4:1 And Yehoshua (יהושע) began again to say the shiurim by the sea side: and there was gathered to Him a great multitude, so that He entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
4:2 And Yehoshua (יהושע) taught them many things by meshalim (parables), and said to them in his Shiurim (Torah talk),
4:3 Listen; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4:4 And it came to pass, as He sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
4:5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
4:6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
4:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
4:8 And other fell on adamah tovah, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
4:9 And Yehoshua (יהושע) said to them:
He that has ears to hear, let Him hear.
Why Yehoshua (יהושע) taught in parables?
(Matt 13:10-17; Luke 8:9-10)
4:10 And when He was alone, they that were about Him with the twelve asked of Him the meshalim (parables).
4:11 And Yehoshua (יהושע) said to them:
to you it is given to know the mystery of the Malkut Elohim: but to them that are without, all [these] things are done in meshalim (parables):
4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.
Explanation of the parable of the sower
4:13 And Yehoshua (יהושע) said to them:
Know you not this parable?
and how then will you know all meshalim?
4:14 The sower sows the word.
4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, satan cometh immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
4:20 And these are they which are sown on adamah tovah; such as hear the word, and receive [it], and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
(Luke 8:16-18)
4:21 And Yehoshua (יהושע) said to them:
Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
4:23 If any man have ears to hear, let Him hear.
4:24 And Yehoshua (יהושע) said to them:
Take heed what you hear: with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you: and to you that hear shall more be given.
4:25 For He that has, to Him shall be given: and He that has not, from Him shall be taken even that which He has.
4:26 And Yehoshua (יהושע) said:
So is the Malkut Elohim, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
4:27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, He knows not how.
4:28 For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
4:29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately He puts in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
(Matt 13:31, 32; Luke 13:18, 19)
4:30 And Yehoshua (יהושע) said:
Whereto shall we liken the Malkut Elohim? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
4:31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
4:32 But when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
4:33 And with many such meshalim speak He the word to them, as they were able to hear [it].
4:34 But without a parable speak He not to them: and when they were alone, He expounded all things to His Talmidim.
4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, He said to them, Let us pass over to the other side.
4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships.
4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
4:38 And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say to Him, Master, carest you not that we perish?
4:39 And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
4:40 And He said to them,
Why are you so fearful?
how is it that you have no faith?
4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?