Mark 4

1 And again he began to teach by the sea, and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he, having gone into the boat, sat in the sea, and all the multitude was near the sea, on the land,

2 and he taught them many things in similes, and he said to them in his teaching:

3 `Hearken, lo, the sower went forth to sow;

4 and it came to pass, in the sowing, some fell by the way, and the fowls of the heaven did come and devour it;

5 and other fell upon the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang forth, because of not having depth of earth,

6 and the sun having risen, it was scorched, and because of not having root it did wither;

7 and other fell toward the thorns, and the thorns did come up, and choke it, and fruit it gave not;

8 and other fell to the good ground, and was giving fruit, coming up and increasing, and it bare, one thirty-fold, and one sixty, and one an hundred.'

9 And he said to them, `He who is having ears to hear -- let him hear.'

10 And when he was alone, those about him, with the twelve, did ask him of the simile,

11 and he said to them, `To you it hath been given to know the secret of the reign of God, but to those who are without, in similes are all the things done;

12 that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest they may turn, and the sins may be forgiven them.'

13 And he saith to them, `Have ye not known this simile? and how shall ye know all the similes?

14 He who is sowing doth sow the word;

15 and these are they by the way where the word is sown: and whenever they may hear, immediately cometh the Adversary, and he taketh away the word that hath been sown in their hearts.

16 `And these are they, in like manner, who on the rocky ground are sown: who, whenever they may hear the word, immediately with joy do receive it,

17 and have not root in themselves, but are temporary; afterward tribulation or persecution having come because of the word, immediately they are stumbled.

18 `And these are they who toward the thorns are sown: these are they who are hearing the word,

19 and the anxieties of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, and the desires concerning the other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20 `And these are they who on the good ground have been sown: who do hear the word, and receive, and do bear fruit, one thirty-fold, and one sixty, and one an hundred.'

21 And he said to them, `Doth the lamp come that under the measure it may be put, or under the couch -- not that it may be put on the lamp-stand?

22 for there is not anything hid that may not be manifested, nor was anything kept hid but that it may come to light.

23 If any hath ears to hear -- let him hear.'

24 And he said to them, `Take heed what ye hear; in what measure ye measure, it shall be measured to you; and to you who hear it shall be added;

25 for whoever may have, there shall be given to him, and whoever hath not, also that which he hath shall be taken from him.'

26 And he said, `Thus is the reign of God: as if a man may cast the seed on the earth,

27 and may sleep, and may rise night and day, and the seed spring up and grow, he hath not known how;

28 for of itself doth the earth bear fruit, first a blade, afterwards an ear, afterwards full corn in the ear;

29 and whenever the fruit may yield itself, immediately he doth send forth the sickle, because the harvest hath come.'

30 And he said, `To what may we liken the reign of God, or in what simile may we compare it?

31 As a grain of mustard, which, whenever it may be sown on the earth, is less than any of the seeds that are on the earth;

32 and whenever it may be sown, it cometh up, and doth become greater than any of the herbs, and doth make great branches, so that under its shade the fowls of the heaven are able to rest.'

33 And with many such similes he was speaking to them the word, as they were able to hear,

34 and without a simile he was not speaking to them, and by themselves, to his disciples he was expounding all.

35 And he saith to them on that day, evening having come, `We may pass over to the other side;'

36 and having let away the multitude, they take him up as he was in the boat, and other little boats also were with him.

37 And there cometh a great storm of wind, and the waves were beating on the boat, so that it is now being filled,

38 and he himself was upon the stern, upon the pillow sleeping, and they wake him up, and say to him, `Teacher, art thou not caring that we perish?'

39 And having waked up, he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, `Peace, be stilled;' and the wind did lull, and there was a great calm:

40 and he said to them, `Why are ye so fearful? how have ye not faith?'

41 and they feared a great fear, and said one to another, `Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea do 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.