Mark 4:24-32

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 4:21-34

The lessons which our Saviour designs to teach us here by parables and figurative expressions are these:? I. That those who are good ought to consider the obligations they are under to do good; that is, as in the parable before, to bring forth fruit. God expects a grateful return of his gifts to us, and a useful improvement of his gifts in us; for (Mark 4:21), Isa. a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? No, but that it may be set on a candlestick. The apostles were... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 4:24

4:24 This was another of Jesus' sayings: "Pay attention to what you hear! What you get depends on what you give. What you give you will get back, only more so." In life there is always a balance. A man's getting will be determined by his giving. (i) This is true of study. The more study a man is prepared to give to any subject, the more he will get from it. The ancient nation of the Parthians would never give their young men a meal until they had broken sweat. They had to work before... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 4:25

4:25 To him who already has still more will be given: and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This may seem a hard saying; but the whole lesson of life is that it is inevitably and profoundly true. (i) It is true of knowledge. The more a man knows the more he is capable of knowing. A man cannot enter into the riches of Greek literature before he has ploughed his way through Greek grammar. When he has the basic grammar still more will be given to him. A man cannot... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 4:26-29

4:26-29 He said to them: "This is what the Kingdom of God is like. It is like what happens when a man casts seed upon the earth. He sleeps and he wakes night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows--and he does not know how it does it. The earth produces fruit with help from no one, first the shoot, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. When the time allows it, immediately he despatches the sickle, for the time to harvest has come." This is the only parable which Mark alone relates... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 4:30-32

4:30-32 He said: "How shall we find something with which to compare the Kingdom of God, or what picture will we use to represent it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the ground, is the least of all the seeds upon the earth. But, when it is sown, it springs up and it becomes greater than all the herbs; and it sends out great branches so that the birds of the heaven can find a lodging under its shade." There are in this parable two pictures which every Jew... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:24

And he said unto them ,.... At the same time, though he had said what follows at another time, still continuing his discourse with his disciples: take heed what you hear : diligently attend to it, seek to understand it, and lay it up in your minds and memories, that it may be of use to you in time to come, and you may be useful in communicating it to others: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you ; a common proverb among the Jews, used on various occasions, and to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:25

For he that hath, to him shall be given ,.... He that has Gospel light and knowledge, and makes a proper use of it, he shall have more; his path shall be as the path of the just, which shines more and more to the perfect day; the means of grace and knowledge shall be blessed, to him, he attending constantly thereon, that he shall arrive to such a knowledge of the Son of God as to be a perfect man in comparison of others, who are in a lower class; and shall come to the measure of the stature... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:26

And he said ,.... He went on saying the following parable, which was delivered at the same time that the parable of the sower was, though omitted by Matthew; and is here placed between that, and the other concerning the grain of mustard seed; which shows the time when it was spoken. The design of it is to set forth the nature of the word, and the ministration of it; the conduct of the ministers of the Gospel, when they have dispensed it; the imperceptibleness of its springing and growth; the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:27

And should sleep ,.... That is, the man that casts in the seed, who represents the ministers of the Gospel: and, as applied to them, is not to be understood of natural sleep, and indulging themselves in that; much less of spiritual sloth and indolence, as if they cared not what became of the seed sown, whether it sprung up, and came to any thing, or not; for neither of these belong to the characters of the true ministers of the word: for though bodily sleep in them, as in other men, is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:28

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself ,.... Without any further help, or cultivation from the husbandman; though under the influence of the sun, dews, and showers of rain from heaven: this is said, not to denote that man of himself, upon hearing the word, can bring forth the fruit of grace in himself; he cannot regenerate himself, nor quicken, nor convert himself; he cannot believe in Christ, nor love the Lord of himself; nor repent of his sin, nor begin, or carry on the good work;... read more

Group of Brands