Mark 4:26-29

E. THE PARABLE OF SECRET GROWTH. 4:26-29

TEXT 4:26-29

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how. The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear, But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 4:26-29

187.

Please settle in your mind a clear definition of the kingdom of heaven. We believe it refers in every reference to the church Jesus establishedeither in the temporal or eternal sense. Do you agree?

188.

What is the seed cast upon the earth?

189.

Who casts the seed?

190.

Who sleeps?

191.

Why mention knoweth not how in Mark 4:27 b?

192.

How can we tell when the grain is ripe? What is the sickle?

193.

What is the main point of this parable?

COMMENT

All four parables of Jesus as recorded in Mark were given at the same time and place. Only this parable is not mentioned either by Matthew or Luke.
OUTLINEA picture of the kingdom of God. (1) A man who sows seed, Mark 4:26. (2) He waits for the growth, Mark 4:27. (3) The visible growth, Mark 4:28. (4) The harvest, Mark 4:29.

ANALYSIS

A Picture Of the Kingdom of God

I.

A MAN WHO SOWS THE SEED, Mark 4:26.

1.

The seed must be broadcast.

2.

The seed must go into the earth.

II.

HE WAITS FOR THE GROWTH, Mark 4:27.

1.

In the ordinary course of living.

2.

The growth occurs he knows not how.

III.

THE VISIBLE GROWTH, Mark 4:28.

1.

First the blade of grass.

2.

Then the ear.

3.

Then the grain in the ear.

IV.

THE HARVEST, Mark 4:29.

1.

When the grain is ripe.

2.

Sickle thrust in for the reaping.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

I.

THE MAN WHO SOWS THE SEED, Mark 4:26.

Mark 4:26-27. he knoweth not how.To some extent he knoweth how; it is by the process described in the next verse: the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

II.

HE WAITS FOR THE GROWTH, Mark 4:27.

He may know still further, that it grows by the chemical action of light, warmth, and moisture; but still there is a part of the process that he does not know.

III.

THE VISIBLE GROWTH, Mark 4:28.

Mark 4:28-29. But when the fruit.Although the sower knows not how the seed grows, and remains not to see its growth, still it grows. From sowing time till harvest the man has nothing to do: no intermediate cultivation is required. This is true of the corn (wheat and barley) referred to, though not of our Indian corn.

IV.

THE HARVEST, Mark 4:29.

The kingdom of heaven is like this (Mark 4:26), in that the seed of the kingdom, which is the word of God, when sown in a community, even though the sower go away and neglect it, will spring up of itself and bear fruit, and will be ready at a future day for the harvest. This is often exemplified in the labors of the evangelist. He preaches in a community faithfully, and apparently without success, for a length of time, and then, after a lapse of months or years, returns to the same place, and with comparatively little exertion reaps an abundant harvest. The parable teaches what observation abundantly confirms, that such an adaptation exists between the human soul and the word of God, that when the latter is once implanted a future harvest will usually be the result. (J. W. McGarvey).

FACT QUESTIONS 4:26-29

221.

Does this parable relate to the fourth type of hearers in the production of fruit?

222.

Who is the sower?

223.

Why mention the period of time in this parable?

224.

Why describe the growth of the grain?

225.

Are ministers of the word also reapers? Please discuss.