PrevMark 4:22Next

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 4:22 mean?

Explanation

The passage from Mark 4:22, "For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad," speaks to the notion that truths will ultimately be revealed, and secrets will not remain hidden forever.

This can be understood in a literal sense, where whatever is concealed will eventually be brought to light.

On a deeper level, it reflects a spiritual truth about the kingdom of God and the revelation of divine wisdom.

Jesus often spoke in parables to convey spiritual insights, and this statement underscores the idea that the understanding of God’s word and His kingdom will not remain concealed, but will be made known to those who seek it.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse is part of the Gospel of Mark, which is generally believed to have been written between AD 66 and 70.

Mark's audience consisted mainly of Gentile Christians living in Rome, who were likely undergoing persecution.

In this context, Jesus' teachings were not only spiritual guidance but also reassurance for His followers who faced suffering and martyrdom.

The proclamation that hidden truths would be revealed may have offered hope that the true nature of their commitment and faith would be recognized and vindicated in time.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, different traditions have interpreted Mark 4:22 in varied ways.

One view is that Jesus refers to the eschatological truth that will be made known in the end times.

Another sees this as an assurance that the wisdom hidden in parables will become clear to those who are spiritually discerning.

This verse also touches on the nature of divine revelation, suggesting that God’s truth, while initially veiled, is intended to be made manifest to humankind.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse teaches the importance of honesty and transparency in everyday life.

It suggests that truth and integrity will stand the test of time, encouraging individuals to live openly and without deceit.

The verse can also provide comfort and courage to speak out against injustice, knowing that hidden wrongdoings will ultimately be exposed.

Cross-References

Luke 8:17: "For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad."
Matthew 10:26: "Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known."
Ecclesiastes 12:14: "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key phrases include "apokalyphthēnai" (ἀποκαλυφθῆναι), meaning "to be revealed," and "elthein eis phaneron" (ἔλθῃ εἰς φανερόν), meaning "to come to light" or "become manifest." These terms convey a transition from hidden to visible, suggesting an inevitable disclosure of what was previously concealed.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other cultural and religious contexts, there is often a theme of hidden truths being revealed.

In ancient Egyptian myth, for instance, the god of wisdom Thoth represented the unveiling of hidden knowledge.

In Hinduism, the goddess Saraswati is associated with the revelation of truth and knowledge.

This concept is widespread and indicates a universal human intuition that what is hidden or unknown has power and significance and is often meant to be eventually understood or exposed.

Scientific Perspectives

Science may consider this verse metaphorically, seeing parallels in the eventual discovery of truths through scientific inquiry and exploration.

Similarly, the idea that concealed knowledge will be revealed resonates with the scientific process, where hidden aspects of reality are systematically uncovered through research, often leading to paradigm shifts in understanding.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered commentaries on Mark 4:22.

Some, like John Calvin, highlighted the responsibility of believers to bring the light of Scripture to others, interpreting the verse as a charge for Christians to share knowledge of the Gospel.

Matthew Henry viewed it as comfort that God's kingdom and truth would prevail despite current obscurity.

Contemporary scholars often focus on the context of Mark's Gospel, considering the challenges faced by the early Christian community and seeing this assurance of revelation as a source of hope and perseverance.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:22 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 4:22 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?