Mark 4:1-20 ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:1-25

The duty of faithfully hearing the Word. H e who taught by every act of his life, and who had already given many most important lessons with his lips, now, after the interruptions just recorded, "began to teach" more formally. It was "by the seaside," the multitude standing "by the sea on the land," and he "entered into a boat, and sat in the sea." "He taught them many things in parables." The first of these and one of the chief of the parables and the chiefest of all on the subject of "... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:2

He taught them many things in parables . This was a new system of teaching. For some months he had taught directly. But as he found that this direct teaching was met in some quarters with unbelief and scorn, he abandoned it for the less direct method of the parable. The parable ( παραβολή ) is etymologically the setting forth of one thing by the side of another, so that the one may be compared with the other. The parable is the truth presented by a similitude. It differs from the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:3-8

Hearken ( ακούετε ). This word is introduced in St. Mark's narrative only; and it is very suitable to the warning at verse 9, "he hath ears to hear, let him hear. The sower went forth to sow . The scope of this beautiful parable is this: Christ teaches us that he is the Sower, that is, the great Preacher of the gospel among men. 1 . But not all who hear the gospel believe it and receive it; just as some of the seed sown fell by the wayside, on the hard footpath, where it could not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:3-9

Christ's claim upon the attention of men. "Hearken!" "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear!" A frequent peculiarity in Christ's speech. It is well to note when he uses it. It is the whisper of Christ. John seems to have caught and represented this manner of the Master most closely. I. THE VALUE OF THE STATEMENTS OF THE GOSPEL . 1 . Affecting the personal interest of every one. Happiness or misery, life or death. 2 . Determining the character of every one. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:4-8

Human hearts tested by truth. " The seed is the Word." Such is the interpretation given by the Lord himself, in his exposition of the parable of the sower. In other words, the seed represents the truth uttered by Christ and embodied in Christ, who is himself declared to be the everlasting Word ( John 1:1 ). This heavenly seed is the gift of God. It has life in itself ( John 5:26 ); it is the germ of life to the world; and, when it is received, it brings forth those "fruits of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:4-15

The Word stolen from the heart. Young preachers, in the strength of their convictions and the ardor of their benevolence, are often inspired with enthusiastic expectations concerning the results of the preaching of the gospel. It seems to them that the Word has only to be addressed to men's minds in order to meet with an eager, grateful, and immediate acceptance. As their experience enlarges, and as they learn in how many cases reason and conscience are silenced by the clamor of passion... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:5-17

The Word starved in the heart. The Christian preacher sometimes reason to exclaim, "Who hath believed our report?" But sometimes he has occasion to lament over those who apparently have believed but whose goodness proves, as time passes, "as the morning cloud and as the early dew, which goeth away." Our Lord warns us that we shall meet with such cases, which first excite hope and expectation, and then cloud the soul of the Christian labourer with disappointment and sorrow. Such are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:7-19

The Word choked in the heart. Thorns make a good hedge but a bad crop. The soil here described was in itself rich, good soil. But it could not grow both thorns and wheat, and, when occupied by the one, failed to yield the other. I. WHAT ARE THE THORNS THAT OVERGROW THE SOIL ? Thorns, thistles, brambles, briers, are signs of neglect. They are the emblems of the primeval curse, for the garden was by our first parents exchanged for the thorny wilderness. In our parable the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:8-20

The Word fruitful in the heart. Most varied results attend the preaching of the gospel. Look at our Lord's own ministry. On the one hand, we are told, "He did there no mighty works because of their unbelief;" "yet they believed not upon him; 'and we find him exclaiming, "Woe unto you, cities!" etc. On the other hand, "the multitude heard him gladly;" of the Samaritans, "many more believed because of his word," and sometimes, in their eagerness, "they pressed upon him to hear," etc. Nor was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:9

And he said, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear . St. Luke ( Luke 8:8 ) bus a stronger word than ( ἔλεγεν ) "he said." He ( Luke 8:8 ) has ( ἐφώνει ) "he cried." Our Lord uses this expression, "he that hath ears to hear," etc, when the subject-matter is figurative or obscure, as though to rouse the attention of his hearers. He has "ears to hear" who diligently attends to the words of Christ, that he may ponder and obey them. Many heard him out of curiosity, that they might bear... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:1-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:3-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:3-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:4-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:4-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:5-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:7-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:8-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:9

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