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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 4:30 mean?

Explanation

In Mark 4:30, Jesus presents a question to His disciples about the Kingdom of God, asking them to consider what it might be compared to. This follows a series of parables, stories that convey spiritual truths through common, everyday experiences.

The verse suggests that the Kingdom of God is not easily comparable to earthly things, which introduces the Parable of the Mustard Seed that follows (Mark 4:31-32).

By questioning how to liken the Kingdom of God, Jesus highlights its unique and mysterious nature and prepares the listeners for a comparison that will reveal an aspect of this divine kingdom that may be unexpected or counterintuitive to human understanding.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark was written in a first-century Roman context, a time when the Jewish people were living under Roman occupation.

The Kingdom of God was a central theme in Jesus' teaching.

It referred not to a physical territory but rather to the reign of God over his creation, especially in the hearts and lives of believers.

The concept of a kingdom would have resonated with His audience, who were familiar with the ideas of earthly kingdoms and empires, but Jesus' teachings often subverted these expectations, presenting a spiritual and transcendent Kingdom.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the Kingdom of God is a foundational concept within Christian thought. Different traditions interpret it variously:

Classical Theology: Views the Kingdom of God as both a present reality and a future fulfillment, infused with the power of God and inaugurated by Christ's ministry, death, and resurrection.
Covenant Theology: Focuses on God's promises throughout biblical history, seeing the Kingdom as the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant with humanity.
Dispensationalism: Sees the Kingdom of God as a future, earthly reign of Christ after a period of tribulation.
Liberation Theology: Emphasizes the Kingdom of God as a call to social justice, where the marginalized and oppressed are given special attention as the ones to whom God's Kingdom belongs.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages believers to:

Seek a deeper understanding of the nature of God's Kingdom, which often defies conventional expectations.
Recognize that the influence of the Kingdom of God starts small like a mustard seed but grows to have a significant impact.
Approach the teachings of Jesus with openness to mystery and wonder.
Explore how our lives can reflect the values of the Kingdom of God, such as love, justice, and humility.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:31-32: Another occurrence of the parable of the mustard seed, similar to what follows in Mark 4:30.
Luke 13:18-19: Luke's version of the mustard seed parable.
Daniel 2:44: A prophecy about an everlasting kingdom set by God which could be understood as a foretelling of God's Kingdom.
Matthew 6:33: An exhortation to seek first the Kingdom of God.
Luke 17:20-21: A passage where Jesus teaches about the nature of the Kingdom of God being among or within us.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "kingdom" is βασιλεία (basileia), which can mean reign, rule, or realm and is often used to denote sovereignty and royal power.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient times, many religious and cultural narratives focused on the themes of kingdoms and power.

The Kingdom of God, however, stands in contrast to these because it is not about human power structures or political dominance.

Instead, it's about divine sovereignty, often manifesting through acts of service, love, and transformation.

Scientific Perspectives

The Kingdom of God is primarily theological and spiritual, making direct scientific comparisons difficult.

However, the principle of growth from small beginnings, like the mustard seed analogy, finds echoes in scientific principles such as the growth of plants or the exponential development of systems.

Commentaries

Classic Commentators: Many traditional commentaries focus on the surprising nature of the Kingdom of God, noting how Jesus uses the small mustard seed to represent an upside-down kingdom that starts insignificantly and grows extraordinarily.
Modern scholars: Scholarly interpretations often highlight the subversive nature of the parable in its historical context, wherein a small, seemingly insignificant movement (early Christianity) is set to grow into something beyond expectation, challenging the existing order.
Theological Commentators: Authors from diverse theological backgrounds might focus on the "already but not yet" tension of God's Kingdom, that it is here now but has not yet reached its full manifestation.
Pastoral Perspectives: From a pastoral angle, this verse can be used to inspire individuals and congregations about the potential of small beginnings and the nurturing of one's faith within the larger community.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:30 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 4:30 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?