PrevMark 4:2Next

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 4:2 mean?

Explanation

Mark 4:2 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible that describes how Jesus communicated his teachings to the people around him.

The verse reads: "And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine," which suggests that Jesus frequently used parables as a method of teaching to convey complex truths and moral lessons in a relatable and understandable manner.

Parables are simple, metaphorical stories used to illustrate and explain moral or spiritual lessons.

When Mark refers to Jesus teaching "in his doctrine," it indicates that the lessons Jesus imparted were a part of his larger teachings and beliefs that formed the foundation of Christian theology.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark, traditionally attributed to John Mark, a follower of Peter, is believed to have been written around 66-70 CE.

During this period, the audience was predominantly a community facing persecution and struggling with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Mark’s gospel served as a vehicle for transmitting the teachings of Jesus to a group in need of reassurance and guidance.

Storytelling through parables was a common teaching method in the Jewish tradition, and Jesus, as a Jewish rabbi, would have employed this method as an effective means of engaging his audience and provoking deeper thought and reflection on spiritual truths.

Theological Insights

The use of parables is significant in Christian theology, as it demonstrates Jesus’ method of revealing the nature of the Kingdom of God in a way that invited listeners to uncover the meaning for themselves.

Theologically, this verse may suggest that understanding the kingdom requires personal reflection and a readiness to receive spiritual truths.

From various theological perspectives, this verse is seen as a sign of the value of parables for spiritual insight and the importance of Jesus' authoritative teaching method in Christian doctrine.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse encourages Christians to seek wisdom through stories and analogies that relate to everyday life. It can also inspire believers to teach others in ways that are approachable and relatable.

Moreover, it suggests the importance of being open to the deeper meaning behind Jesus' teachings, which may not always be immediately comprehensible but require contemplation and personal application.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:34: "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:"
Luke 8:10: "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."
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."

Language Study

The key words in the original language of this verse, which is Greek, are "parables" (παραβολαίς - parabolais) and "doctrine" (διδαχή - didachē).

"Parabolais" refers to placing things side by side for the purpose of comparison, and it is the term from which the English word "parable" is derived.

"Didachē" refers to teaching or instruction, particularly that which is authoritative and fundamental to a belief system.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Parables are not unique to Christianity; they are found in many cultures and religious traditions.

For example, the Jewish rabbinic tradition uses mashalim (analogous sayings) that serve a similar purpose to parables.

In Buddhism, Jataka tales are a collection of stories about the past lives of the Buddha and contain moral and ethical lessons.

Parables serve a universal function as tools for teaching and can be found in a wide range of cultural contexts.

Scientific Perspectives

While there is no direct scientific perspective related to the teaching of parables, one could argue that the use of parables aligns with modern understanding of pedagogy and cognitive psychology.

Stories and metaphors are widely recognized as powerful tools for teaching complex ideas, as they help learners to connect new concepts to existing knowledge and are more likely to be remembered.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have long examined Mark 4:2 and the role of parables in Jesus’ ministry.

William L.

Lane in his commentary on the Gospel of Mark emphasizes the mysterious character of parables that demands a response from the hearer.

Ralph Martin and Peter H.

Davids, in their commentary on Mark, speak to how parables function both to reveal and to conceal truth.

Additionally, scholars such as N.T. Wright offer insights into the historical Jesus and his use of parables to teach about God's Kingdom in ways that were directly relevant to his first-century context, challenging both Roman and Jewish expectations.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:2 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 4:2 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?