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Mark 4

And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

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.

And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

The sower soweth the word.

And these are they 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 in their hearts.

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

And these are 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.

And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

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 not how.

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

What does Mark 4:10 mean?

Explanation

Mark 4:10 falls within the section of the Gospel of Mark where Jesus is teaching the crowd in parables.

In the previous verses, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower, wherein a sower sows seed and it falls on various types of ground, yielding different results.

After delivering this parable to the public, Jesus finds Himself in the company of a smaller group, which includes His twelve disciples and some others who follow Him.

The verse signifies a moment when the inner circle of Jesus' followers seeks clarification about the parables that He shares with the multitudes.

It highlights a dynamic often found in Jesus' ministry where He shares teachings with the general public in parables and then expounds upon them in more detail to His disciples in private.

The followers' request indicates their desire to understand the deeper truths that Jesus was communicating through the parable, truths which may not have been immediately obvious to the broader audience.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus' ministry, parables were a common teaching tool used to convey spiritual and moral lessons.

It was a period in which direct and explicit teachings could be dangerous, both politically and socially, as they could be seen as subversive or blasphemous by the ruling Roman authorities or the Jewish religious leaders.

By using parables, Jesus could teach profound truths in a way that was less confrontational, encapsulating lessons in stories that were open to interpretation.

This approach also fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, that the Messiah would speak in parables (Psalm 78:2).

The disciples, who were largely from Jewish backgrounds, would have been raised with an understanding of metaphorical and allegorical interpretations in their religious texts and might have been more keen to understand the deeper meanings.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse touches on several concepts:

The Nature of Revelation: The idea that Jesus reveals truths selectively based on an individual's openness or spiritual readiness.
Discipleship: The role of the twelve apostles and other close followers as students who had direct access to Jesus and were being taught for a unique mission.
The Kingdom of God: Parables often relate to the Kingdom of God.

The disciples' desire to understand these parables suggests a striving to grasp the nature of God's reign.

Different theological perspectives may interpret the function of parables and the role of the disciples' inquiry:

Reformed: Theologians might see it as an example of divine election, where the mysteries of the kingdom are revealed to those whom God has chosen.
Catholic: Perspectives may emphasize the importance of the Magisterium (the Church's teaching authority), in interpreting Scripture, just as the disciples looked to Jesus.
Liberal: Theologians might view the verse as indicating the importance of continual quest for understanding and the essential role of community in interpreting Scripture.

Practical Applications

Practically, Mark 4:10 suggests the following applications:

Seeking Understanding: Encourages individuals to seek deeper understanding of spiritual teachings and not be satisfied with surface-level interpretation.
Mentorship: Highlights the value of having a mentor or guide in the spiritual journey, much like Jesus was for His disciples.
Community: Underscores the importance of being part of a community that explores faith together, rather than doing it in isolation.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:10-11: "And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given."
Mark 4:34: "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."
Luke 8:9-10: "And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."

Language Study

The key Greek term in Mark 4:10 is "παραβολή" (parable), which can mean a comparison, a story used to illustrate or explain something, or a riddle.

The word has its roots in the Greek "paraballo," which means "to place beside" or "to compare." Understanding this term is critical for grasping the function and intention behind Jesus' use of parables in His teaching.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing Jesus' use of parables to other ancient teachings, we find similar methods in various religions and cultures.

For example, the use of allegory and storytelling to convey moral and spiritual truths was not unique to Judaism or Christianity.

In the Greco-Roman world, fables, such as those attributed to Aesop, served a similar function.

In Eastern traditions, parables are found extensively in the teachings of the Buddha, serving as a pedagogical tool to communicate complex spiritual concepts.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the study of parables touches on cognitive and educational psychology.

The human brain is wired to understand and remember stories, which is why parabolic teaching can be so powerful and memorable.

This approach to instruction leverages narrative structures which are known to enhance comprehension and retention, a method validated by contemporary pedagogical research.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Mark 4:10 provide various interpretations:

John Calvin: Emphasizes the mercy of God in granting the disciples a clearer understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom.
William Barclay: Suggests the parables were meant to make the hearers think and to light the spark of recognition in the ready mind.
**R.T.

France**: Notes the distinction in Mark between the treatment of the crowd and that of the disciples, showcasing the varying levels of revelation and understanding in Jesus' teaching ministry.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 4:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?