Mark 4:1-34

Mark 4:1-34

[1] And  he began  again  to teach  by  the sea side:  and  there was gathered  unto  him  multitude,  so that  he  entered  into  a ship,  and sat  in  the sea;  and  the whole  multitude  by  the sea  on  the land.  [2] And  he taught  them  many things  by  parables,  and  unto them  in  his  doctrine,  [3] Hearken;  Behold,  there went out  a sower  [4] And  it came to pass,  as  he sowed,  some  fell  by  the way side,  and  the fowls  came  and  it  up.  [5] some  fell  on  stony ground,  where  it had  not  much  earth;  and  immediately  it sprang up,  because  it had  no  depth  of earth:  [6] the sun  was up,  it was scorched;  and  because  it had  no  root,  it withered away.  [7] And  some  fell  among  thorns,  and  the thorns  grew up,  and  choked  it,  and  it yielded  no  fruit.  [8] And  other  fell  on  good  ground,  and  did yield  fruit  that sprang up  and  increased;  and  brought forth,  some  thirty,  and  some  sixty,  and  some  an hundred.  [9] And  He that hath  ears  to hear,  [10] when  he was  they that were about  him  with  the twelve  asked  of him  the parable.  [11] And  unto them,  it is given  the mystery  of the kingdom  of God:  but  unto them  that are without,  all these things  are done  in  parables:  [12] That  seeing  and  not  and  hearing  and  not  understand;  they should be converted,  and  should be forgiven  them.  [13] And  he said  unto them,  Know ye  not  parable?  and  how then  will ye know  all  parables?  [14] The sower  the word.  [15] And  these  by  the way side,  where  the word  is sown;  but  when  they have heard,  Satan  cometh  immediately,  and  taketh away  the word  that was sown  their  [16] And  these  likewise  which are sown  on  stony ground;  who,  when  they have heard  the word,  immediately  receive  it  with  gladness;  [17] And  have  no  root  in  themselves,  and  but for a time:  afterward,  when affliction  or  persecution  ariseth  for  the word's sake,  immediately  they are offended.  [18] And  these  sown  among  thorns;  such as  hear  the word,  [19] And  the cares  world,  and  the deceitfulness  of riches,  and  the lusts  of  other things  entering in,  choke  the word,  and  it becometh  unfruitful.  [20] And  they which are sown  on  good  ground;  such as  hear  the word,  and  receive  it, and  bring forth fruit,  some  thirtyfold,  some  sixty,  and  some  an hundred.  [21] And  unto them,  Is  a candle  brought  to  be put  under  a bushel,  or  under  a bed?  and not  to  on  a candlestick?  [22] For  nothing  hid,  be manifested;  neither  was any thing kept  secret,  but  that  it should come  abroad.  [23] have  ears  to hear,  [24] And  unto them,  Take heed  what  ye hear:  with  what  measure  ye mete,  and  that hear  shall more be given.  [25] For  he that  hath,  to him  shall be given:  and  he that  hath  not,  from  him  shall be taken  even  that which  he hath.  [26] And  So  the kingdom  of God,  as  a man  should cast  seed  into  the ground;  [27] And  should sleep,  and  rise  night  and  day,  and  the seed  should spring  and  grow up,  he  knoweth  not  how.  [28] the earth  bringeth forth fruit  of herself;  first  the blade,  then  the ear,  after that  the full  corn  in  the ear.  [29] But  when  the fruit  is brought forth,  immediately  he putteth in  the sickle,  because  the harvest  is come.  [30] And  Whereunto  shall we liken  the kingdom  of God?  or  with  comparison  it?  [31] It is like  a grain  of mustard seed,  which,  when  it is sown  in  the earth,  is less  than all  the seeds  in  the earth:  [32] But  when  it is sown,  it groweth up,  and  becometh  all  herbs,  and  shooteth out  great  branches;  so that  the fowls  of the air  may  lodge  under  the shadow  of it.  [33] And  with many  such  parables  spake he  the word  unto them,  as  they were able  to hear  [34] But  without  a parable  spake  he not  unto them:  and  when they were alone,  he expounded  all things  to his  disciples. 

What is the context of Mark 4:1-34?

What does Mark 4:1-34 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This is the first of three extended teaching sessions that Mark recorded (cf. Mark 7:1-23; Mark 13:3-37). Jesus" three parables in this section describe the character of the messianic kingdom.
Parables are illustrations that teach truth by comparisons (Gr. parabole, lit. "something thrown alongside," similitudes). Some are long stories, but others are short similes, metaphors, analogies, or proverbial sayings (cf. Mark 2:19-22; Mark 3:24-25; Mark 3:27). The popular definition that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning is essentially accurate as far as it goes. The use of parables for teaching was a common rabbinic device that Jesus adopted and used with great skill.
"A parable begins innocently as a picture that arrests our attention and arouses our interest. But as we study the picture, it becomes a mirror in which we suddenly see ourselves. If we continue to look by faith, the mirror becomes a window through which we see God and His truth. How we respond to that truth will determine what further truth God will teach us." [1]