Mark 4

The Parable of the Sower

1 Again He began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea.

2 He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them:

3 "Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.

4 As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn't have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn't have deep soil.

6 When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn't have a root, it withered.

7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn't produce a crop.

8 Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased 30, 60, and 100 times [what was sown]."

9 Then He said, "Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!"

Why Jesus Used Parables

10 When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.

11 He answered them, "The secret ^[a] does not mean "mystery" in the Eng sense; it means what we can know only by divine revelation. of the kingdom of God has been granted to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables

12 so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen, yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back- and be forgiven. " ^{[b] [c]}

The Parable of the Sower Explained

13 Then He said to them: "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables?

14 The sower sows the word.

15 These ^[d] are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them. ^[e]

16 And these are ^[f] the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.

17 But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When affliction or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.

18 Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,

19 but the worries of this age, the seduction ^[g] of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20 But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times [what was sown]."

Using Your Light

21 He also said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it to be put on a lampstand?

22 For nothing is concealed except to be revealed, and nothing hidden except to come to light.

23 If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!"

24 Then He said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, ^[h] it will be measured and added to you.

25 For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away."

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 "The kingdom of God is like this," He said. "A man scatters seed on the ground;

27 he sleeps and rises-night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows-he doesn't know how.

28 The soil produces a crop by itself-first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head.

29 But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, ^[i] because harvest has come."

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 And He said: "How can we illustrate the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to describe it?

31 It's like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground.

32 And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade."

Using Parables

33 He would speak the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand.

34 And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.

Wind and Wave Obey the Master

35 On that day, when evening had come, He told them, "Let's cross over to the other side [of the lake]."

36 So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was [already] in the boat. And other boats were with Him.

37 A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.

38 But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, "Teacher! Don't you care that we're going to die?"

39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 Then He said to them, "Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?"

41 And they were terrified and asked one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. The Gk word mysterion
• [b]. Other mss read and their sins be forgiven them
• [c]. Isaiah 6:9-10
• [d]. Some people
• [e]. Other mss read in their hearts
• [f]. Other mss read are like
• [g]. Or pleasure, or deceitfulness
• [h]. Lit you measure
• [i]. Jl 3:13; Rv 14:14-19