Mark 4

1 And again Jesus began to teach at the sea; and much people [and much company of people] was gathered to him, so that he went into a boat, and sat in the sea, and all the people [and all the company of people] was about the sea on the land.

2 And he taught them in parables many things. And he said to them in his teaching,

3 Hear ye. Lo! a man sowing goeth out to sow. [Hear ye. Lo! a sower went out to sow.]

4 And while he soweth, some seed felled about the way, and birds of heaven came, and ate it. [+And the while he soweth, some seed felled beside the way, and birds of heaven, or of the air, came, and ate it.]

5 Other [Forsooth another] felled down on stony places, where it had not much earth; and at once it sprang up, for it had not deepness of earth [and anon it sprang up, for it had no deepness of earth].

6 And when the sun rose up, it withered for heat, and it dried up, for it had no root.

7 And other felled down into thorns [And another felled down among thorns], and [the] thorns sprang up, and strangled it, and it gave no fruit.

8 And other felled down into good land, and gave fruit, springing up, and waxing; and one brought thirtyfold, and one sixtyfold, and one an hundredfold.

9 And he said, He that hath ears of hearing, hear he. [And he said, He that hath ears to hear, hear.]

10 And when he was by himself, the twelve that were with him asked him to expound the parable.

11 And he said to them, To you it is given to know the private of the kingdom of God [To you it is given to know the mystery, or private, of the kingdom of God]. But to them that be withoutforth, all things be made in parables,

12 that they seeing see, and see not, and they hearing hear, and understand not; lest [that] sometime they be converted, and sins be forgiven to them.

13 And he said to them, Know not ye this parable? and how ye shall know all parables?

14 He that soweth, soweth a word.

15 But these it be that be about the way, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, at once cometh Satan [anon cometh Satan], and taketh away the word that is sown in their hearts.

16 And in like manner be these [these it be] that be sown on stony places, which when they have heard the word, at once they take it with joy [anon take it with joy];

17 and they have not root in themselves, but they be lasting [but] a little time; afterward when tribulation riseth, and persecution for the word, at once they be caused to stumble. [and they have not root in themselves, but they be temporal, that is, lasting a little time; afterward when tribulation and persecution riseth for the word, anon they be offended.]

18 And there be others that be sown in thorns; these it be that hear the word,

19 and dis-ease of the world, and deceit of riches, and other charge of covetousness entereth, and strangleth the word, and it is made without fruit. [and mis-eases of the world, and deceit of riches, and other charge of covetousness entering in, strangle the word, and it is made without fruit.]

20 And these it be that be sown on good land, which hear the word, and take, and make fruit, one thirtyfold, and one sixtyfold, and one an hundredfold.

21 And he said to them, Where a lantern cometh, that it be put under a bushel, or under a bed? nay, but that it be put on a candlestick? [+And he said to them, Whether a lantern come, that it be put under a bushel, or under a bed? whether not, that it be put upon a candlestick?]

22 [Forsooth] There is nothing hid, that shall not be made open [that shall not be showed]; neither any thing is privy, that shall not come into open [which shall not come into apert].

23 If any man have ears of hearing, hear he.

24 And he said to them, See ye what ye hear. In what measure ye mete, it shall be meted to you again [it shall be meted to you], and it shall be cast to you.

25 For it shall be given to him that hath, and it shall be taken away from him that hath not, also that that he hath. [Forsooth it shall be given to him that hath, and if man hath not, yea this that he hath shall be taken away from him.]

26 And he said, So the kingdom of God is, as if a man cast seed into the earth,

27 and he sleep, and it rise up night and day [and it sleep, and rise up in night and day], and bring forth seed, and wax fast, while he knoweth not.

28 For the earth [by his own working/by his own will] maketh fruit, first the grass, afterward the ear, and after full fruit in the ear [afterward full fruit in the ear].

29 And when of itself it hath brought forth fruit, at once [anon] he sendeth a sickle, for reaping time is come.

30 And he said, To what thing shall we liken the kingdom of God? or to what parable shall we comparison it?

31 As a corn of mustard seed, which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all seeds that be in the earth;

32 and when it is sprung up, it waxeth into a tree, and is made greater than all herbs [and when it is sown, it waxeth into a tree, and is made more than all worts, or herbs]; and it maketh great branches, so that [the] birds of heaven may dwell [be able to dwell] under the shadow thereof.

33 And in many such parables he spake to them the word, as they might hear;

34 and he spake not to them without parable. But he expounded to his disciples all things by themselves [+Forsooth he expounded to his disciples all things on sides hand/on sides half, or by themselves].

35 And he said to them in that day, when evening was come, Pass we over to the other side. [And he saith to them in that day, when evening was made, Pass we again-ward.]

36 And they let go the people, and took him, so that he was in a boat [And they leaving the company of people, took him, so that he was in the boat]; and other boats were with him.

37 And a great storm of wind was made, and cast waves into the boat, so that the boat was full. [And there was made a great tempest of wind, and sent floods into the ship, so that the ship was full-filled.]

38 And he was in the hinder part of the boat, and slept on a pillow [+And he was in the hinder part of the ship, sleeping on a pillow]. And they raise him, and say to him, Master, pertaineth it not to thee, that we perish?

39 And he rose up, and menaced the wind, and said to the sea, Be still, wax dumb. And the wind ceased, and great peaceableness was made.

40 And he said to them, What dread ye? Yet ye have no faith? [And he said to them, What be ye dread-full? Not yet have ye faith?]

41 And they dreaded with great dread, and said to each other [and said each to other], Who, guessest thou, is this? for the wind and the sea obey to him.

Mark 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

The parable of the sower. (1-20) Other parables. (21-34) Christ stills the tempest. (35-41)

Verses 1-20 This parable contained instruction so important, that all capable of hearing were bound to attend to it. There are many things we are concerned to know; and if we understand not the plain truths of the gospel, how shall we learn those more difficult! It will help us to value the privileges we enjoy as disciples of Christ, if we seriously consider the deplorable state of all who have not such privileges. In the great field of the church, the word of God is dispensed to all. Of the many that hear the word of the gospel, but few receive it, so as to bring forth fruit. Many are much affected with the word for the present, who yet receive no abiding benefit. The word does not leave abiding impressions upon the minds of men, because their hearts are not duly disposed to receive it. The devil is very busy about careless hearers, as the fowls of the air go about the seed that lies above ground. Many continue in a barren, false profession, and go down to hell. Impressions that are not deep, will not last. Many do not mind heart-work, without which religion is nothing. Others are hindered from profiting by the word of God, by abundance of the world. And those who have but little of the world, may yet be ruined by indulging the body. God expects and requires fruit from those who enjoy the gospel, a temper of mind and Christian graces daily exercised, Christian duties duly performed. Let us look to the Lord, that by his new-creating grace our hearts may become good ground, and that the good seed of the word may produce in our lives those good words and works which are through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God the Father.

Verses 21-34 These declarations were intended to call the attention of the disciples to the word of Christ. By his thus instructing them, they were made able to instruct others; as candles are lighted, not to be covered, but to be placed on a candlestick, that they may give light to a room. This parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress in the world. Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself in a good conversation. It grows gradually: first the blade; then the ear; after that the full corn in the ear. When it is sprung up, it will go forward. The work of grace in the soul is, at first, but the day of small things; yet it has mighty products even now, while it is in its growth; but what will there be when it is perfected in heaven!

Verses 35-41 Christ was asleep in the storm, to try the faith of his disciples, and to stir them up to pray. Their faith appeared weak, and their prayers strong. When our wicked hearts are like the troubled sea which cannot rest, when our passions are unruly, let us think we hear the law of Christ, saying, Be silent, be dumb. When without are fightings, and within are fears, and the spirits are in a tumult, if he say, "Peace, be still," there is a great calm at once. Why are ye so fearful? Though there may be cause for some fear, yet not for such fear as this. Those may suspect their faith, who can have such a thought as that Jesus careth not though his people perish. How imperfect are the best of saints! Faith and fear take their turns while we are in this world; but ere long, fear will be overcome, and faith will be lost in sight.