23. Let those with ears use them and listen!
24. “Think carefully about what you hear. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you, but God will give you even more.
25. Those who have understanding will be given more. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them.”
26. Then Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like someone who plants seed in the ground.
27. Night and day, whether the person is asleep or awake, the seed still grows, but the person does not know how it grows.
28. By itself the earth produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head.
29. When the grain is ready, the farmer cuts it, because this is the harvest time.”
30. Then Jesus said, “How can I show you what the kingdom of God is like? What story can I use to explain it?
31. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the smallest seed you plant in the ground.
32. But when planted, this seed grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants. It produces large branches, and the wild birds can make nests in its shade.”
33. Jesus used many stories like these to teach the crowd God’s message—as much as they could understand.
34. He always used stories to teach them. But when he and his followers were alone, Jesus explained everything to them.
35. That evening, Jesus said to his followers, “Let’s go across the lake.”
36. Leaving the crowd behind, they took him in the boat just as he was. There were also other boats with them.
37. A very strong wind came up on the lake. The waves came over the sides and into the boat so that it was already full of water.
38. Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a cushion. His followers woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are drowning!”
39. Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and it became completely calm.