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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 4:23 mean?

Explanation

The verse "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:23) is a call to attentiveness and discernment spoken by Jesus during his teaching ministry.

The phrase is intended to be taken both literally and metaphorically.

Literally, it is a simple statement: those who have the physical ability to hear should listen.

Metaphorically, however, it implies a deeper, spiritual listening, the kind that leads to understanding and inner transformation.

When Jesus says this, he is urging listeners to pay close attention to his teachings, which often contained parables or were enigmatic in nature.

It's a warning that the lessons being imparted are not only to be heard but also to be scrutinized and comprehended beyond the surface level.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse is found in the Gospel of Mark, which is traditionally believed to have been written by John Mark, a follower of the apostle Peter, around 60-70 AD. During this period of the early Christian Church, Jesus' teachings were spread by word of mouth in a highly oral culture.

It was customary for a teacher or rabbi to speak in parables and use proverbial language.

Mark's audience primarily included Gentile Christians who were unfamiliar with Jewish customs, which made understanding Jesus' sayings particularly challenging and demanded greater explanation and contemplation.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse emphasizes the importance of spiritual discernment. Different theological viewpoints see it as a reminder that faith comes through hearing (Romans 10:17) and that true understanding requires a willingness to listen and a readiness of heart.

Catholic theology might emphasize the role of Church teaching to aid in understanding Scripture.
Protestant theology may focus on the personal responsibility of each believer to hear and interpret the Word of God.
Eastern Orthodox perspectives might highlight the mystical aspect of listening to the scripture, describing it as a sacramental encounter with the Divine Logos.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, this verse can be seen as a valuable lesson in mindfulness and the careful consideration of teachings or information received in daily life.

Listening with intent and seeking a deeper understanding of the messages we receive can be applied to various aspects of personal life, relationships, and professional circumstances.

Cross-References

Matthew 11:15: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Revelation 2:7: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
Matthew 13:9: "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Luke 8:8: "...He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, "ears to hear" is translated from "ὦτα ἀκούειν" (ota akouein). The verb "ἀκούειν" (akouein), means "to hear, listen or understand," which indicates that the process of hearing is not merely a passive act but rather, involves active engagement and comprehension.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures and religions, the process of hearing wisdom was also valued.

For instance, in the Hindu traditions, the concept of "Shravana" refers to listening to scripture and is considered an important means of acquiring wisdom.

Similarly, in Buddhism, hearing the Dharma is an essential step in the path to enlightenment.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychological studies emphasize the importance of active listening in effective communication and learning.

This aligns with the principle of mindful attention that Jesus encourages with this phrase.

Neuroscience studies confirm that engaged listening activates multiple regions of the brain not only related to processing sound but also involved with memory and emotional resonance.

Commentaries

According to William Barclay, this phrase is a common Semitic expression that Jesus used, which indicates the importance of the proceeding or preceding words.
John Calvin suggests that Christ insists upon the necessity of spiritual ears and the uselessness without them, irrespective of physical hearing.
The Pulpit Commentary outlines that this expression was frequently on the lips of Christ, who knew the spiritual dullness of people and wanted to stimulate their attention.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:23 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 4:23 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?