The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

  14g“The sower sows the word.

  15“And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

  16“These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

  17“and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

  18“Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,

  19“and the hcares of this world, ithe deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

  20“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, 5accept it, and bear jfruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

  Light Under a Basket

  (Luke 8:16–18)

  21kAlso He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

  22l“For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

  23m“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

  24Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. nWith the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.

  25o“For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

  The Parable of the Growing Seed

  26And He said, p“The kingdom of God is as if a man should 6scatter seed on the ground,

  27“and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and qgrow, he himself does not know how.

  28“For the earth ryields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.

  29“But when the grain ripens, immediately she puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

  The Parable of the Mustard Seed

  (Matt. 13:31, 32; Luke 13:18, 19)

  30Then He said, t“To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?

  31“It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth;

  32“but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

  Jesus’ Use of Parables

  33uAnd with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.

  34But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, vHe explained all things to His disciples.

  Wind and Wave Obey Jesus

  (Matt. 8:23–27; Luke 8:22–25)

  35wOn the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

  36Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.

  37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

  38But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, x“Teacher, ydo You not care that we are perishing?”

  39Then He arose and zrebuked the wind, and said to the sea, a“Peace,7 be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

  40But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? bHow8 is it that you have no faith?”

  41And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

  Mark 5

  A Demon-Possessed Man Healed

  (Matt. 8:28–9:1; Luke 8:26–39)

  1Then athey came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the 1Gadarenes.

  2And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an bunclean spirit,

  3who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind 2him, not even with chains,

  4because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.

  5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

  6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.

  7And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I cimplore3 You by God that You do not torment me.”

  8For He said to him, d“Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”

  9Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”

  10Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

  11Now a large herd of eswine was feeding there near the mountains.

  12So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.”

  13And 4at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

  14So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.

  15Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been fdemon-possessed and had the legion, gsitting and hclothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

  16And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.

  17Then ithey began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

  18And when He got into the boat, jhe who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.

  19However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”

  20And he departed and began to kproclaim in 5Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all lmarveled.

  A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

  (Matt. 9:18–26; Luke 8:40–56)

  21mNow when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.

  22nAnd behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet

  23and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and olay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”

  24So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

  25Now a certain woman phad a flow of blood for twelve years,

  26and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

  27When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and qtouched His garment.

  28For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

  29Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the 6affliction.

  30And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that rpower had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

  31But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

  32And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.

  33But the woman, sfearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.

  34And He said to her, “Daughter, tyour faith has made you well. uGo in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

  35vWhile He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daug
hter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

  36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only wbelieve.”

  37And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

  38Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw 7a tumult and those who xwept and wailed loudly.

  39When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but ysleeping.”

  40And they ridiculed Him. zBut when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.

  41Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

  42Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were aovercome with great amazement.

  43But bHe commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

  Mark 6

  Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

  (Matt. 13:53–58; Luke 4:16–30)

  1Then aHe went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.

  2And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were bastonished, saying, c“Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!

  3“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and dbrother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they ewere offended at Him.

  4But Jesus said to them, f“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”

  5gNow He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

  6And hHe marveled because of their unbelief. iThen He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

  Sending Out the Twelve

  (Matt. 10:1, 5–15; Luke 9:1–6)

  7jAnd He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out ktwo by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

  8He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—

  9but lto wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.

  10mAlso He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.

  11n“And 1whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, oshake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. 2Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

  12So they went out and preached that people should repent.

  13And they cast out many demons, pand anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

  John the Baptist Beheaded

  (Matt. 14:1–12; Luke 9:7–9)

  14qNow King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore rthese powers are at work in him.”

  15sOthers said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is 3the Prophet, tor like one of the prophets.”

  16uBut when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”

  17For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her.

  18Because John had said to Herod, v“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

  19Therefore Herodias 4held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;

  20for Herod wfeared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he 5did many things, and heard him gladly.

  21xThen an opportune day came when Herod yon his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.

  22And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”

  23He also swore to her, z“Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

  24So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”

  25Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

  26aAnd the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.

  27Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison,

  28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

  29When his disciples heard of it, they came and btook away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

  Feeding the Five Thousand

  (Matt. 14:13–21; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14)

  30cThen the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.

  31dAnd He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For ethere were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

  32fSo they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.

  33But 6the multitudes saw them departing, and many gknew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him.

  34hAnd Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like isheep not having a shepherd. So jHe began to teach them many things.

  35kWhen the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.

  36“Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves 7bread; for they have nothing to eat.”

  37But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, l“Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”

  38But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, m“Five, and two fish.”

  39Then He ncommanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.

  40So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.

  41And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He olooked up to heaven, pblessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.

  42So they all ate and were filled.

  43And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.

  44Now those who had eaten the loaves were 8about five thousand men.

  Jesus Walks on the Sea

  (Matt. 14:22–33; John 6:15–21)

  45qImmediately He 9made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.

  46And when He had sent them away, He rdeparted to the mountain to pray.

  47Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.

  48Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and swould have passed them by.

  49And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a tghost, and cried out;

  50for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, u“Be10 of good cheer! It is I; do not be vafraid.”

  51Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind wceased. And t
hey were greatly xamazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.

  52For ythey had not understood about the loaves, because their zheart was hardened.

  Many Touch Him and Are Made Well

  (Matt. 14:34–36)

  53aWhen they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.

  54And when they came out of the boat, immediately 11the people recognized Him,

  55ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.

  56Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that bthey might just touch the chem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.

  Mark 7

  Defilement Comes from Within

  (Matt. 15:1–20)

  1Then athe Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.

  2Now 1when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with bunwashed hands, 2they found fault.

  3For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands 3in a special way, holding the ctradition of the elders.

  4When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

  5dThen the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

  6He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you ehypocrites, as it is written:

  f‘This people honors Me with their lips,

  But their heart is far from Me.

  7And in vain they worship Me,

  Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

  8“For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—4the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

  9He said to them, “All too well gyou 5reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

  10“For Moses said, h‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, i‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’