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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 4:18 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 4:18 is part of the Parable of the Sower, which is a teaching of Jesus recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).

In this parable, the sower represents the one who proclaims God's message, and the seed symbolizes the word of God.

The different types of soil represent the various ways individuals respond to the gospel.

This particular verse addresses the seed sown among thorns, which correlates to those who hear the word of God, but the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

On a deeper level, this verse warns about the distractions and temptations of life that can lead believers away from fully embracing and acting upon their faith.

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Historical Context

The Parable of the Sower is part of Jesus' teachings to a large crowd gathered around him by the sea, as stated in Mark 4.

Jesus often spoke in parables, which are stories with symbolic meaning, to convey spiritual truths.

The historical context of this teaching is set in the rural agrarian society of the 1st century Palestine where people were familiar with the practice of sowing seeds and understood the significance of good soil for a harvest.

Theological Insights

Theologians have viewed Mark 4:18 from several perspectives.

Some interpret it from the standpoint of perseverance, emphasizing that true faith must endure despite life's worries and temptations. Others see it as a lesson in spiritual preparedness, suggesting individuals must cultivate their hearts to receive God's word properly.

From a predestinarian perspective, some may argue that the verse illustrates the sovereignty of God in salvation, as not all who hear the word will accept it or bear fruit.

Practical Applications

Mark 4:18 is a reminder to individuals to reflect on their priorities and the state of their hearts.

Practical applications might include: evaluating one's life to identify any "thorns" that may be obstructing spiritual growth; practicing mindfulness to stay focused on spiritual values; and, engaging in community and accountability to help resist the pressures of materialism and other distractions.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:22 - "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."
Luke 8:14 - "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection."

Language Study

The key words in Mark 4:18, in their original Greek language, carry significant meaning:

"Sown" (σπείρω, speirō): To scatter seed; in a metaphorical sense, to disseminate teachings.
"Among thorns" (ἐν τοῖς ἀκάνθαις, en tois akanthais): In the midst of thorny plants, symbolizing a place that is not conducive to growth.
"Hear" (ἀκούω, akouō): To listen or to understand; implies an active and willing reception of the message.
"Word" (λόγος, logos): A term indicating the message or teachings, often used to represent the divine message or gospel.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons can be drawn between the Parable of the Sower and similar themes in other ancient religions and myths where seeds and soil feature as symbols of fertility, knowledge, and spiritual growth.

For example, in some ancient Egyptian myths, the god Osiris is associated with the sowing of seeds and the fertility of the earth.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the verse does not directly address scientific concepts but does metaphorically reference agricultural principles well understood today, such as the competition for resources (nutrients, water, light) that occurs between crops and weeds, which can ultimately affect the growth and productivity of the planted seeds.

Commentaries

Commentators offer varied perspectives on this verse.

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the risk of the cares of the world choking the word, suggesting a failure to follow through with spiritual commitments.

John Calvin discusses the deceitfulness that riches bring, drawing believers away from simplicity and dependence on God.

Modern commentators might address the challenge of balancing material concerns with spiritual growth in contemporary society.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:18 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 4:18 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?