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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 4:27 mean?

Explanation

Mark 4:27 is a part of the parable of the growing seed, which Jesus tells to illustrate the Kingdom of God and its mysterious growth.

In this verse, the emphasis is on the farmer's lack of understanding of how the seed grows. Despite his ignorance, the seed develops through its own biological processes: it sprouts, grows, and eventually yields a crop. The literal meaning is clear; it describes a natural agricultural cycle.

However, the deeper meaning suggests that the workings and expansion of God's kingdom are independent of human comprehension or effort. It grows according to divine timing and power.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is generally thought to have been written in the late 60s or early 70s AD, a time of great tumult for the early Christian community, which faced both internal and external challenges.

The parables of Jesus were deeply rooted in the agrarian culture of his time, where farming was a common occupation and people were familiar with the process of planting, growing, and harvesting crops.

By using such familiar scenarios, Jesus was able to communicate complex spiritual truths in terms his audience could easily grasp.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse supports the notion of the sovereignty of God in the growth of His kingdom.

It suggests that, just as the farmer does not control the germination and growth of the seed, individuals do not control the workings of God’s kingdom. This can provide comfort to believers, trusting that God is at work even when they do not understand or see clear evidence of that work.

Different theological viewpoints might interpret this verse's meaning concerning human agency and divine action.

Calvinists might see it as an affirmation of God's irresistible grace, whereas Arminians might interpret it as the mystery of God's prevenient grace that works alongside human response and effort.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse can encourage individuals to be patient and to trust in unseen growth.

It suggests that they continue to sow good seeds in their lives (through acts of kindness, service, and faithfulness) without being overly concerned with immediate results.

It can also serve as a reminder that success is not solely based on one's understanding or effort, and to have faith that there are processes at work beyond human control.

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 3:6-7: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."

John 12:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."

Language Study

The original Greek text contains key terms such as:

"spontaneously" (automate): emphasizing the self-acting or automatic process.
"earth produces crops by itself" (ge karpophorei): highlighting the natural process of the earth bringing forth fruit.

These terms emphasize the autonomous and mysterious process of growth which is often beyond human understanding.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient Near Eastern cultures, agricultural metaphors were common in religious texts to describe divine activity and human life.

For example, the Egyptian god Osiris was associated with the cycle of crop growth and fertility.

The idea that life and growth originate from a divine source was widely understood in many ancient cultures.

However, the Jewish and Christian concept of a singular, sovereign God bringing forth growth uniquely shapes the interpretation of this verse.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern botany can explain the mechanisms by which seeds sprout and grow at a cellular and molecular level, something that was a mystery in ancient times.

However, the scientific understanding of how seeds grow does not diminish the theological import of the parable but rather in many ways enhances the appreciation of the complexity and wonder of life that the parable uses to point to divine truths.

commentaries

Many biblical commentaries note the subtlety of this passage in portraying the dynamic between human action and divine sovereignty.

Commentators such as William Barclay have pointed out how the verse encapsulates the essence of faith, sowing seeds and trusting in a process we don't fully understand.

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes how the kingdom of God works imperceptibly and how Christians ought to wait with patience for the harvest.

John Calvin comments on the farmer’s lack of understanding as a humility lesson for believers, recognizing that the power of God's kingdom is beyond human manipulation or expedient strategies.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:27 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 4:27 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?