ON PARABLES, see the note on Matthew 13:1-52. In his report of the discourse in parables, Mark gives but three, one of them not mentioned elsewhere. Each independently chose these out of the many uttered. In Matthew we find the _chronological_ development of the kingdom of heaven brought out; here,... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:1. AND AGAIN HE BEGAN. ‘Began' may refer either to this new mode of instruction, or to His beginning with the gathering of the crowd. ‘Again' may point to a similar occasion (chap. Mark 3:7). A VERY GREAT MULTITUDE; lit., ‘greatest.' There is every reason to believe that this was the greate... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:2. AND HE TAUGHT THEM. The reference is to His habit of teaching. MANY THINGS. Out of these Mark selects what follows. IN HIS TEACHING, perhaps, with a reference to this particular kind of teaching. Christ's teaching was authoritative, and in this as in most cases, _doctrinal_. He present... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:3. HEARKEN _._ This, inserted by Mark only, seems to introduce the whole discourse, as deserving great attention.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:3-9. THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. See on Matthew 13:3-9. The similarity between the two accounts is very great, as might be expected in the case of such a striking parable. Matthew was present; Mark probably heard it from Peter, who was also present. Luke's account (Luke 8:5-8) is briefer, and h... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:7. AND IT YIELDED NO FRUIT. This Mark adds, showing that his account is not an abridgment. The same result is of course implied in the other narrative.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:8. GROWING UP AND INCREASING _._ The words are peculiar to Mark. This is spoken of the ‘fruit,' but in the wider sense of the whole progress of the plant, since all this is necessary to the real fruit or grain, which was brought forth. This verse puts the smallest proportion first; in Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:10. ALONE. This refers to a temporary withdrawal, when His disciples ‘came' to Him (Matthew), for He evidently spoke further to the multitude (Matthew 13:24-35). THEY THAT WERE ABOUT HIM WITH THE TWELVE. Matthew and Luke say less definitely: ‘the disciples.' What follows was spoken neither... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:10-12 give the reason for speaking in parables; see on Matthew 13:10-17. Matthew's account is fuller, but Mark's is, in some respects, more specific and stronger.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:11. THE MYSTERY. Matthew and Luke: ‘the mysteries.' All the mysteries of the gospel form but one mystery, namely, the mystery of Christ for and in His people. And to them ‘is given the mystery of the kingdom of God'. The omission of ‘to know' renders the declaration even more forcible. These... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:12. THAT, _in order that._ ‘When God transacts a matter, it is idle to say that the result is not the purpose' (Alford). This purpose is indicated here even more strongly than in Matthew. The object of the parable is Doth to conceal and to reveal the truth, according to the moral state of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:13-20. EXPLANATION OF THE PARABLE. See on Matthew 13:18-23. The agreement with Matthew is striking, but Mark's independence is evident.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:13. KNOW YE NOT THIS PARABLE! An answer to the second question, implied in Mark 4:10. It is not a reproof, but means: ‘You find you cannot understand this without assistance.' The next question: AND HOW THEN WILL YE KNOW ALL PARABLES? extends the thought to all parables, but intimates further... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:14. Peculiar to Mark, though involved in the other accounts.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:15. SATAN. Matthew: ‘the wicked one;' Luke: ‘the devil.' Being spoken of in the explanation of the parable, or in a didactic way, Satan must be a real personal being, and not merely the symbol of evil.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:16. LIKEWISE, or, ‘in like manner.' ‘After the same analogy carrying on a like principle of interpretation' (Alford).... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:17. This verse, as emended, presents the case more vividly: they have no root, but on the contrary are temporary, transient: then, as might be expected, when, etc. TRIBULATION. The Greek word is usually so translated.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:19. THE LUSTS OF OTHER THINGS. This includes all other worldly distractions. The desires become ‘lusts,' because the objects interfere with spiritual growth. What is in itself innocent may become a snare.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:20. The closing words of the parable (Mark 4:8) are repeated in the last clause of this verse, as in Matthew, and the same difference in order is preserved.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:21. See on Matthew 5:15. The application here is to teaching in parables: Although thus spoken in secret, they were not to remain mysteries, confined to a few; the purpose, as in case of a lamp, was to give light. Hence they should take care to learn their meaning, ‘not hiding them under a bl... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:21-25. Comp. Luke 8:16-18. The same thoughts are found in different places in Matthew. They were doubtless repeated.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:22. FOR THERE IS NOTHING HID, etc. See on Matthew 10:26. Here these words are a literal statement of what was figuratively expressed in Mark 4:21. BUT THAT IT SHOULD COME TO LIGHT. This is the purpose of the temporary secrecy, a thought implied throughout, but more strongly expressed here.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:23. This occurs in a different place and slightly different form in Matthew's account (Mark 13:9), but was probably repeated.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:24. TAKE HEED WHAT YE HEAR. Luke: ‘how ye hear.' The latter is implied in the former, for what we hear really depends on how we hear. The reference is to a proper improvement of the opportunities now graciously afforded them, as appears from what follows. WITH WHAT MEASURE YE METE, etc. See... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:25. FOR HE THAT HATH, etc. See on Matthew 13:12, where this thought precedes the explanation of the parable of the sower. It was possibly repeated, since it is equally apt in both cases. There as well as here the application is to spiritual knowledge. (In Matthew 25:29, the application is mor... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:26. AND HE SAID. The instruction to the people is resumed, or ‘to them ‘would probably be added. AS IF A MAN, _i.e.,_ any one. It is not necessary to interpret this; the main point is the _seed,_ the agent being in the back-ground throughout. Besides, it is difficult to apply it either to C... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:26-29. THE PARABLE OF THE SEED GROWING, WE KNOW NOT HOW. Found here only.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:27. AND SHOULD SLEEP, etc., _i.e.,_ live as usual without further care of the seed sown. HE KNOWETH NOT HOW. The emphasis rests on the word ‘he; ‘he who sows does not know how that takes place which he expects to occur, and to occur for his benefit. A true picture, since such knowledge is n... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:28. This verse presents the main points of the parable, _first:_ THE EARTH BEARETH FRUIT OF HERSELF, as if from a self-acting power. The growth in nature is according to certain laws which act independently of man's agency, though the agency of God who established these laws and acts through... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:29. BUT WHEN THE FRUIT IS RIPE. The Greek means either: ‘when the fruit shall have yielded itself,' or, according to the more usual sense, of the word used, ‘when the fruit alloweth,' _i.e.,_ when it is ripe. In either case the thought of independence of human agency is kept up. STRAIGHTWAY... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:30. HOW SHALL WE LIKEN? Opening a discussion with a question seems to have been a usual mode with Jewish teachers. Here our Lord graciously includes His disciples (‘we') who were also to teach about the kingdom of God, a hint that Christ's way of teaching is still to be followed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:30-34. THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD-SEED. See on Matthew 13:31-35; comp. Luke 13:18-19.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:31. IN THE EARTH. Mark is fond of repeating the same expressions; an evidence that his Gospel is not an abridgment.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:32. SHOOTETH OUT GREAT BRANCHES. Lit, ‘maketh.' Peculiar to Mark. This parable, setting forth the wonderful extension of the kingdom of God, is an appropriate close to the selections made by our Evangelist. After the difficulties in the beginning (the sower) and the slow growth independently... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:33. WITH MANY SUCH PARABLES. The many such expressions in the Gospels should put an end to the foolish assumption that each Evangelist intended _to tell all he knew._ AS THEY WERE ABLE TO HEAR. Not merely as they had opportunity of listening to His instructions, but ‘according to their capa... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:34. AND, not ‘but.' The contrast begins with the next clause. WITHOUT A PARABLE SPAKE HE NOT. Our Lord did instruct in other ways, but now that the separation had begun, He taught a _certain set of truths_ in this way alone, since this would carry out the purpose or mercy and judgment indic... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:35. AND ON THAT DAY, WHEN EVENING WAS COME. Mark is most definite. LET US GO OVER UNTO THE OTHER SIDE. This vivid form of the command indicates a sudden departure. Comp. Luke 8:22. He would thus seek rest, which could be obtained more easily on a lake subject to storms than in a crowd alrea... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TIME of the voyage across the lake is fixed by the account before us. It was the evening of the day (Mark 4:35) when the discourse in parables had been uttered. The other accounts (Matthew 8:18; Luke 8:22) can readily be harmonized on this view. The conversations with some who would follow Him ... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:36. AND LEAVING THE MULTITUDE. They did not send them away, but left them. AS HE WAS; without preparation. He _was_ already IN THE BOAT, and they set _off_ at once. OTHER BOATS. The best authorities do not give the diminutive form, ‘little ships.' Mark alone tells of this. These other boa... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:37. All three accounts of this storm and its effects differ in form, but agree in substance. From Mark 4:35, we infer that it was already night when the storm arose. The lake was and is still subject to sudden storms, but very few boats are seen there now.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:38. IN THE STERN, ASLEEP ON THE CUSHION. The ordinary cushion, at the stern of the boat, used for a seat, sometimes for the rowers. The position is mentioned by Mark only, but Matthew and Luke speak of the disciples' coming to Him, which indicates the same thing. His weary body needed the res... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:39. PEACE, BE STILL. Mark alone preserves these words.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:40. HAVE YE NOT YET FAITH. ‘Yet,' in view of the late instruction, and His numerous miracles. Mark, in many instances, brings out the weakness of the disciples most prominently, a significant fact, if we remember that Peter was his authority.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 4:41. FEARED EXCEEDINGLY, lit., ‘feared a great fear.' And said one to another. This seems to have been the language of all in the boat. WHO THEN IS THIS? Mark and Luke have a different expression from that given by Matthew: ‘What manner of man.' ‘Who then,' _i.e.,_ in view of all we have see... [ Continue Reading ]