Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Clirist's Reason for Teaching in Parables. MARK IV. lie Stilln a Temj)e,<t on ihe Sea i/J Galilee. hath.'—See on Matthew I.'?. 12. Tliis " having" and " tliinking lie hath" are not different; for wlien it hangs loosely upon him, and is not appropriated to its proper ends and uses, it both is and is not his. Parable of the Seed Growing We Know Not How (v. 26-29). This beautiful parable is peculiar to Mark. Its design is to teach the Imperceptible Growth of tlie word sown in the heart, from its earliest stage of development to the ripest fruits of practical righteousness. !JG. So is the kingdom of God, as if a man slioiild cast seed into tiie groiiikd ; 27. And should sleep, and rise nlglkt and day—^o about his other ordinary occupations, leaving it to the wellknown laws of vegetation under the genial influences of heaven. This is the sense of " the earth bringing forth fruit of herself," in tlie next verse. 28. For tlic earth bringetli forth finit of herself; lirst. the blade, titen w/irid"—anxious, unrelaxing attention to the business of this present life; second, "The ileceitfuluess of riches"
01 those riches which are the fruit of this worldly " care ;" third, "The pleasures of this life," or "the lusts of other
tl'.iuis entering in"— the enjoyments, in themselves it may be innocent, which worldly prosperity enables one to indulge. These "choke" or "smolher" the word; drawliii; otr so much of one's attention, absorbing so mucli of one's interest, and using up so much of one's time, tiiat only the dregs of these remain for spiritual things, and a fagged, liurried, and heartless formalism is at lengtli all the religion of such persons. What a vivid picture is this of the mournful condition of many, especially in great ciimrnercial countries, who once promised mucli fruit! "Tln?y l)ring no fruit lo perfection" (Lulte 8. 14); indicating how inucli gro Hlh there may be, in the early stages of such a case, and promise of fruit—which after all never ripens. ll»e ear, ofter that the full corn in the ear—BeauIifuL allusion to the succession of similar stages, thougli not definitely-marked periods, in the Christian life, and generally in the kingdom of God. 29. But when tlie fruit
Fourth Case: The GOOD Ground. 8. And other fell on good ground, and «lld yield fralt, &c.—The goodness of this last soil consists in its qualities being precisely tlie reverse of the otlier three soils: from its softness and tenderness, receiving and cherishing the seed ; from its deptli, all'iwing it to talte llrin root, and not quickly losing its moisture; and from its cleanness, giving its whole vigour and sap to the plant. In such a soil the seed "brings forth fruit,"' in all different degrees of profusion, according to the measui'e in wliich the soil possesses tliose qualities. So ^0. And tliese arc they wliich ni'e sown on good ground ; such as hear the word, and receive
Is brought fortli—to maturity—immedi.tttly he putteth in the sickle, because the hai-vest is come—This charmingly points to the transition from the earthly to tlie lieavenly condition of the Cliristian and the C'huicii.
Parable of the Mustard Seed {v. 30-32). For the exposition of this portion, see on Matthew 13. 31, 32.
33. And with many such parables spake lie tlie word unto them, as they were al)lc to hear it—Had this been said in the corresponding passage of Matthew, we should have concluded that what that Evangelist recorded was but a specimen of other parables spolveii on the same occasion. But Matthew (13. 3J) says, "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables;" and as Marie records only some of tiie parables wliicli Matthew gives, we are warranted to infer that the "many such parables" alluded to liere mean no more than tlie
II, mid bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some an hundred. A heart soft and tender, stirred to its depths on the great tilings of eternity, and jealously jruarded from worldly engrossments, sucli only is the "honest and good heart" (Luke 8. 15), wliich "keeps" i. e., " retains" the seed of tlie word, and bears fruit just in proportion as it is such a lieart. Such " bring fortli fruit witli patience" (v. 15), or continuance, 'enduring to the end;' in contrast with tlio.se in whom the word is "clioked" and brings no fruit to perfection. The " thirty-fold" is designed to e.xpre.ss the Zo!t;c«< degree of fruitfulness; the "liundredfull complement of them whicli we find in Matthew. 34:. But without a parable spake he not unto tliem—See on Matthew 13. .34—and when they were alone, he expounded all things to liis disciples—See on v. 22.
35-cli. 5. 20. Jesus, Crossing the Se.^ of Galilee, MIRACULOUSLY STILLS A TEMPEST— He CURES THE Demoniac op Gadara. (=Matthew 8. 23-34; Luke 8. fold " the highest; and the "sixty-fold" the intermediate degrees of fruitfulness. As 'a hundred-fold,' though not unexampled (Genesis 26. 12), is a rare return in the natural husbandry, so the higliest degrees of spiritual fruitfulness are too seldom witnessed. The closing words of this introductory parable seem designed to call attention to the fundamental and universal character of it. 9. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
22-3'J.) The time of tliis section is very definitely marked by our Evangelist, and by him alone, in the opening words.
Jesus Stills a Tempest on the Sea of Galilee (v. 35-41). 35. And the same day—on wiiich He spoke the memorable parables of the preceding section, and of Matthew 13. when the even was come—See on ch. 6. 3.5. This must have been the earlier evening—what we should call the afternoon-since after all that passed on the other side, when He returned to tiie west side, the people were waiting for Him in great numbers (v. 21 ; Lulce 8. 40)—lie saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the otiier side—to the east side of the lake, to grapple with a desperate case of possession, and set the captive free, and to give the Gadarenes an opportunity of hearing tlie message of salvation, amid the wonder which tliat marvellous cure was fitted to awaken and the awe which the subsequent events could not but strike into tliem. 36. And when tliey had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship—i. e., without any preparation, and witliout so much as leaving the vessel, out of wliich He liad been all day teaching. And tliere were also with him other little ships—witli passengers, probably, wisliing to accompany Him. 37. And there arose a great storm of wind— ' a tempest of wind.' To sucll sudden squalls the Sea of Galilee is very liable from its position, in a deep basin, skirted on tlie east by lofty mountain ranges, while on the west the hills are intersected iiy narrow gorges through whicli the wind sweeps across the lake, and raises its waters with great rapidity into a storm, and the waves beat into tlie ship— Reason for Teaching in Parables {v. 11, 12). 11, 1!J. And he said unto them. Unto you it Is given to know the myxtery of tlie kingdom of God : but unto them, &c. See on Matthew 13. 10-17. 21. And he said unto them, Is a candle— or 'lamp' — brought to be put under a busliel, or under a bed 1 and not to be set on a candlestifk ! — " that they which enter in may see the light" (Luke 8. 16). See on Matthew 5. 15, of whicli this is nearly a repetition. 22. For there is nothing hid which shall not be manifested, &e.—See on Matthew 10. 26, 27 ; but the connection there and here is sliglitly different. Here the idea seems to be tliis— ' I have privately expounded to you these great truths, but only tliat ye may proclaim them puldidy; and if ye will not, others will. For these are not designed for secresy. They are imparted to be diffused abroad, and they shall be so; yea, a time is coming when the most hidden things shall be brought to light.' 23. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear—This for the second time on tlie same subject (see on v. 9). 24-. And he saith unto them. Take heed what ye hear—In Luke (8. 18) it is, " Take heed how ye hear." The one implies tlie other, but both precepts are very weighty, with wliat measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you See on Matthew 7. 2. and unto you that henr i.e., thankfully, teachablj', profitably—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 Mrhlch he luitli—or " seemeth to have," or ' thlnketh he ' kept beating' or 'pitching on the ship'—so that it was now full—rather, 'so that it was already filling.' In Matthew (8. 24), "in.somuch that the ship was covered w:th the waves;'' but tiiis is too strong. It sliould be, 'so that tliB