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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 4:15 mean?

Explanation

Mark 4:15 presents a metaphorical explanation of one of the scenarios that Jesus describes in the Parable of the Sower. In this parable, a sower distributes seeds on different types of ground, which represent different responses to the word of God (the Gospel).

The verse specifically addresses the seeds that fall "by the way side," which means the path or road where the ground is not receptive.

The seeds that land here are heard but not truly understood or accepted, and these individuals are quickly influenced by Satan (evil or temptation), who "taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts." This implies that without understanding and acceptance, the message of the Gospel cannot take root, and is easily lost or dismissed.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, believed to have been written during the first century AD.

The historical context of this period was marked by Roman occupation and cultural cross-pollination between Jewish and Hellenistic traditions.

Agriculturally, parables involving sowing seeds would be relatable to Jesus' audience, as many were familiar with farming practices.

The path or "wayside" was a common feature where soil would be compacted by foot traffic, making it unsuitable for growth.

This imagery would be clear to the listeners of the time.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse emphasizes the hindrance of spiritual understanding by forces opposed to God's will, personified as Satan.

Different denominations may view this as a literal being or a symbolic representation of spiritual opposition.

The imperative of having a receptive heart, akin to fertile soil, underlines the need for openness to spiritual truth.

Commentators suggest that this highlights human responsibility in receiving the message of the Gospel.

Practical Applications

The teaching of this verse emphasizes the importance of being receptive to spiritual truths and guarding one's heart and mind against the distractions and deceptions that can prevent growth.

In daily life, this could translate to actively seeking understanding, engaging with spiritual disciplines, and being mindful of influences that may lead one away from a meaningful connection with God and His teachings.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:19: "When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.

This is he which received seed by the way side."

Luke 8:12: "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "way side" is "παρὰ" (para), referring to the area beside the road.

"Satan" comes from the Greek word "Σατανᾶς" (Satanas), which originally stems from the Hebrew word "שָּׂטָן" (satan), meaning "adversary" or "accuser." "Taketh away" is translated from "ἀφαιρέω" (aphaireō), which means to snatch away or remove.

These words were used to vividly illustrate the immediate danger to the message as soon as it is sown if not properly received.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this verse to other ancient myths and religious interpretations, one might find common themes of wisdom being lost or stolen by malevolent forces.

In various cultures, there are stories of truths being obscured by tricksters or evil deities.

In the broader religious context, many religions emphasize the importance of understanding and internalizing spiritual teachings to prevent them from being "lost."

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the parable can be likened to the way environmental conditions influence seed germination and plant growth.

Just as seeds require suitable soil to grow, ideas and beliefs might only take root in the human mind under certain conditions, such as cognitive receptivity and favorable social environments.

Cognitive science might explore how quickly information is forgotten when it doesn't resonate or is not well understood.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators offer varied insights on this verse:

John Calvin sees the work of Satan as anything that leads people away from faith, suggesting that the heart must be prepared by God to resist these assaults.
Matthew Henry speaks of the need for an attentive ear and a retentive heart to keep hold of the truths heard.
William Barclay notes the tragedy of the uncultivated mind that misses the opportunity to embrace divine truth.

These perspectives underpin the importance of preparation, attentiveness, and awareness in relation to receiving and retaining spiritual teachings.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:15 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 4:15 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?