PrevMark 4:12Next

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 4:12 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 4:12 comes from the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament.

It reflects Jesus' explanation for why He spoke to the people in parables.

The literal reading is that Jesus taught in a way that was not meant to be immediately understandable to all audience members.

The deeper meaning points to a spiritual blindness and deafness in some people, who see and hear the words but do not truly comprehend or accept their significance, they are not open to the transformation that understanding might bring.

The phrase suggests that without a certain openness or readiness, the words of Jesus will not result in spiritual conversion or forgiveness.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse is situated within Mark's Gospel account of Jesus' ministry.

During this time period, there was an expectation among the Jewish people for a Messiah who would deliver them from Roman occupation and re-establish a kingdom similar to that of David.

Jesus' teaching often challenged the contemporary understanding of the Messiah and the role of Israel.

Parables were a common teaching tool that Jesus used to convey His message to those ready to understand.

This particular verse echoes a passage from Isaiah 6:9-10, which Jesus quotes to explain why He speaks in parables.

Theological Insights

Different Christian theological traditions interpret this verse in varied ways.

One insight is the notion of predestination, where some believe that God has foreordained who will respond to His word.

Another perspective might be the concept of free will, suggesting that individuals are responsible for their reaction to God's message.

A third viewpoint might look at the hardening of hearts as a result of people's own choices, rather than God actively preventing understanding.

This can lead to discussions on God's sovereignty versus human responsibility.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse may encourage believers to self-reflect and consider if they are truly open to understanding and acting on the teachings of Jesus.

It challenges individuals to assess whether they are only hearing or seeing on the surface level without allowing the message to transform them.

Christians are also reminded to be patient and persistent in sharing their faith, recognizing that some people may not immediately understand or accept the Gospel.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:13-15: "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."
Isaiah 6:9-10: "And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not."
Acts 28:26-27: "Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:"

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words like "seeing" (βλέποντες/blepontes) and "hearing" (ἀκούοντες/akouontes) are present participles, indicating continuous action.

"Perceive" (ἰδῶσιν/eidosin) and "understand" (συνῶσιν/synosi) imply a deeper comprehension or discernment, which is lacking despite the continuous actions of seeing and hearing.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In some ancient religions and myths, there were beliefs that the gods would sometimes blind mortals to certain truths or visions.

In Greek mythology, for instance, Tiresias was blind but had prophetic insight.

In the context of religious teachings, this concept in Mark is distinct in that the blindness and deafness are not irreversible conditions imposed capriciously by deities but rather connected to an individual's openness to divine truth.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the verse might be linked to psychological concepts such as confirmation bias and cognitive dissonance.

People tend to favor information that confirms their existing beliefs and may experience discomfort when confronted with new information that challenges those beliefs.

The verse can be seen as an ancient recognition of these psychological tendencies, suggesting that ingrained beliefs can hinder new understanding.

Commentaries

Scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of Mark 4:12.

Some suggest that Jesus' use of parables was a form of mercy, preventing those who were not ready from being held accountable for rejecting His teachings. Others argue that this verse underscores the mystery of God's kingdom, which is not meant to be immediately obvious to all.

Additionally, some commentaries focus on the judicial hardening, an idea that some are given over to their own obstinacy, illustrating the consequences of persistent unbelief.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:12 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 4:12 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?