Mark 4

The parable of the sower (vs. 1-20)—Jesus taught many things in parables, which are simple stories designed to illustrate great truths. The so-called “parable of the sower” is perhaps His most well-known. A sower spread seed and it fell on four different types of soil: some seed fell “by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it” (v. 4). Other seed fell on stony ground. There was some soil here, but it was very shallow. The crop “immediately” sprang up, but the sun scorched it and it died “because it had no root” (vs. 5-6). Some of the seed fell “among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop” (v. 7). But a portion of the seed landed on good soil and yielded a varying result of high-quality produce (v. 8). Pay attention! (v. 9).

Jesus had to explain the parable to His disciples. In verses 11 and 12, He first tells why He gives some of His teaching in parables: “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.” To those who resist and pervert the Lord’s words, His parables would be confusing and limit their ability to distort His message and hinder His work. Those who think themselves of some intellectual greatness will not comprehend; but men who have an honest and good heart will perceive and understand.

And that last thought is a major point of the parable. The sower is one who preaches the word of God. He does his job—preaches. From then on, he disappears from the parable and the emphasis is placed on the hearers, especially the kinds of hearts they have. The “wayside” heart is one so hardened that the word never penetrates, and “Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts” (v. 15). The “stony ground” represents a shallow heart. It may receive the word and “receive it with gladness” (v. 16). But then, because “they have no root in themselves,” they will fall away when “tribulation or persecution arises” (v. 17). The “thorny soil” is actually good soil; that which can produce thorns can produce wheat. The problem here is, the heart is already occupied: “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (v. 19). But there are good hearts, “those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred” (v. 20). Obviously, we should strive to have this type of heart. It is sad, and noteworthy, that three of the four types of hearts the Lord describes are poor soil for the word of God and thus unfruitful.

Righteous living and its fruits (vs. 21-25)—That productive heart of the parable sower will be a light to the world; indeed, a major responsibility of Christians is to show forth their righteousness to the world (v. 21), in order to glorify God (Matthew 5:16). All things are eventually going to be exposed anyway (v. 22). Pay attention! (v. 23). But “take heed what you hear” (v. 24). As we give to others, we will be blessed in return: “With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given” (v. 24). The more someone gives, the more he receives. But if he does not give, “even what he has will be taken away from him" (v. 25).

The subtlety of the kingdom’s expansion (vs. 26-29)—We know, from the parable of the sower, that the word must be preached in order for Christians to be produced. But exactly how the word works within our hearts is a mystery known only to God. In this parable, Jesus speaks again of a man who scatters seed on the ground, but when he sleeps, “the seed…sprout[s] and grow[s], he himself does not know how” (v. 27). I preach the word; it’s all I can do. How it affects a human heart is far beyond my capability--or need--to comprehend.

The parable of the mustard seed (vs. 30-34)—This parable is somewhat similar to the previous—the growth of the kingdom. But in the former parable, the silent affect is within the human heart. Here we see the expansion of the kingdom itself. “It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade” (vs. 31-32). How does that happen? It is humanly inexplicable. Jesus is simply telling us here not to try to comprehend the ways of God. Be a sower. Sow the seed. And let the mysterious power within the “seed” perform its work. Parables were a prominent means for Jesus to set forth His doctrine (vs. 33-34).

The calming of the storm (vs. 35-41)—This chapter ends with the remarkable miracle of Jesus calming a storm. He and His disciples were traveling across the Sea of Galilee. A tired Christ was asleep when a tempest arose. The disciples became afraid as the seas became more boisterous. They awoke Jesus, and “said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’” (v. 38). Jesus “arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’” (v. 39). The sea immediately calmed. He rebuked their lack of faith (v. 40). And the disciples were overwhelmed, indeed, they “feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’” (v. 41).  An amazing miracle. Close your eyes and put yourself there and try to experience it.