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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 4:31 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 4:31 refers to one of the parables that Jesus told, the Parable of the Mustard Seed.

Jesus uses the mustard seed to illustrate the nature of the Kingdom of God.

The mustard seed, known for being very small, is used metaphorically to represent a small or seemingly insignificant beginning that holds within it the potential for significant growth.

The key message here is that the Kingdom of God, though it may start small, like the humble beginnings of Jesus's ministry or the small number of his initial followers, will grow to become great and influential.

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Historical Context

Mark 4:31 is part of the synoptic Gospels, which were likely written in the first century AD.

The specific historical setting of the parable is in ancient Palestine, where agriculture played a central role in society and economy.

Mustard seeds were common and known for their small size and rapid, abundant growth.

Jesus spoke in parables to convey complex divine truths in simple, relatable terms.

His audience would have been familiar with the mustard plant, which could grow from a tiny seed to a large shrub, providing a vivid, concrete image for his teaching.

Theological Insights

The parable of the mustard seed, including Mark 4:31, holds various theological insights.

From a Christian perspective, it is often seen as symbolizing the growth of faith and the power of God's work in the world.

It suggests that small acts of faith can develop into great transformations.

For theologians interested in eschatology, or the study of the end of times, the parable might represent the expansive and inclusive nature of God's final kingdom.

It also indicates that although God's kingdom may not be apparent in fullness at present, with time, it will become fully manifest.

Practical Applications

In daily life, Mark 4:31 encourages individuals not to underestimate the significance of small beginnings or modest actions.

Whether in personal growth, ministry efforts, charitable works, or social justice endeavors, the verse can serve as a reminder that one's current small efforts or contributions can have a significant impact over time.

It can foster patience and hope and inspire believers to continue planting "seed-like" acts of kindness and faithfulness, trusting in their potential for growth.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:31-32: "Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:"
Luke 13:18-19: "Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it."
Matthew 17:20: "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word "κόκκῳ" (kokkō) translates to "grain" or "kernel," referring to the mustard seed. "Σινάπεως" (sinapeōs) is the word for "mustard," a well-known plant at the time.

The emphasis on the seed being the "μικρότερον" (mikroteron), meaning "least" or "smallest," underscores the comparison Jesus is making about the Kingdom of God starting from the smallest beginnings and growing into something great.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various cultures and religions, seeds are potent symbols of growth, potential, and new beginnings.

For example, in Hinduism, the Banyan tree, a large and expansive tree whose seeds start tiny, could be seen as a cultural parallel to the mustard seed parable.

Buddhist teachings also include references to mustard seeds.

In one story, Buddha asks a grieving mother to find a mustard seed from a home untouched by death to help her understand the universality of suffering.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, the mustard seed is not the smallest seed, as there are seeds much smaller in nature.

However, the focus of the parable is not on botanical accuracy but rather on the metaphorical significance of small beginnings leading to significant outcomes.

From a botanical standpoint, mustard seeds can indeed grow into large plants, and their invasive quality reflects well the idea of the Kingdom of God spreading widely and irrepressibly.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and commentators have provided interpretations of Mark 4:31.

Some emphasize the contrast between the tiny seed and the large plant it becomes, noting this as a metaphor for the transformative power of the gospel.

Others focus on the community aspect, suggesting that as the mustard plant provides shelter for birds, so too does the Kingdom of God provide shelter and a home for many souls.

Still, others point out the subversive nature of the parable; a mustard plant could be considered a weed, thereby indicating that the Kingdom of God might not come in the way or form that is expected or initially appreciated.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:31 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 4:31 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?