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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 4:19 mean?

Explanation

[Mark 4:19] speaks of the spiritual risks associated with worldly concerns.

In this verse, Jesus is explaining the Parable of the Sower to His disciples. He describes the seed fallen among thorns, which stands for those who hear the word of God, but whose potential to grow and bear fruit in their Christian life is stunted by worldly distractions.

"The cares of this world" refers to excessive worry about life's troubles and responsibilities.

"The deceitfulness of riches" indicates that wealth can lead one to believe that it offers ultimate security and happiness, which is misleading.

Finally, "the lusts of other things entering in" points to the wide array of desires and pleasures that can divert a person from a faithful and spiritual focus.

When these factors "choke the word," it means they hinder its growth and effectiveness in a person's life, leading to a lack of spiritual productivity or unfruitfulness in the kingdom of God.

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Historical Context

The Gospel according to Mark is generally believed to be the oldest of the four canonical Gospels, written around AD 60-70. At this time, the early Christian community was experiencing persecution and difficulties as it was growing within the Roman Empire.

Many followers of Christ were facing life choices about whether to pursue the security of wealth and comfort or bear the risks and challenges of living out their Christian convictions.

The parable from which Mark 4:19 comes addresses the issue of how different individuals receive the message of the Gospel amidst these challenges.

Theological Insights

Different theological traditions interpret this verse through their own lenses.

From a Calvinist perspective, this verse underscores the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, suggesting that those who are truly elect will bear fruit despite the world's cares.

In contrast, an Arminian viewpoint might emphasize human free will and the responsibility to choose the word of God over worldly temptations to ensure one remains in faith.

The Catholic tradition might interpret this verse as a call for Christians to practice temperance and detachment from wealth and worldly concerns.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Mark 4:19 encourages believers to examine their priorities and commitments.

It suggests that followers of Christ should be vigilant about the influence of materialism, excessive worries, and worldly pleasures, which can distract them from spiritual growth and service.

Christians are thus called to foster spiritual disciplines such as prayer, the study of Scripture, and community involvement to help keep their focus on their faith commitments over worldly 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."
1 John 2:15-16 - "Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world.

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

Language Study

The key Greek terms in Mark 4:19 include:

"cares" (μεριμνα, merimna): anxiety or concerns.
"deceitfulness" (ἀπάτη, apate): deception, which suggests that riches can mislead individuals.
"riches" (πλοῦτο, ploutos): wealth or material abundance.
"lusts" (ἐπιθυμία, epithymia): strong desires or cravings, not necessarily sexual but can include various forms of covetousness.
"choke" (συμπνίγω, sympnigō): to suffocate or strangle; figuratively, to hinder or stifle growth.

The analysis of these words shows that the verse focuses on the ways in which anxieties, wealth, and inappropriate desires can suffocate spiritual vitality.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various religious traditions, caution against excessive materialism and worldly distractions is common.

In Buddhism, for example, the concept of "tanha" or craving is seen as the root of suffering, aligning conceptually with Jesus' teachings of the dangers of worldly desires.

In Hinduism, teachings about "maya," the illusion or deceptive power of the material world, echo the idea of the deceitfulness of riches.

The Stoic philosophy of ancient Greece also encouraged a focus on virtue over external wealth and pleasures, paralleling the call to resist worldly distractions.

Scientific Perspectives

From a psychological standpoint, modern research on happiness and well-being suggests that while basic financial security is essential for meeting needs, beyond a certain threshold, additional wealth does not significantly increase happiness.

This aligns with the biblical caution against the deceitfulness of riches, indicating that wealth can falsely promise more happiness than it delivers.

Additionally, the study of stress and its effects on health resonates with Jesus' warning about the "cares of this world," which can lead to negative physical and mental health outcomes.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Mark 4:19 often emphasize its moral and spiritual lessons.

For instance, John Calvin's commentary highlights the spiritual danger of a divided heart that is ensnared by worldly concerns.

Modern scholars like William Lane and R.T.

France focus on the call to prioritization of the Kingdom of God over wealth and anxieties of life.

These interpretations converge on the idea that true discipleship involves a conscious and deliberate choice to place spiritual growth above the fleeting and, at times, deceptive comforts of worldly life.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:19 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 4:19 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?