Mark
4:21-34
Lesson 70
4:21-34
Lesson 70
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." |