Mark 4:11-12

[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.

What is the context of Mark 4:11-12?

The Purpose of Parables (Mark 4:10-12 true)
The Reason for the Parables (Mark 4:10-12 true)
Why Jesus Used Parables (Mark 4:10-34 true)
The Purpose of the Parables (Mark 4:10-20 true)
Parable of the Sower and Soils (Mark 4:1-12 true)
The Parable of the Sower .( A .) .( B .) (Mark 4:1-20 true)
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed (Mark 4:1-20 true)

What does Mark 4:11-12 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus drew a distinction between those who accepted His teaching, such as the Twelve, and those who rejected it, such as the scribes and Pharisees. Those "outside" were those outside the circle of discipleship. God was giving those who welcomed Jesus" teaching new revelation about the coming messianic kingdom. He was withholding that revelation from those who rejected Him. The parables were the vehicle of that revelation. The Holy Spirit enabled the receptive to understand this enigmatic Revelation , but He made it incomprehensible to the unbelieving. The parabolic method acted as a filter to separate those two types of people. The religious teachers of Jesus" day used parables extensively, so Jesus" hearers were familiar with them. By the rabbis used them only to illustrate and clarify, not to conceal. ^[1]

". . . the three seed parables illustrate various aspects of the Kingdom of God by depicting God"s sovereign rule at work in the present but in a way unexpected in Judaism (cf. Jeremias, Parables, 146-53)." ^[2]

God was doing through Jesus what He had done through Isaiah centuries earlier. Jesus" quotation of Isaiah 6:9-10 drew this comparison. One writer believed Jesus meant that most of the Jews were still in exile spiritually. ^[1] We might add that this is always the double effect of revelation (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16). God uses it to enlighten the receptive, but He also uses it to befuddle the unreceptive. Their inability to comprehend is a divine judgment for their unbelief (cf. Romans 11:25-32). Further enlightenment requires positive reception of present revelation. This knowledge is very helpful for Jesus" disciples. It would have been an encouragement to Mark"s original readers as they shared the gospel with others and noted the two responses, as it is to modern readers.

"The judgment is a merciful one. The parable which the cold-hearted multitudes hear without understanding they remember, because of its penetrating and impressive form; and when their hearts become able to receive its meaning, the meaning will become clear to them. Meanwhile they are saved from the guilt of rejecting plain truth." ^[4]