b Note here another brief parable of the lamp to enforce the lesson of the parable of the Sower. Preachers to-day sometimes tell one story to illustrate another.
(b) Parable of the Seed Growing of Itself
Mark 4:26-29
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; 27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how. 28 The earth 1beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit 2is ripe, straightway he 3putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come [see Joel 3:13].
1 Or, yieldeth.
2 Or, alloweth.
3 Or, sendeth forth.
(c) Parable of the Tares
Matt. 13:24-30
24 Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field: 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed 1tares also among the wheat, and went away. 26 But when the blade sprang up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 And the 2servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares? 28 And he said unto them, 3An enemy hath done this. And the 2servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.