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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 4:7 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 4:7, "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit," is part of the Parable of the Sower, which Jesus tells to a large crowd.

In the parable, the sower represents God, and the seed represents the word of God.

The different types of ground symbolize the different reactions that people have to the word of God.

In this specific verse, the seed falling among thorns is typically understood to represent those who hear the word, but the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Parable of the Sower is found within the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Mark, believed by scholars to be the earliest of the three, was written around AD 65-70 and reflects an agrarian society where farming was a common occupation and the understanding of seeds, soil, and harvest was relatable to its original audience.

Also, considering the historical context of early Christians, this parable may have been particularly poignant as they faced persecution and the distractions of a changing world.

Theological Insights

This verse, and the parable as a whole, has been analyzed from various theological perspectives.

Some view it as a message about predestination, where the types of soil are determined by divine choice.

Others see it as emphasizing human free will and responsibility to respond to God's word.

A third interpretation sees the parable as an eschatological warning that the kingdom of God would come with judgment as well as salvation.

Practical Applications

In contemporary times, this verse serves as a warning to be mindful of the distractions and temptations that can derail a person's spiritual growth.

It can also encourage individuals to create an environment, both internally and externally, that is conducive to spiritual development, rather than one that is hampered by the metaphorical "thorns" of life.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:22: "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."
Luke 8:14: "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection."
Jeremiah 4:3: "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns."

Language Study

The original Greek language and key words in Mark 4:7 can provide additional insight into the verse:

"fell" (ἔπεσεν): to fall or to be cast down, implying a seemingly random or undesigned process.
"among" (εἰς): into or in the midst of, indicating the seed's unlucky placement.
"thorns" (ἀκάνθαις): a type of prickly plant or thistle; figuratively, these represent distractions and harmful influences.
"grew up" (ἀνέβησαν): arose or sprang up, conveying a sense of competition and struggle.
"choked" (συνέπνιξαν): to strangle or suffocate; metaphorically, this describes how distractions can suffocate a person's spiritual life.
"yielded no fruit" (καρπὸν οὐκ ἔδωκεν): did not produce a crop, representing a lack of spiritual transformation or maturity.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This parable has parallels in various cultural and religious teachings that emphasize the importance of a receptive heart or mind to spiritual, moral, or intellectual teachings.

Similar to the concept of karma in Hinduism and Buddhism, where actions and intentions can influence future circumstances, this parable teaches that the condition of one's heart affects their spiritual fertility.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, this parable might be seen to reflect a basic understanding of agriculture and botany, recognizing that plants require good soil conditions to thrive.

The analogy can extend to psychology, suggesting that a person's mental and emotional "soil" influences their ability to integrate new ideas and change behavior.

Commentaries

Expert commentaries on this verse suggest several interpretations.

Some commentators focus on the literal agricultural understanding of first-century farming practices.

Others delve into the spiritual implications, noting how the verse serves as a caution against letting worldly concerns and materialism impede spiritual growth.

A common theme is the emphasis on the necessity of a receptive and vigilant heart in spiritual matters, an idea echoed across various commentaries.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:7 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 4:7 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?