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Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Mark 4:26-29

The seed growing secretly (the only parable peculiar to Mk). Tatian in his 'Diates-saron' places it immediately before the Tares. Such a position for it is suitable, but it is wrong to regard it, with Weiss, as only an imperfect and mutilated version of that parable.

The point of the parable is not so much the secret invisible energy of the seed, or divine Word, as that of the earth into which the seed falls, i.e. the moral and spiritual nature of man. The seed of Christianity will grow, because the soil into which it will fall is suitable to nourish it. The human soul is 'naturally Christian' (Tertullian), and Christianity is the 'natural religion.' Christianity can, therefore, propagate itself without human effort, and often does so.

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See also Mark 4:26-29 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 26. _SO IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD_] This parable is mentioned only by Mark, a proof that Mark did not _abridge_ Matthew. Whitby supposes it to refer to the good ground spoken of before, and paraphr...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    SO IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD - The gospel, or religion in the soul, may be compared to this. See the notes at Matthew 3:2. This parable is recorded only by Mark....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Teaching by the Seaside. The Parable of the Sower. (Mark 4:1. Matthew 13:1; Luke 8:4 .)_ 2. The Word to shine forth in testimony. (Mar

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    The teaching in parables to the multitude is now resumed, and two further examples are given, those of the seed growing secretly and the mustard seed. The first is peculiar to Mk. Loisy interprets it...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    He said to them: "This is what the Kingdom of God is like. It is like what happens when a man casts seed upon the earth. He sleeps and he wakes night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows--and he do...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    TEACHING IN PARABLES (Mark 4:1-2)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SO. Thus. IF.. contingent hypothesis. App-118. A MAN. Greek. _anthropos._ App-123. SHOULD CAST. should have cast. SEED. the seed. INTO. upon. Greek. _epi_. App-104....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Seed growing secretly 26. _as if a man should cast seed into the ground_ This is _the only parable which is peculiar to St Mark_, and seems to take the place of "the Leaven" recorded by St Matthe...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    26–29. THE SEED GROWING SECRETLY AND AUTOMATICALLY Omitted by Mt. and Lk...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ὩΣ ([779][780][781][782][783] 33) rather than ὡς ἐάν ([784][785][786]), an obvious correction; but ἐάν might get lost before ἄνθρ. [779] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _JESUS SPOKE ABOUT CANDLES AND SEED MARK 4:21-34:_ Often we act much more foolish in our spiritual lives than we would ever consider doing in our physical lives. Men would never light a candle to prod...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΛΕΓΕΝ _impf. ind. act. от_ ΛΈΓΩ, _см._ Mark 4:9. ΒΆΛΗ _aor. conj. act. от_ ΒΆΛΛΩ (G906) бросать. _Conj._ используется с ΏΣ (G5613) в _conj._: "если бы человек бросил..." (RG, 974; Gundry, 223-24)....

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1423 THE SPRINGING FIELD Mark 4:26. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    SO IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD,— In this parable we are informed, that as the husbandman does not, by any efficacy of his own, cause the seed to grow, but leaves it to be nourished by the soil and sun; so J...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _SUMMARY 4:1-34_ In the parables of this section, especially in those of the sower, the seed and the mustard seed, the prophetic power of Jesus is clearly exhibited. Without superhuman foresight he co...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    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 shou...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; AND HE SAID, SO IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AS IF A MAN SHOULD CAST SEED INTO THE GROUND;...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    10-13 Compare Mat_13:10-17; Luk_8:9-10. 11 The kingdom of God had been foretold and typified in their sacred Scriptures, but now the Lord is unfolding a phase of its history which was unknown to the...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST IN THE BIBLE: MARK’S GOSPEL _KEITH SIMONS_ This commentary HAS BEEN through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 4 THE STORY ABOUT THE SEEDS VERSES 1-9 Every farmer knows that he must plant his s...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AS if A MAN SHOULD CAST SEED INTO THE GROUND. — What follows has the special interest of being the only parable peculiar to St. Mark, one therefore which had escaped the manifest eagerness of St. Matt...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 4:26-29 (MARK 4:26) THE SEED GROWING SECRETLY "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...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _Parable of the Blade, the Ear, and the Full Corn_. Peculiar to Mark and beyond doubt a genuine utterance of Jesus, the doctrine taught being over the head of the reporter and the Apostolic Church gen...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    καὶ ἔλεγεν, and He said, to whom? The disciples in private, or the crowd from the boat? The absence of αὐτοῖς after ἔλεγεν (_cf._ Mark 4:21; Mark 4:24) is not conclusive against the former, as Weiss a...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    GROWTH IN GOD'S KINGDOM Mark 4:10-41 How quick the Master was to observe the meaning of natural symbols! To Him all things were unfoldings of eternal mystery, and the ways of men unconsciously mirror...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In verses Mark 4:1; Mark 4:10, we have the explanation of the reason of the parabolic teaching of Jesus. He clothed divine truth in picture forms that men might more easily look upon it and learn it,...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (4) And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; (4) The Lord sows and reaps in a manner unknown to men....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    So it is with him who announces the gospel of the kingdom of God, as with the sower. For whether he sleep or rise, the see will grow up while he knoweth not; and the well prepared soil will, by the bl...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    THE PROGRESSIVE GRACE IN THE HEART Mark 4:26-34. “And He said, Thus is the kingdom of God as if a man may cast seed upon the ground, and he may sleep, and it springs up, night and day, and the seed ge...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (26) And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if 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...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    It is remarkable how tradition has contrived to injure the truth in touching the question of the method of the gospel we now enter on; for the current view which comes down to us from the ancients, st...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _NATURAL LAW IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD_ ‘And (Jesus) said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; … when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    Mark 4:26._So is the kingdom of God. _Though this comparison has the same object with the two immediately preceding, yet Christ appears to direct his discourse purposely to the ministers of the word,...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    This introduces the true character and result of His own service, and all the history of the service that should be accomplished unto a far distant future; as well as the responsibility of His discipl...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE SAID,.... He went on saying the following parable, which was delivered at the same time that the parable of the sower was, though omitted by Matthew; and is here placed between that, and the ot...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; Ver. 26. _So is the kingdom of God_] God sows and reaps in the Church, though none observes it, and hath his fruit...

  • Jonathan Edwards' Notes On The Scriptures

    Mark 4:26, 27, 28. "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth no...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _So is the kingdom of God_ The gospel dispensation, whereby God overthrows the kingdom of Satan, collects subjects to himself, and erects and establishes his own kingdom. The grace of God in the soul...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    KINGDOM OF GOD; the reign of Christ in the hearts of men. SHOULD CAST SEED, MATTHEW 3:12; the seed is the good word of God sown in the heart, and made fruitful by God's grace. No one should be discour...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND HE SAID, SO IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AS IF A MAN SHOULD CAST SEED INTO THE GROUND,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The parable of the seed:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    His teaching now at the seaside corresponds to Matthew 13:1, but only two of the seven parables in Matthew are mentioned here, for Matthew gives a full dispensational picture, while Mark dwells simply...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    TITLE: How does your garden grow? TEXT: Mark 4:26-30 PROPOSITION: We are involved but can't explain the process of growth. QUESTION: How? KEY WORD: Evidences SCRIPTURE READING: Same INTRODUCTION: 1....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Ver. 26-29. Our evangelist alone taketh notice of this parable, nor hath it any particular explication annexed. If we expound it with relation to what went before, the scope of it seemeth to be, to le...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Mark 4:26 And G2532 said G3004 (G5707) G3779 kingdom G932 God G2316 is G2076 (G5748) as G5

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGLY RULE OF GOD WILL NOW BE SPREAD WIDELY AND WILL PRODUCE ABUNDANT FRUIT (4:1-34). As we have already seen the Gospel began with Jesus Christ as God's beloved Son and has gradua...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SEED GROWING SECRETLY UNTIL THE HARVEST (4:26-29). Jesus now illustrates the certainty of the harvest which will come about through God's secret work in the world. Man casts the seed on the earth,...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    TWO PARABLES EMPHASISING NEW BIRTH AND GROWTH (4:26-32). Jesus follow up the parable of the sower with two parables about new birth and growth. In these the seed of the word is sown, and it produces n...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Mark 4:26-29. THE PARABLE OF THE SEED GROWING, WE KNOW NOT HOW. Found here only....

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    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 _see...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    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 utte...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    AS IF A MAN SHOULD CAST (ως ανθρωπος βαλη). Note ως with the aorist subjunctive without αν. It is a supposable case and so the subjunctive and the aorist tense because a single instance. Blass cons...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    KINGDOM (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 6:33). _...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Mark 4:26 Mysterious growth. We little think how much is always going on in what we may call the underground of life; and how much more we have to do with those secret processes which underlie every...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Mark 4:26 Christ's Idea of Christianity. I. The kingdom of God, or the beginning of a truly religious life in the soul of a man, may be obscure, imperceptible and unconscious. When a man is building...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Mark 4:26 We have in this parable: I. A most simple, yet striking representation of the business, and, at the same time, the helplessness of the spiritual husbandman. To the ministers of the Gospel,...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Parable of the sower. Parable of the candle. Parable of the mustard seed. Jesus stills the storm. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Satan, disciples. CONCLUSION: The present age is a time for missions an...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Mark 4:12. _That seeing they may see, and not perceive._ St. Luke gives the true sense of these words, which often occur. Acts 28:26. They mark, according to Dr. Lightfoot, the obduracy which fell on...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIKE. Only Mark gives this parable. But the same lesson is taught by Isaiah 55:10-11; James 5:7-8; 1 Peter 1:23-25. Results do not come _instantly_ either in nature or in spiritu...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground._ THE RELIGION OF CHRIST I. The religion of Christ is a reign. It is not a creed, or a sentiment, or a ritualism, but a regal...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MARK—NOTE ON MARK 4:26 The people of Jesus’ day expected God’s kingdom to come suddenly, but Jesus tells them it will begin in a small way (FIRST THE BLADE, THEN THE EAR) and then will grow slowly but...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MARK—NOTE ON MARK 4:1 Mark provides several examples of Jesus teaching in parables. To the hard-hearted, parables are a warning; to those who are open-hearted, they illustrate principles of the messia...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _And He said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the earth._ This is another parable, different from that of _the Sower_, which precedes it. Both, however, are taken from _see...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 4 1 _The parable of the sower_, 14 _and the meaning thereof_. 21 _We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others_. 26 _The parable of the seed growing secretly_, 30 _and of the musta...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ Mark 4:29. BUT AS SOON AS THE FRUIT IS MATURE, STRAIGHTWAY HE PUTTETH FORTH THE SICKLE, etc. Cp. Joel 4:13 (LXX.). See also 1 Peter 1:23; Revelation 14:14. MAIN HOMILE...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MARK 4:1 AND AGAIN HE BEGAN TO TEACH BY THE SEASIDE. This return to the seaside is mentioned by St. Mark only. From this time our Lord's teaching began to be more public. The room and the...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now in our Bibles to the gospel according to Mark, chapter 4. Beginning in chapter 4, we have the beginning of the ministry of Christ in parables. There is often times a mistaken opinion...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Peter 1:23; Ecclesiastes 11:4; Ecclesiastes 11:6;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Should cast [β α λ η]. Lit., should have cast, the aorist tense, followed by the presents sleep and rise [κ α θ ε υ δ η α ν δ ε γ ε ι ρ η τ α ι]. The whole, literally, "As if a man should have cast se...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    GETTING WHAT YOU GIVE Mark 4:24 INTRODUCTORY WORDS There are many "as" and "sos" in the "Word of God. These cover various lines of consideration. Let us suggest one or two of these before we take u...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    So is the kingdom of God — The inward kingdom is like seed which a man casts into the ground — This a preacher of the Gospel casts into the heart. And he sleeps and rises night and day — That is, he h...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    This parable of our Saviour's is an instructive lesson to the ministers of the gospel, faithfully to do their parts in sowing the seed of the word amongst their people, and then not to be over-solicit...

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