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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 4:5 mean?

Explanation

The verse [And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:] from Mark 4:5 is part of the Parable of the Sower, which is a story Jesus told to a large crowd.

In this segment of the parable, the seed represents the word of God or the message of the kingdom.

The stony ground signifies a type of recipient who initially receives the message with great enthusiasm.

However, the enthusiasm is short-lived. Without the depth of soil (or depth of understanding, commitment, and faith), the seed has no stable foundation to establish roots.

Consequently, although the plant may spring up quickly, it is just as quick to wither away because it cannot sustain growth.

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Historical Context

The Parable of the Sower is situated within the Gospel of Mark, which is believed to have been written around 70 A.D. The audience of the time would have been very familiar with agricultural metaphors, as many of them relied on farming for their livelihood.

The social and historical backdrop includes Roman occupation of Judea and societal tension.

Jesus often used parables as a teaching tool to convey spiritual truths in a manner that was accessible and memorable, but also as a way to selectively reveal the mysteries of the kingdom to those who were receptive.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the seeds falling on stony ground reveal important characteristics about the nature of faith and reception of God's word.

Specifically, it underscores that a shallow, superficial acceptance of the word isn't enough for spiritual transformation.

Different theological viewpoints may emphasize unique aspects:

Calvinists may see this as a demonstration of non-elect individuals who show interest but are not truly chosen.
Arminians might argue it shows the importance of human responsibility in nurturing one's faith.
Catholic theology might use this as an illustration of the need for ongoing catechesis and sacramental life to deepen faith.

Practical Applications

In daily life, the message of this verse can be very profound.

It can serve as a warning against the dangers of a surface-level engagement with faith or ideas.

For a modern application, individuals might consider:

The importance of creating a solid foundation for beliefs and values.
The need for perseverance in developing and sustaining one's faith and personal growth.
The recognition that immediate enthusiasm must be followed by deeper commitment and understanding.

Cross-References

Similar verses in the King James Version of the Bible which strengthen the understanding of Mark 4:5 include:

Matthew 13:5-6: "Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away."
Luke 8:6: "And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of Mark 4:5, the term for "stony ground" is πετρώδης (petrōdes), which implies ground filled with rocks, allowing for no depth.

Interpreting this description sheds light on the environmental conditions the seed faced, stressing the literal inability to establish strong roots.

Additionally, the phrase "sprang up" translates from εὐθὺς (euthys), meaning "immediately" or "straight," indicating a rapid, but short-lived growth.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The use of agricultural metaphors is not unique to Christianity but is found in other ancient religious and cultural texts.

For instance, in many pagan traditions, seeds and harvests were seen as analogies for life, death, and rebirth.

In Buddhism, the metaphor of seeds is used to describe latent tendencies or potentialities within the mind, which, depending upon conditions, can give rise to various forms of suffering or enlightenment.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific angle, the parable coincides with the understanding of plant biology.

Quick growth in plants due to superficial rooting is known to be unsustainable, as adequate water and nutrients cannot be absorbed, and they tend to be more vulnerable to environmental stress.

This reflects the importance of root systems in overall plant health and longevity, paralleling the need for a "deep rooting" of ideas and beliefs in a person's life.

Commentaries

Interpretations among Bible scholars vary to some degree.

John Calvin sees the stony ground as those who have an impulsive character, showing a temporary faith that disappears in times of temptation.

Matthew Henry’s commentary describes them as those who lack a depth of principle and are unprepared to withstand persecution.

Contemporary scholars connect this to the modern churchgoer who may appear zealous but lacks depth in understanding or commitment.

These expositions collectively point towards the necessity of a true, cultivated faith that perseveres through trials and tribulations.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:5 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 4:5 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?