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    Mark 4:21-34  Lesson 70

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     
    The candle, the farmer, and the mustard seed.
     
    A continuation of lesson 69. 
    Study Tip:
     
    Remember to click on the links and to read the margin notes.

    The Gospel According to St. Mark

    The King James Bible    ​

    Mark: 4:21-34
    Three parables

    21 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?

    22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

    23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

    24 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.

    25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

    26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

    27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

    28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

    29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

    30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

    31 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:

    32 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.

    33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

    ​34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
    ​Margin notes: 
     
    "Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel?" (4:21) - If a lighted candle is hidden, what good is it?
     
    "There is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad." (4:22) - "There is nothing hidden that won't be revealed, there are no secrets that won't come to light."
     
    "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." (4:23) - Jesus reinforces this message in Matthew 11:15. 
     
    "Take heed what ye hear." (4:24) - "Pay attention to what you hear."
     
    "For he that hath, to him shall be given." (4:25) - Means, whoever has faith will be given more spiritual wisdom.  A version of this message appears in Proverbs 9:9.  Jesus repeats it here and in Matthew 13:12, 25:29, and again in Luke 8:18. 
     
    "When the fruit is brought forth." (4:29) - "When the fruit is ripe."
     
    "Immediately he putteth in the sickle." (4:29) - Revelation 14:14-15 shows Jesus using a "sickle" on judgment day.  
     
    "The harvest." (4:29) - The Old Testament frequently uses the word "harvest" as a metaphor for God's final judgment (Hosea 6:11; Joel 3:13). 

    "Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God?" (4:30) - "What can we compare the kingdom of God to?" 

    "Mustard seed." (4:31) -  The smallest seed known to the farmers of Palestine.  Despite the seed's small size, the mature mustard plant reaches a height of ten feet 

    "Greater than." (4:32) - "Larger than."
     
    "He expounded all things." (4:34) - "He explained everything."
    The parable of the mustard seed can also be found in Matthew 13:31-32 (lesson 26) and Luke 13:18-19.


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Mark: 4:21-34
    Parable of the Lamp
     
    21 Then Jesus asked them, "Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."
     
    24 Then he added, "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given-and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."
     
    Parable of the Growing Seed
     
    26 Jesus also said, "The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he's asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come."
     
    Parable of the Mustard Seed
     
    30 Jesus said, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, 32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade."
     
    33 Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. 34 In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.     

    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's Questions:
     
    1. What does the parable of the growing seed mean? (4:26-29)
     
    2. What can we learn from seeds?

    "It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves."  "We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves; it is the last conceit to go.  The only One Who understands us is God."   Oswald Chambers (July 24, 1874 - November 15, 1917) 

    Answers:  (Do you agree?) 
    ​​
    1. In Jesus' day, "it was generally expected that the Messianic Kingdom would be inaugurated in a flare of glory and power that would shake the world.  The parable of the growing seed means that the Messianic Kingdom would be a matter of a very small beginning, and slow growth, quietly, secretly, imperceptibly, and irresistibly moving on to the day of harvest." ("Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House; page 467)
     
    Additional note:  The parable of the growing seed can only be found in Mark.
     
    2. We can learn a lot from seeds.  Like God's kingdom, seeds slowly but steadily grow until one day they reach maturity.  The tiny mustard seed grows large enough that "the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it" (4:32).  Likewise, the kingdom of God spread until it reached people of all races, backgrounds, and languages (Daniel 4:10-14).  Like the small mustard seed (God's truth), once planted within the human heart the Holy Spirit grows within us.  Although it starts small, it eventually spouts into a sprig, then a naked branch, and finally the branch bears fruit (holiness).  When the time for the final harvest arrives (judgment day), Christ will gather in all his good fruit.
    Application thought for the day: 
     
    Allow God's seed within you to grow.  As your faith grows, God will reveal more of himself to you.      The more you believe and practice your faith, the more God will make known to you. ​ 
    Picture
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible".  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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