Jesus … This parable contained instruction so important, that all capable of hearing were bound to attend to it... View the entire commentary. Methinks Christ’s carrying his doctrine into a ship, and preaching it thence, was a presage of his sending the gospel to the isles of the Gentiles, and the shipping off of the kingdom of God (that rich cargo) from the Jewish nation, to be sent to a people that would bring forth more of the fruits of it. No, they believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; but at this time their fears prevailed so that they seemed to have no faith at all. Belief is meant to bear fruit. If the disciples deliver that to the church, which they have received of the Lord, they shall be led more into the secret of the Lord. 20:27), lighted by the Father of lights; the most eminent are but candles, poor lights, compared with the Sun of righteousness. Commentaries for Mark Chapter 4 The parable of the sower. Know ye not the meaning of it? Immediately he putteth in the sickle. It was out of the way, when they had occasion for it, and so it was as if they had not had it. The multitude went away when he put to sea, but some there were, that would venture upon the water with him. Mark 4 Commentary, this commentary is a one-volume commentary prepared by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown A word list at the end explains words with a *star by them. 4:21 "lamp" The first two questions of Mark 4:21 grammatically expect a "no" answer. They do Christ a deal of wrong, who suspect him to be careless of his people in distress. As we deal with God, God will deal with us, so Dr. Hammond explains these words, "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you. Jer. Their confidence lay in this, that they had their Master with them; and the ship that has Christ in it, though it may be tossed, cannot sink; the bush that has God in it, though it may burn, shall not consume. 5:2. Matthew gives much the fullest account of this day's teaching, reporting a number of parables not found elsewhere. Vita brevis, ars longa—Life is short, art is long. The reason given for this, is, because there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested, which should not be made manifest (so it might better be read), v. 22. 31:35. It comes to perfection at last (v. 29); When the fruit is brought forth, that is, when it is ripe, and ready to be delivered into the owner’s hand; then he puts in the sickle. That the perfection of it will be very great; When it grows up, it becomes greater than all herbs. Thus he changed his method, that if possible all might be reached and wrought upon. Compare Luke 8:4-15. Mark 4 Commentary, this commentary ranks among the most important on the Greek text of the New Testament from the 19th century Thus he stills the noise of the sea, the noise of her waves; a particular emphasis is laid upon the noisiness of them, Ps. Jesus took his message to the seashore and the open sky and delivered the parable of the sower ( Mark 4:1-9 ), explained it ( Mark 4:10-20 ), and gave a number of sentence sermons ( Mark 4:21-25 ). 65:7, and 93:3, 4. Sixthly, Many that are not openly scandalized, so as to throw off their profession, as they on the stony ground did, yet have the efficacy of it secretly choked and stifled, so that it comes to nothing; they continue in a barren, hypocritical profession, which brings nothing to pass, and so go down as certainly, though more plausibly, to hell. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Mark 4:35-41 . They feared exceedingly. He that made the seas, can make them quiet. As Jesus taught, a great crowd gathered, and Jesus stepped back into a boat on the sea, so that he may better be heard and seen. The parable of the grain of mustard-seed, and a general account of Christ’s parables (v. 30–34). The exposition of it to the disciples. Never were there such great things undertaken by such an inconsiderable handful, as that of the discipling of the nations by the ministry of the apostles; nor a work that was to end in such great glory, as the work of grace raised from such weak and unlikely beginnings. 4. II. [2.] The seed cast into the ground will spring. See note on Matt. He sees it has grown, but he cannot tell in what manner it grew, or what was the cause and method of its growth. on StudyLight.org The time of harvest is when the fruit is ripe; in this instance when the word had produced faith, repentance and obedience. and not to be set on a candlestick? The difference in the results comes about by those who hear the Word. It is the ruin of hypocrites, that they have no root; they do not act from a living fixed principle; they do not mind heart-work, and without that religion is nothing; for he is the Christian, that is one inwardly. The reproof Christ gave them for their fears, is here carried further than in Matthew. Mark 4:24 - And He was saying to them, 'Take care what you listen to. Burying a talent is the betraying of a trust, and amounts to a forfeiture; and gifts and graces rust for want of wearing. 8:23-27. Mark’s Gospel is a gospel of deeds. OVERVIEW. 1. 20:12); we may be at our wits’ end, but not at our faith’s end, while we have such a Saviour to go to. After the parables thus specified the historian concludes with this general account of Christ’s preaching—that with many such parables he spoke the word unto them (v. 33); probably designing to refer us to the larger account of the parables of this kind, which we had before, Mt. And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. Those only who are converted, have their sins forgiven them: and it is the misery of unconverted souls, that they lie under unpardoned guilt. Eighthly, Many are hindered from profiting by the word of God, by their abundance of the world. Mark 4:12 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Mark 4:12, NIV: "so that, ''they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!''" The matter is not so; he is not willing that any should perish, much less any of his little ones, Mt. Or, They sent them away with a solemn blessing; for Christ came into the world, not only to pronounce, but to command, and to give, the blessing.4. Compare Luke 8:4-15 . 11:4, 6), and must look up to God, who gives seed to the sower, 2 Co. 9:10. Observe, too, that we can know that there is growth by its results, though we know not how, and that each stage of the growth is more apparent than the preceding stage. I. There is no treasure of gifts and graces lodged in any but with design to be communicated; nor was the gospel made a secret to the apostles, to be concealed, but that it should come abroad, and be divulged to all the world. See notes on Matt. It takes great faith to trust the sleeping Jesus, to know that He cares and works for us even when it does not seem like it. We may observe that our Saviour often preached by the … The days the parables were uttered. We must be cautious, and stand upon our guard, lest we be imposed upon. A candle gives light but a little way, and but a little while, and is easily blown out, and continually burning down and wasting. Mark 4 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. The Storm on the Sea. Here is a question Christ put to them before he expounded it, which we had not in Matthew (v. 13); "Know ye not this parable? See Jn. Caesar encouraged the master of the ship, that had him on board, with this, Caesarem vehis, et fortunam Caesaris—Thou hast Caesar on board, and Caesar’s fortune. Mark 4 Bible Commentary. 32:20), not knowing where it will light, or what fruit it will bring forth. EXEGESIS: MARK 4-8. 2. Here, Why are ye so fearful? He scatters it, in order to the increase of it. Matthew gives much the fullest account of this day's teaching, reporting a number of parables not found elsewhere. Not that the disciples were without faith. I. 24. 3:6-9 ). Our ears should be deaf to evil counsel. Christ was awhile sowing himself, when he went about teaching and preaching; now he sends his ministers, and sows by their hand. Jesus’ role as teacher is important in this Gospel. Those that have but little of the world, may yet be ruined by an indulgence of the body. The husbandman, when he hath sown the seed, doth nothing toward the springing of it up; He sleeps, and rises, night and day; goes to sleep at night, gets up in the morning, and perhaps never so much as thinks of the corn he hath sown, or ever looks upon it, but follows his pleasures or other business, and yet the earth brings forth fruit of itself, according to the ordinary course of nature, and by the concurring power of the God of nature. 5:35); of those to whom Ezekiel was a lovely song (Eze. Should cast seed. Ver. The work of grace is small in its beginnings, but comes to be great and considerable at last (v. 30–32); "Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God, as now to be set up by the Messiah? 12:5. They did not put to sea, till they had sent away the multitude, that is, had given to each of them that which they came for, and answered all their requests; for he sent none home complaining that they had attended him in vain. 3. The storm was so great, that the ship was full of water (v. 37), not by springing a leak, but perhaps partly with the shower, for the word here used signifies a tempest of wind with rain; however, the ship being little, the waves beat into it so that it was full. If we do not use, we lose, what we have; From him that hath not, that doeth no good with what he hath, and so hath it in vain, is as if he had it not, shall be taken even that which he hath. Had not the necessity of the case called for it, they would not have stirred up or awoke their Master, till he had pleased (Cant. Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself, as the wisdom from above doth in a good conversation. 1:22. Luke 8:18 says, "How you hear." It will help us to value the privileges we enjoy as disciples of Christ, if we seriously consider the deplorable state of all who have not such privileges. Here it is, How is it that ye have no faith? Only a short distance north are the high mountains of Lebanon. 13. 2:7); but they knew he would forgive them this wrong. Many who are lighted as candles, put themselves under a bed, or under a bushel: they do not manifest grace themselves, nor minister grace to others; they have estates, and do no good with them; have their limbs and senses, wit and learning perhaps, but nobody is the better for them; they have spiritual gifts, but do not use them; like a taper in an urn, they burn to themselves. He had a pillow there, such a one as a fisherman’s ship would furnish him with. Many a good lesson of humility, charity, self-denial, and heavenly-mindedness, is choked and lost by that prevailing complacency in the world, which they are apt to have, on whom it smiles. When Christ seems as if he slept in a storm, he is awaked by the prayers of his people; when we know not what to do, our eye must be to him (2 Chr. The parables are meant to illumine, but human's evil hearts and motives, not God, block the light. That he will reward them in eternal life. 4. The work of grace in the soul, is, at first, but the day of small things; a cloud no bigger than a man’s hand. 5. Study the bible online using commentary on Mark 4 and more! Mark 4:35-41 Christ stilleth a tempest by his word. 24:27, 45. That the beginnings of the gospel kingdom would be very small, like that which is one of the least of all seeds. We must likewise take heed what we hear, by proving all things, that we may hold fast that which is good. Victory Over Dangers Text: Mark 4:35-41 Introduction: The Gospel of Mark has been described as a book of Mighty Works. Here seems to be a new convenience found out, which had not been used before, though he had before preached by the sea side (ch. Should sleep, and rise, etc. Hilda Bright. This sacrifice they offered to the honour of Christ; they said, What manner of man is this? Surely more than a man, for even the winds and the seas obey him. Note, The words of Christ demand attention, and those who speak from him, may command it, and should stir it up; even that which as yet we do not thoroughly understand, or not rightly, we must carefully attend to, believing it to be both intelligible and weighty, that at length we may understand it; we shall find more in Christ’s sayings than at first there seemed to be. But these parables he expounded to them, when they were alone. 2:13), and that was—his standing in a ship, while his hearers stood upon the land; and that inland sea of Tiberias having no tide, there was no ebbing and flowing of the waters to disturb them. 13:31-35. We must not hence infer that we may be careless of our health, but we may learn hence not to be over nice and solicitous about the body. 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