Chapter Overview Key ideas, context & where Christ is 1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages , proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God . And the twelve were with him ,
2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities : Mary , called Magdalene , from whom seven demons had gone out ,
3 and Joanna , the wife of Chuza , Herod ’s household manager , and Susanna , and many others , who provided for them out of their means .
4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him , he said in a parable ,
5 “A sower went out to sow his seed . And as he sowed , some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot , and the birds of the air devoured it .
6 And some fell on the rock , and as it grew up , it withered away , because it had no moisture .
7 And some fell among thorns , and the thorns grew up with it and choked it .
8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold .” As he said these things , he called out , “He who has ears to hear , let him hear .”
9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant ,
10 he said , “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God , but for others they are in parables , so that ‘seeing they may not see , and hearing they may not understand .’
11 Now the parable is this : The seed is the word of God .
12 The ones along the path are those who have heard ; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts , so that they may not believe and be saved .
13 And the ones on the rock are those who , when they hear the word , receive it with joy . But these have no root ; they believe for a while , and in time of testing fall away .
14 And as for what fell among the thorns , they are those who hear , but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life , and their fruit does not mature .
15 As for that in the good soil , they are those who , hearing the word , hold it fast in an honest and good heart , and bear fruit with patience .
16 “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed , but puts it on a stand , so that those who enter may see the light .
17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest , nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light .
18 Take care then how you hear , for to the one who has , more will be given , and from the one who has not , even what he thinks that he has will be taken away .”
19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him , but they could not reach him because of the crowd .
20 And he was told , “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside , desiring to see you .”
21 But he answered them , “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it .”
22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples , and he said to them , “Let us go across to the other side of the lake .” So they set out ,
23 and as they sailed he fell asleep . And a windstorm came down on the lake , and they were filling with water and were in danger .
24 And they went and woke him , saying , “Master , Master , we are perishing !” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves , and they ceased , and there was a calm .
25 He said to them , “Where is your faith ?” And they were afraid , and they marveled , saying to one another , “Who then is this , that he commands even winds and water , and they obey him ?”
26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes , which is opposite Galilee .
27 When Jesus had stepped out on land , there met him a man from the city who had demons . For a long time he had worn no clothes , and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs .
28 When he saw Jesus , he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice , “What have you to do with me , Jesus , Son of the Most High God ? I beg you , do not torment me .”
29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man . (For many a time it had seized him . He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles , but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert .)
30 Jesus then asked him , “What is your name ?” And he said , “Legion ,” for many demons had entered him .
31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss .
32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside , and they begged him to let them enter these . So he gave them permission .
33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs , and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned .
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened , they fled and told it in the city and in the country .
35 Then people went out to see what had happened , and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone , sitting at the feet of Jesus , clothed and in his right mind , and they were afraid .
36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed .
37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them , for they were seized with great fear . So he got into the boat and returned .
38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him , but Jesus sent him away , saying ,
39 “Return to your home , and declare how much God has done for you .” And he went away , proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him .
40 Now when Jesus returned , the crowd welcomed him , for they were all waiting for him .
41 And there came a man named Jairus , who was a ruler of the synagogue . And falling at Jesus ’ feet , he implored him to come to his house ,
42 for he had an only daughter , about twelve years of age , and she was dying . As Jesus went , the people pressed around him .
43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years , and though she had spent all her living on physicians , she could not be healed by anyone .
44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment , and immediately her discharge of blood ceased .
45 And Jesus said , “Who was it that touched me ?” When all denied it , Peter said , “Master , the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you !”
46 But Jesus said , “Someone touched me , for I perceive that power has gone out from me .”
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden , she came trembling , and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him , and how she had been immediately healed .
48 And he said to her , “Daughter , your faith has made you well ; go in peace .”
49 While he was still speaking , someone from the ruler ’s house came and said , “Your daughter is dead ; do not trouble the Teacher any more .”
50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him , “Do not fear ; only believe , and she will be well .”
51 And when he came to the house , he allowed no one to enter with him , except Peter and John and James , and the father and mother of the child .
52 And all were weeping and mourning for her , but he said , “Do not weep , for she is not dead but sleeping .”
53 And they laughed at him , knowing that she was dead .
54 But taking her by the hand he called , saying , “Child , arise .”
55 And her spirit returned , and she got up at once . And he directed that something should be given her to eat .
56 And her parents were amazed , but he charged them to tell no one what had happened .
Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.