Mark 4

Jesus again uses a boat to avoid the press of the crowd when he is teaching (3:9; Luke 5:2–3).

In this section, Mark gathers several teaching parables of Jesus. A parable is a short story that teaches a spiritual truth.

Parables are often stories (Luke 15:11–32; 18:1–8) but can also be:

• proverbs (short, wise sayings that teach a general truth; Mark 3:24–25; Luke 4:23),

• similes and metaphors (Matthew 5:14; 10:16),

• riddles (Mark 7:15; 14:58),

• comparisons (Matthew 13:33; Luke 15:3–7),

• examples (Luke 10:30–35; 12:16–21), or

• allegories (metaphors with specific symbols representing each part of the story; Mark 4:3–9; 12:1–12).

The collection begins with the longest parable and its interpretation (4:13–20). The different types of soil represent different ways people respond to God’s message.

The scene changes from Jesus teaching a large crowd from a boat to being alone with the Twelve and those around Him. They ask Jesus about all the parables (4:33–34), not just this one.

• The true followers of Jesus could understand the secret of the kingdom of God. They knew the kingdom had arrived (1:14–15). They knew that the Christ, the Son of God, was among them (1:1). To those on the outside, it seemed like riddles.

• When Jesus answered the disciples’ question, he showed that he used parables to keep outsiders from understanding. This was so that they would be unable to repent and be forgiven.

  The quotation from Isaiah 6:9–10 in the Greek Old Testament version implies this was a deliberate judgment on the hearers. Jesus taught in parables, and outsiders did not believe. This fulfilled what the Scriptures had said would happen.

  The teaching of Jesus about the Kingdom of God was sensitive (it could sound like a political threat and worry Roman rulers). Because of this, teaching in parables helped make his message less likely to cause conflict.

If people who heard Jesus could not understand the parable, they might not receive the gift of belonging to God’s Kingdom. But even his own disciples needed Jesus to explain the parables.

The explanation of the parable of the four soils uses an allegory (a story where each part has a deeper meaning). The farmer represents someone who shares God’s word (4:14). The four types of soil represent different ways people respond to that message.

The main point of the parable is that people should be like good soil and listen to God’s word (4:9). Only those who produce a crop (show a changed life) and continue faithfully to the end will be saved (13:13; 8:35; Revelation 2:10–11).

A lamp is lit to shine and provide light, not to stay hidden. Citizens of the kingdom of God must display the light of the good news about Jesus (4:17).

These sayings connect with the call to listen carefully (4:9, 23–24) and with the difference between insiders and outsiders (4:11–12, 24–25). They show how people in God’s kingdom will live.

One day, the lamp (that is, Jesus; compare John 8:12) will reveal everything hidden. This includes every thought and secret action (Mark 13:26; 14:62; see Philippians 2:10–11). The time to listen is now, before this happens (Mark 4:9).

Those who listen and respond will gain more understanding. But "those on the outside" (4:11–12) will experience greater darkness (2 Corinthians 3:14–16).

• This parable focuses on the seed and how it grows over time.

• Just as the earth produces crops on its own, the completion (final coming) of God’s kingdom does not depend on human effort.

• first the stalk, then the head, then the grain that ripens within: These describe the normal stages of a seed’s growth.

Mark now gives additional seed parables (see 4:3–20). They all focus on "the mystery of the kingdom of God" (4:11). The parables of the seed growing secretly (4:26–29) and the mustard seed (4:30–32) show different stages of seed growth.

The kingdom of God is hidden (4:21). But growth is certain (4:26–29). The outcome will be great (4:32).

Harvest time is like the final coming of God’s kingdom. A sickle often represents the final judgment (Jeremiah 50:16; Joel 3:13; Revelation 14:14–19).

Jesus contrasts a very small beginning with a large result. The mustard seed was known to be very small, almost the smallest seed people commonly used (see Matthew 17:20).

• Mark’s summary of this section shows that 4:3–32 is a collection of parables. It is not a record of what Jesus taught on one specific day in the order in which he taught it.

• Jesus privately explained the parables to the disciples. This shows that they were not outsiders, even though they sometimes did not understand (compare 4:13).

• This passage focuses on the greatness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The authority of Jesus over the forces of nature showed that he is divine (truly God).

• the other side: The eastern side of the Sea of Galilee was the region of the Gerasenes (5:1).

• The presence of other boats following him shows how popular Jesus had become.

The three miracle stories in this section are connected by:

• a shared location (the Sea of Galilee),

• the presence of the disciples,

• the use of a boat, and

• a common theme, "Who is this" (4:41).

Jesus was likely asleep at the back of the boat, using a sandbag as a pillow. In 1986, archaeologists found a boat from the time of Jesus in the mud near the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is 8 meters long (26.5 feet), 2.2 meters wide (7.5 feet), and 1.37 meters deep (4.5 feet). It has a raised stern. It could hold up to 15 people.

The disciples still lacked faith in Jesus (4:41), even though they had many chances to experience his power and authority (1:21–34, 40–45; 2:1–12; 3:1–5).

• The disciples were very afraid. This is a common response to Jesus in Mark (5:15, 33; 6:50; 9:32; 10:32; 11:18; 16:8).

• Who is this: Mark's audience already knows that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (1:1, 11, 24; 3:11).