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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 4:33 mean?

Explanation

Mark 4:33 speaks to the method Jesus used to share spiritual truths with His audience.

The verse emphasizes that Jesus used parables, a form of storytelling with a moral or spiritual lesson, as the primary means to convey His messages. The choice of parables allowed Him to present complex divine truths in a way that was accessible and relatable to His listeners.

The phrase "as they were able to hear it" suggests that Jesus was mindful of the capacity of His audience to comprehend and absorb the teachings. He tailored His approach to suit the spiritual maturity and readiness of the people.

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Historical Context

During the time Mark 4:33 was written, Jesus was in the region of Galilee, teaching a large crowd that had gathered around Him.

In the first century Jewish culture, rabbis often used storytelling to teach moral principles.

Parables were a common didactic tool, used to provoke thought and reflection.

As a teacher, Jesus would have been familiar with this method and He used it effectively to engage His audience in thinking deeply about the kingdom of God and their own spiritual conditions.

Theological Insights

From a Christian perspective, Mark 4:33 underscores the incarnational aspect of Jesus' ministry. Just as Jesus took on human form to meet people where they were, so too did He communicate in ways that people could understand and relate to.

This verse can be seen as a demonstration of God's grace, meeting individuals in their own capacity to receive revelation.

Theologically, this approach aligns with the concept of divine accommodation, God's way of revealing truth according to human capacity to understand it.

Different theological traditions emphasize varying facets of this verse. Calvinists might view it as an example of God's sovereignty in revealing truth to whom He wills, while Arminians might focus on the human responsibility in responding to the truth presented.

Practical Applications

In daily life, Mark 4:33 can remind individuals of the importance of clear and compassionate communication.

It encourages teachers, preachers, and all who share knowledge or wisdom to consider the readiness and ability of their audience to receive it.

It also speaks to the individual's responsibility to be open to learning and to seek understanding at their own pace.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:34 - "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:"
Luke 8:10 - "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."
1 Corinthians 3:2 - "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."
John 16:12 - "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now."

Language Study

The phrase "as they were able to hear it" in the original Greek is "καθὼς ἠδύναντο ἀκούειν." The key word in this phrase is "ἠδύναντο" (ēdynanto), the imperfect tense of "δύναμαι" (dynamai), meaning "to be able," or "to have power." The use of the imperfect tense suggests a continuous or repeated action in the past.

It indicates that Jesus consistently considered the capacity of His listeners when He taught them.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Parables were not unique to Christianity and can be found in other religious traditions, such as Judaism and Buddhism, as well as in secular philosophy.

Across cultures, parables have served as a narrative vehicle to communicate essential truths.

The wisdom of using story and metaphor to convey complex ideas is a universal theme in human culture and religious practice.

In many ways, the use of parables represented a bridging of heaven and earth through accessible human language and imagery.

Scientific Perspectives

While Mark 4:33 does not directly engage with scientific concepts, the recognition of the different capacities for understanding does touch on cognitive and developmental psychology.

Modern research into how people learn and comprehend information resonates with the principle that teaching should be adapted to the learner’s ability and current stage of knowledge.

Commentaries

Numerous Bible scholars and theologians have commented on Mark 4:33.

They often note the wisdom and pedagogical strategy of Jesus in using parables.

For instance, Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the gentle and patient teaching method of Jesus, who did not force the mysteries of the kingdom on those not ready but rather led them gradually to a fuller understanding.

Similarly, The Expositor's Greek Testament points out the adaptability of Jesus’ teachings, highlighting how teaching must consider the 'hearing' capacity of the audience.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible speaks to the spiritual nature of the parables, suggesting that God helps believers understand the truths therein, while keeping others in the dark according to divine will.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:33 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 4:33 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?