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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 4:34 mean?

Explanation

Mark 4:34 is a passage that reflects on the teaching method Jesus used during His public ministry, particularly focusing on His use of parables. A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.

In this verse, the writer of the Gospel of Mark emphasizes that to the general public, Jesus only spoke in parables.

However, to His disciples, those who were committed to following Him and learning from Him, He would explain everything in private.

The verse suggests a distinct way of revealing truth to different audiences, veiled in stories to the masses and made clear to the inner circle of followers. This underscores the special relationship and deeper level of communication between Jesus and His disciples.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus' ministry, it was common for rabbis and teachers of the law to use parables and stories to convey spiritual truths. These educational methods were culturally relevant and allowed listeners to consider deeper meanings beyond the literal narrative.

This verse is located in the Gospel of Mark, which is generally believed to have been written around 65-70 AD, a time when Christians were facing persecution.

The use of parables by Jesus was not only a teaching tool but also a way to convey truths in a manner that might have been less directly confrontational to the authorities of the day.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives offer various insights into this verse:

Protestant Perspective: Many Protestants view the use of parables as a means for Jesus to reveal truth to those who were spiritually attuned while concealing it from those who were not.

This is often connected to the concept of divine election, the idea that God chooses certain individuals to understand and receive the truth.

Catholic Perspective: The Catholic Church often emphasizes the Church's role as the modern-day disciples.

It is through the Church's teaching that one can understand the deep spiritual meanings of scriptures, much as the disciples did through Jesus' explanation.

Eastern Orthodox Perspective: In Eastern Orthodox theology, the method of apophatic theology (knowledge of God obtained through negation) might be drawn parallel with this verse, suggesting that the incomprehensibility of divine truths requires storytelling and subsequent unfolding by someone who has a deep spiritual understanding.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in daily life by recognizing the importance of mentorship and seeking deeper understanding in community.

It encourages believers to seek clarity of spiritual matters through personal study and reflection and also in the company of more mature believers.

It can also be a call for leaders and teachers to tailor their communication to the readiness and understanding of their audience.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:34: "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:"
Matthew 13:10-11: "And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given."
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."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "parable" is "παραβολή" (parabolē), which can refer to a comparison or a simile.

The term "expounded" is translated from the Greek "ἐπέλυεν" (epelyen), which suggests the unraveling or detailing of something that is complex.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons could be drawn between Jesus' use of parables and the teaching methods in other religious and cultural traditions.

For instance, Buddhism is known for its Koans, which are paradoxical anecdotes or riddles used to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and to provoke enlightenment.

Similarly, many ancient mythologies used stories rich in allegory and symbolism to convey moral and spiritual truths.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, parables can be said to engage the human brain in a unique way. Neuroscientific studies have shown that storytelling activates not only the language processing parts of our brains but also those areas that we would use when experiencing the events of the story.

This suggests that parables could be an effective way to embed moral and spiritual lessons in the listener's memory.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Mark 4:34 provide a range of expert insights:

John Calvin comments on the mystery of God being revealed to the disciples unlike to the general public, showing the mercy of God in giving the key to His kingdom to some, and not to others.
William Barclay discusses the dual truth of parables in that they were meant to make the truth clearer to those willing to learn but would remain obscure to those who were indifferent or hostile.
Matthew Henry observes that Christ's private instructions to His disciples were clear and plain, making them more fit to spread His teachings to others.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:34 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 4:34 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?