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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 4:28 mean?

Explanation

The verse "For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." from the book of Mark 4:28 discusses the natural process of growth and maturation, specifically within an agricultural context.

Literally, it describes the stages of growth for a grain crop: from the initial sprout to the development of the ear (where kernels or seeds form) and finally to the ripened grain ready for harvest.

On a deeper level, this verse is often interpreted as a parable referring to the Kingdom of God and how it grows and develops in the hearts of believers.

The process is gradual and ordered, signifying that spiritual development, much like agricultural growth, follows a certain sequence and requires patience.

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Historical Context

Mark 4:28 forms part of the parable of the growing seed, which is one of Jesus’ teachings to His disciples.

This parable is found in the Gospel of Mark, which was written in the first century AD, likely between 60 and 70 AD.

The audience for whom Mark was writing consisted mainly of Roman Christians who were experiencing persecution.

In the historical and cultural context of the time, many of Jesus' parables used agricultural imagery, as it was a familiar concept to His listeners, many of whom were farmers by trade.

The narrative of growth from seed to harvest would have resonated with their everyday experiences and understanding of the world.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, different traditions may draw varying insights from this verse.

In Protestantism, this verse may emphasize the idea of sola gratia, or grace alone, suggesting that the growth of spiritual life is a natural process initiated and carried out by God, not by human effort.
In Catholicism, the verse might highlight the importance of cooperation with God's grace.

Even though the growth is ultimately attributed to God, human free will can play a part in nurturing or neglecting the growth.

Eastern Orthodox theology may focus on the mystery of God's workings in the heart of a believer, paralleling the mysterious way seeds grow in the earth.

Practical Applications

The teachings of Mark 4:28 can be translated into several practical applications for daily life:

Patience: Just as crops take time to grow, personal and spiritual developments are gradual processes.
Trust: We should trust the natural and divine process of growth rather than forcing or rushing it.
Stewardship: While the earth brings forth fruit by itself, it still requires the care of a farmer.

Similarly, individuals should take care of their spiritual lives through practices like prayer, study, and community involvement.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:3-9: The parable of the sower, which also uses seed growth as a metaphor for the Kingdom of Heaven.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."
James 5:7: Be patient unto the coming of the Lord.

Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Galatians 6:9: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase "bringeth forth fruit of herself" (Greek: "automate") emphasizes that the earth produces fruit by itself or automatically.

"Automate" invokes the idea of a self-acting or intrinsic process.

The terms for the stages of growth, "blade" (Greek: "chortos"), "ear" (Greek: "stachys"), and "full corn" (Greek: "pleres sitos"), render the agricultural process in precise, observable steps, reflecting a natural, orderly progression.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of growth from seed to harvest is a theme that appears in many ancient myths and religions, often symbolizing rebirth and renewal.

For instance, the Egyptian myth of Osiris involves the deity being associated with vegetation and the cyclical nature of growth and decay.

In many indigenous religions, the cycle of the seasons and the growth of crops are tied to the divine and used to narrate fundamental truths about life and spirituality.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern agriculture and botany give us insight into the biological processes behind plant growth. Seed germination, photosynthesis, and the growth of plants from a seedling to full maturity are now well-understood scientific phenomena.

While the parable speaks in simple terms, the biological complexity behind the scenes echoes the depth of the spiritual metaphor Jesus might have been alluding to, that what seems simple on the surface often has intricate and orderly mechanisms beneath.

Commentaries

Biblical commentaries approach Mark 4:28 from various angles:

Traditional Exegesis: Some traditional commentaries might emphasize the sovereignty of God in the process of spiritual growth, just as the earth naturally yields its crop.
Literary Analysis: Literary-focused commentaries examine the storytelling aspects and the use of agricultural metaphor to convey Jesus' message about the Kingdom of God.
Historical-Critical Commentaries: These works often look at the socio-political background of Jesus' parable, attempting to reconstruct the 1st-century setting to better understand the parable's original impact and meaning.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:28 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 4:28 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?