Mark 4

1 Once more He began to teach by the side of the Lake, and a vast multitude of people came together to listen to Him. He therefore went on board the boat and sat there, a little way from the land; and all the people were on the shore close to the water.

2 Then He proceeded to teach them many lessons in figurative language; and in His teaching He said,

3 "Listen: the sower goes out to sow.

4 As he sows, some of the seed falls by the way-side, and the birds come and peck it up.

5 Some falls on the rocky ground where it finds but little earth, and it shoots up quickly because it has no depth of soil;

6 but when the sun is risen, it is scorched, and through having no root it withers away.

7 Some, again, falls among the thorns; and the thorns spring up and stifle it, so that it yields no crop.

8 But some of the seed falls into good ground, and gives a return: it comes up and increases, and yields thirty, sixty, or a hundred-fold."

9 "Listen," He added, "every one who has ears to listen with!"

10 When He was alone, the Twelve and the others who were about Him requested Him to explain His figurative language.

11 "To you," He replied, "has been entrusted the secret truth concerning the Kingdom of God; but to those others outside your number all this is spoken in figurative language;

12 that "`They may look and look but not see, and listen and listen but not understand, lest perchance they should return and be pardoned.'"

13 "Do you all miss the meaning of this parable?" He added; "how then will you understand the rest of my parables?"

14 "What the sower sows is the Message.

15 Those who receive the seed by the way-side are those in whom the Message is sown, but, when they have heard it, Satan comes at once and carries away the Message sown in them.

16 In the same way those who receive the seed on the rocky places are those who, when they have heard the Message, at once accept it joyfully,

17 but they have no root within them. They last for a time; then, when suffering or persecution comes because of the Message, they are immediately overthrown.

18 Others there are who receive the seed among the thorns: these are they who have heard the Message,

19 but worldly cares and the deceitfulness of wealth and the excessive pursuit of other objects come in and stifle the Message, and it becomes unfruitful.

20 Those, on the other hand, who have received the seed on the good ground, are all who hear the Message and welcome it, and yield a return of thirty, sixty, or a hundred fold."

21 He went on to say, "Is the lamp brought in in order to be put under the bushel or under the bed? Is it not rather in order that it may be placed on the lampstand?

22 Why, there is nothing hidden except with a view to its being ultimately disclosed, nor has anything been made a secret but that it may at last come to light.

23 Listen, every one who has ears to listen with!"

24 He also said to them, "Take care what you hear. With what measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and that with interest.

25 For those who have will have more given them; and from those who have not, even what they have will be taken away."

26 Another saying of His was this: "The Kingdom of God is as if a man scattered seed over the ground:

27 he spends days and nights, now awake, now asleep, while the seed sprouts and grows tall, he knows not how.

28 Of itself the land produces the crop-- first the blade, then the ear; afterwards the perfect grain is seen in the ear.

29 But no sooner is the crop ripe, than he sends the reapers, because the time of harvest has come."

30 Another saying of His was this: "How are we to picture the Kingdom of God? or by what figure of speech shall we represent it?

31 It is like a mustard-seed, which, when sown in the earth, is the smallest of all the seeds in the world;

32 yet when sown it springs up and becomes larger than all the herbs, and throws out great branches, so that the birds build under its shadow."

33 With many such parables He used to speak the Message to them according to their capacity for receiving it.

34 But except in figurative language He spoke nothing to them; while to His own disciples He expounded everything, in private.

35 The same day, in the evening, He said to them, "Let us cross to the other side."

36 So they got away from the crowd, and took Him--as He was--in the boat; and other boats accompanied Him.

37 But a heavy squall came on, and the waves were now dashing into the boat, so that it was fast filling.

38 But He Himself was in the stern asleep, with His head on the cushion: so they woke Him. "Rabbi," they cried, "is it nothing to you that we are drowning?"

39 So He roused Himself and rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" The wind sank, and a perfect calm set in.

40 "Why are you so timid?" He asked; "have you still no faith?"

41 Then they were filled with terror, and began to say to one another, "Who is this, then? For even wind and 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.