Mark
Copyright © 2008 Darroll Evans

 

CHAPTER 4

 

Mark 4:1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

 

Again, Jesus began to teach by the seashore.  There is no special meaning in that.  The sea was near, many of His followers were seamen by trade, and so it would be natural for Christ to use the sea as a setting for His “classroom.”

 

A large crowd gathered, and so He went on board a local boat. Christ was on the ship and the crowd was on the shore.

 

Mark 4:2-9
2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 

Christ Jesus taught using parables.

 

As he explained His doctrine, He said, “Behold, a Sower went out to sow”

 

In this day, many have perverted the gospel message in that they have pretended that giving money is a form of sowing “seed.”  Such a teaching is anti-biblical, but it keeps today’s fat cats fat!

 

As the Sower sowed, some of the seed fell by the way side. The birds came and devoured it.

 

Some of the seeds fell on stony ground. There it had not much earth, nourishing foundation. Immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth, it was scorched by the sun, and withered.

 

Other seeds fell among thorns. The thorns overwhelmed and choked the resulting plant and it yielded no fruit.

 

Yet other seed fell on good ground. Those seeds yield fruit. Some brought forth thirty, and some sixty, and some a hundred times.

 

Jesus closed the teaching by saying, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

 

Biblical “hearing” demands a positive response.  None may hear unless the teaching, Christ is both the Teacher and the true teaching.

 

Mark 4:10-12
10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

 

At that, the Apostles asked Him about the parable.

 

Jesus said, “To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. However, to them that are outside of the family these things are spoken in parables.  In that, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand.”

 

Christ Jesus taught using parables so that the Jews of His day would not understand and not be converted, and their sins should not be forgiven them.  It was not their time.

 

Many attempt to use their personal “free will” to come to Christ out of season.  That fallacy is taught among many Churches today.

 

Mark 4:13-20|
13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

 

Jesus told the disciples. “Don’t you all see {the point of} this parable? And, if not how will you all understand all the parables?”

 

Jesus stated bluntly, “The Sower sows the word.”

 

Many of today’s preachers are either biblically ignorant or liars!  The seed is the word of God!  It is not now, nor has it ever been money!

 

He continued, “And, these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan came immediately, and took away the word that was sown in their hearts.”

 

That is a sad commentary, but clearly true.  Many have fallen away, because Satan has stolen what was planted.  That is his job!

 

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

Jesus continued his explanation, “These are they likewise which are sown on stony ground. When they have heard the word, immediately they receive it with gladness.  However, they have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises, for the word's sake, immediately they are offended (Gr. skandalizontai-skandalizontai), or enticed to sin, or become apostate.

 

Then, Jesus explained the third group, “And, these are the ones which are sown among thorns.  They hear the word, but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things enters them, and chokes the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

 

This group too is unfruitful, because they are swept up by the carnal nature.  The carnal nature can choke the word and cause many terrible things.

 

Gal 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

The carnal nature results in works of the flesh!

 

At last, we get to the seed sown on good ground.  Jesus said, “They hear the word, and receive it, and it brings forth fruit.  Some of this seed bring forth thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.

 

Mark 4:21-23
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.

 

Then, Christ asked, “Is a candle purchased in order to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and, not to be set on a candlestick?”

 

You (as Christians) are now the light to the world.

 

Matt 5:14a Ye are the light of the world.

 

You have been purchased by means of His blood.

 

1 Cor 6:20a For ye are bought with a price:

 

Christ Jesus did not buy your freedom just to hide you away in a corner.

 

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

 

All shall be manifest, come to light!

 

Then He said, “If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.”

 

Again, biblical hearing demands a positive response!

 

Mark 4:24-25
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.

 

Then Jesus warned the group, “Pay attention to what you hear! With whatever measure you all give out, that amount shall be measured back to you. And, to you that hear, more shall be given. Because, to him that has, more shall be given. However, from him that has not, what little he has shall be taken away.”

 

Mark 4:26-34
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.

 

Jesus also said, “So is the kingdom of God! If a man should cast seed into the ground, and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he does not know how it grows. The earth brings forth fruit of herself! First, it brings forth the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.  And, when the crop is fully grown he immediately puts in the sickle, and harvests it.”

Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or, with what shall we compare it?  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which when it is sown in the earth, is the smallest of seeds. But, when it grows becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out great branches.  Even the birds lodge under its shadow.”


With many such parables Jesus spoke the word of God to them. In fact, He used as many as His followers were able to hear. But, He did not speak to them without a parable. When they, His disciples, were alone, He explained all things to them.

 

Mark 4:35-41
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

 

When evening had come on than same day, Jesus said, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

When they sent the multitude away, they took him to a ship. There were also other small ships around.  As they crossed the lake, a great storm arose. The waves beat onto the ship, so that it was now full.

Jesus was asleep in the aft section of the ship. They awakened Him, and say, “Master, don’t you care that we are about to perish?”


At that he arose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!”

 

The wind ceased, and there was a great calm!

Then Jesus asked, “Why are you all so fearful?  Don’t you all have faith?”

They were exceedingly fearful and said to each another, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

 

If you think that Christ Jesus calmed the storm to help the Apostles you are correct in only one sense!

 

What He did was to tell the storms within our lives to “be at peace, be still!”

 

You shall face inner storms during this lifetime, but why fret and worry about them?  Be still!  Be at peace! Fear not!

 

Christ has met the storms of life and defeated them!

 

Do you trust Christ?  Then, why do you live in turmoil?

 

Chapter 5
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