Mark 4:30

30 "How can we picture God's kingdom? What kind of story can we use?

Mark 4:30 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 4:30

And he said
Still continuing his discourse on this subject, and in order to convey to the minds of his disciples clearer ideas of the Gospel dispensation, the success of the Gospel, and the usefulness of their ministration of it, for their encouragement, how unpromising soever things might then be:

whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison
shall we compare it?
It was usual with the Jewish doctors, when about to illustrate anything in a parabolical way to begin with such like questions; as, (hmwd rbdh hml) , "to what is this thing like" ^F4? when the answer is to such or such thing, as here.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 T. Hieros. Bava Bathra, fol. 16. 2. T. Bab. Zebachim, fol. 82. 1. & Sabbat, fol. 108. 1. & passim.

Mark 4:30 In-Context

28 The earth does it all without his help: first a green stem of grass, then a bud, then the ripened grain.

29 When the grain is fully formed, he reaps - harvest time!

30 "How can we picture God's kingdom? What kind of story can we use?

31 It's like a pine nut. When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go,

32 yet once it is planted it grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches. Eagles nest in it."