon stop believing God's message.
18Some people are like the soil that had roots of thorny weeds in it. Although those people hear God's message,
19they desire to be rich, and they desire to own many other things. So they worry only about material things. The result is that they forget God's message and they do not do the things that God wants them to do.
20But some people are like the good soil. They hear God's message and they accept it and they believe it. Then they do the things that God wants them to do. They are like the good plants that produced 30, 60 or 100 grains.”
21He also told them another parable, saying, “◄People certainly do not light an oil lamp and then bring it in the house in order that it may be put {someone may put it} under a container or under a bed./Would anyone light an oil lamp and then bring it in the house in order that it may be put {someone may put it} under a container or under a bed?► RHQ ◄No, they light it in order that it may be put {someone may put it} in a place where it lights the house. /Wouldn't they light it in order that it may be put {someone may put it} in a place where it lights the house?► RHQ
22Similarly, there are some parts of God's message that people do not know. But he intends that people will understand all the things that they do not know now.
23If you want to understand this, you should consider carefully what you have just heard.”
24Then he said to them, “Consider carefully what you hear me say to you, for God will let you understand to the same degree that you consider what I say. He will let you understand even more than that.
25Those who consider what I say and understand it, God will enable them to understand more. But those who do not consider carefully what I say, they will forget even what they already know.”
26Jesus also said, “God has the power to change people who let him rule their lives. I will illustrate how that can happen MET. A man planted seeds in the ground.
Mark 4
Mark 4:8-26