MARK 4:1-9

MARK 4:1-9

MARK 4 - THE use of parables by our Lord was for a twofold purpose. He set forth many deep and important truths in this form in order to test the reality of His hearers’ interest. If truly concerned, they would seek to get the meaning of the story, and so would become earnest inquirers. If indifferent they would pay no further attention, and so would go on in their careless way, hardening their hearts against the truth (Matthew 13:11–15; Luke 8:10).

In this, as in all else, Jesus Christ is our great Exemplar; and His early followers, whose utterances and letters are recorded in the New Testament, used the same method.

The parables of the Lord Jesus Christ were remarkable for their fidelity to nature and to human life. 

   MARK 4:1-9 - As previously observed, Mark does not follow a direct chronological order in relating the works and teaching of our Lord. This portion, which links with Matthew 13, gives us an account of parabolic instruction delivered by the Sea of Galilee in the summer of A. D. 28, according to the most likely system of time reckoning.

“He entered into a ship, and sat in the sea.” The land rises gently from the particular part of the Sea of Galilee where this took place; so that as the Lord Jesus sat in the fisherman’s boat His audience would be before Him, conveniently seated or standing, as in a natural amphitheater, thus enabling all to hear the voice of the Teacher, whose message and personality had attracted them to Him. 

“Some fell among thorns … and yielded no fruit.” The careful farmer is commanded to “break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns” (Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:12). This is best accomplished in dealing with individual souls. When addressing men in the mass necessarily there will be many who are so occupied with worldly affairs the good seed can find little room for lodgement.

“Other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased.” The good ground pictures hearts prepared by God to receive the seed of the gospel, though even then all do not produce alike. Much depends both on the depth of the Spirit’s work of conviction before conversion and the time given to soul-cultivation afterward.

“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Thus in this solemn way, the Lord challenges our attention. It is easy to listen only with the outward ear and so fail to get the message into the heart. To those who had ears to hear and desired to understand the parable Jesus readily gave a full explanation.