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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 4:40 mean?

Explanation

Mark 4:40 is a verse within the Christian New Testament, found in the Gospel of Mark, which recounts a moment when Jesus Christ addresses His disciples after calming a storm.

The disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat when a fierce storm arose, causing them to fear for their lives.

Despite the chaos, Jesus was asleep in the stern of the boat.

The disciples woke Him and asked if He cared that they were perishing.

Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Following this miraculous intervention, Jesus turned to His disciples and asked them, "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?"

The literal meaning of this verse reflects Jesus questioning the fear and lack of faith displayed by His disciples, even after they had witnessed His teachings and miracles.

On a deeper level, the verse challenges the reader to consider the nature of faith, especially in the face of fear and uncertainty.

It suggests that faith should persist even during the most difficult and fearful circumstances.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is believed to have been written in approximately 70 A.D.

This account takes place during Jesus' ministry in the early first century when He traveled with His disciples, teaching and performing miracles.

The Sea of Galilee was known for its sudden and violent storms, which could be quite terrifying for even the most experienced fishermen.

The historical context helps us understand the disciples' fear and the normalcy of their reaction to the storm, highlighting the contrast with Jesus' calmness and control over the situation.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse depicts the human tendency towards fear and the invitation to trust in the divine power.

In Christian theology, Jesus' ability to calm the storm is seen as a demonstration of His divinity and authority over creation.

The disciples' lack of faith, despite Jesus' previous demonstrations of power, reflects the human condition of doubt and fear.

The verse calls believers to have trust in Jesus' sovereignty and care, even when circumstances seem dire.

Practical Applications

The teaching of this verse can be applied to modern living by reminding individuals to have faith and trust in the face of adversity. Life can bring about unexpected and sometimes overwhelming challenges, akin to the disciples' storm.

The verse encourages individuals to turn to faith, rather than succumb to fear, and to remember that they are not alone in their struggles. By doing so, one can find inner peace and strength to overcome life's "storms."

Cross-References

Matthew 8:26: "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
Luke 8:25: "And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him."
Psalm 107:29: "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the term used for "fearful" is "δειλοί" (deiloi), which can mean cowardly or timid.

The phrase "how is it that ye have no faith" in the Greek is "πῶς οὐκ ἔχετε πίστιν" (pōs ouk echete pistin), with "πίστιν" (pistin) meaning "faith" or "trust." The analysis of these terms highlights the contrast between fear and faith that Jesus is addressing.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient times, the sea often symbolized chaos and danger in various cultural myths and religious narratives, such as the Mesopotamian creation myth where the god Marduk establishes order from the watery chaos.

In Jewish thought, God's power over the waters is a sign of divine authority (as in the parting of the Red Sea in the Exodus narrative).

The calming of the sea by Jesus in the Gospel of Mark echoes these ancient themes, reiterating the divine control over chaos.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, the calming of a storm on a body of water such as the Sea of Galilee would not generally happen instantaneously as described.

The immediate cessation of the storm in the biblical narrative indicates a supernatural event beyond natural explanations, fitting within the context of a miracle.

This presents an intersection between faith-based beliefs and scientific understandings of nature.

Commentaries

Commentators have offered various perspectives on this verse.

Some emphasize the divinity of Jesus as displayed through the miraculous stilling of the storm.

Others focus on the human element, exploring the psychological aspect of the disciples' fear and how it may relate to everyday experiences of doubt and uncertainty.

Commentaries often highlight the importance of faith in overcoming fear and the transformative power of entrusting one's life to a higher authority.

Overall, this verse is often seen as a powerful illustration of the struggle between fear and faith within the human experience.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:40 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 4:40 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?