It gets enough energy to start growing, and then a tiny stalk starts to reach up out of the ground. He introduces his story succinctly: “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (1:1). This indicates that the sower and the seed is a foundational parable which is the key to understanding all the parables. That these hearers have honest and good hearts. Jesus was talking to them using words and word pictures that they could understand. Mark 4:12 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. He promises that everything will work together for our good - to become godlier and to bring glory to God. This is not about salvation but about your sanctification, being set apart for God’s purpose through Jesus Christ. The Parable of the Sower is a favored parable because of Jesus . [⇑ See verse text ⇑] The word translated "basket" is from the Greek root word modios and literally means a "bushel measure." When these people face pressure or bad circumstances, they quickly forget about God’s word. They dismissed the multitude, and Jesus climbed into the … Those who have ears should listen and understand." God’s word never promises that life will be easy, without any trials. 4:1-20 This parable contained instruction so important, that all capable of hearing were bound to attend to it. It will help us to value the privileges we enjoy as disciples of Christ, if we seriously consider the deplorable state of all who have not such privileges. Isaiah 44:18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. Some are missionaries to other countries. You are the branches. Some of the seed fell on a path. 4:4-7). Prior to this point in His ministry He taught openly for all to hear, but most of the people didn’t want to hear the truth. 1 * On another occasion a he began to teach by the sea. These people hear the word but get battered by worries, materialism and greed, sin and covetousness placed in front of them, but the word in them gets choked out of its fruitfulness. 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. When Jesus says twice in Mark 4 ... Taken as a whole, we’re faced with an exegetical Dagwood Sandwich–a sandwich (vs 1-20) within a sandwich (vs 1-34). She has also spent many years mentoring Middle School and High School girls. But remember, many of the people who were listening to Jesus were farmers. Let's read verses 1-20. Who is the farmer? However, a large crowd of people began to gather around Jesus. CHAPTER 4. If you reject salvation and truth then God will deceive you. Teacher Note: Some of the “rocky” people may be under the misunderstanding that God will take away all of their problems. and how then will ye know all parables? This was all the crowd heard out of that parable. As he scattered the seed, he noticed that the seed falls on different types of ground. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. This thought introduces Mark 4:25, which, in this connection, means: the more a man thinks the more he will understand, and the less a man thinks the less his power of understanding will become. Complete Concise Chapter Contents. (Jesus) We sat down at the beginning of last summer and knew that we would be framing this entire year in the Gospel of Mark. They knew a lot about dirt and soil. Mark 2:16-17 commentary: calling sinners to repent... Mark 2:9-15 commentary: immediate healing, Mark 2:6-8 commentary: knowing their thoughts, Mark 2:2-5 commentary: forgiven and healed, Mark 2:1 commentary: Jesus is in the house. Therefore, when problems arrive, they fall away. Mark 4:15 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. Mark 4:35 "And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side." Mark 4:35-41 Christ stilleth a tempest by his word. When the seed is in good, soft, warm soil, it sends out a little root that goes down into the soil. There is nothing wrong with the sower or the seed. They think more about themselves than about the Lord. Some people hear God’s Word and start to grow and bear fruit. b 2 And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, 3 * “Hear this! Mark 4:1-2; 33-34 . Key Verse: But still others received the seed that fell on good soil. The answer was this passage. Wherever there are weeds, they take over the good plants. Fruit comes naturally when we remain connected to the Vine. 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. 4. If you think the seed represents money, you miss the parable. Another fruit is sharing God’s truth with others. These people hear the message with great joy, but like seeds on rocky soil, they do not let it take root. It is when someone hears the truth through teaching, or reading the Bible. In the great … 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. And these are they which are sown on good ground Such hearers who are intended by the good ground on which other seed fell, are those who are made good men by the grace of God; for there is none good naturally, nor that doeth good, no not one; these are Jesus began to teach using parables. From the time you were a young child, your parents read stories to you. Now, for the “problem soil.” Sadly, there are three kinds of “heart soil” that don’t bear any kind of spiritual fruit. In the previous chapter, Mark explores the different reactions people have to Jesus, His teachings, and His miracles. Main Point: We want to have a teachable heart where God’s truth can produce good fruit. Main Point: We want to have a teachable heart where God’s truth can produce good fruit. They seem to be happy to hear about Jesus and His great love, but they do not let it sink into their hearts. 10 ¶ Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. "Behold" here, was telling those in attendance (and us, as well), to see with our inner man. Ask: If the seed stands for the truth of Jesus, the Word of God, and the soil is the hearts of people, what would it mean to scatter the seed on the soil? Back Bible Studies Home Page. It produced a crop 100, 60, or 30 times more than what was planted. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. Finally, other seed fell on good soil. Mark tells a story of a demon … Most of the people that Jesus was speaking to were farmers. The more stressful and busy your life is the harder it is to get you to bear fruit for Christ. Plants must have roots down in the soil. Ask: Do you see much dirt here? Jesus goes to the lake (the Sea of Galilee), sits in a boat, and speaks to "a great multitude" (Mark 4:1). Some people will be good soil. There are many things we are concerned to know; and if we understand not the plain truths of the gospel, how shall we learn those more difficult! Let's read verses 1-20. Who is the farmer? The parable we are going to read today is about planting seeds. Posted on May 27, 2010 by Marietta. The parable of the sower. Parables tell a story using something we see every day to help us understand a spiritual truth that we can’t see with our eyes. Still other seed fell on good soil. In our last study, we looked at verses 16-35 of Mark chapter 3. The Four Soils (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:1-15) Related Media. "THE GOSPEL OF MARK" The Parable Of The Four Soils (4:1-20) INTRODUCTION 1. With the sun shining on the stalk, and nutrients going into the root from the rain and soil, more roots grow, and the plant begins to thrive. There are many things we are concerned to know; and if we understand not the plain truths of the gospel, how shall we learn those more difficult! Jesus always emphasized that it is not a good sermon that makes for good worship but good Mark 5:11-20 Two Thousand Hogs Drown. Mark 4:1-20 commentary: the parable of the sower 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. 2Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Yes, our Creator will deceive men who reject His salvation. He taught them many things through parables. Adobe PDF. This parable is also spoken in Matthew 13:1-23. Other verses will be used below to show that Jesus possessed power over satan and his demons. Last week we said that Jesus often taught people by telling stories called parables. Mark 4:32 "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." The seed was the same in every place, but the condition of the soil was different. Everyone likes to hear a great story. View slideshow Download image set Story Planner. Lesson. Isn’t it great to know that some of the seed fell on good soil? It tells the Parable of the Sower, with its explanation, and the parable of the Mustard Seed. Read terms of download. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. In some ways, this parable expands on Jesus’ teaching of how the “good soil” (a receptive heart) receives the “seed” (the Word of God). Active. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. But, sadly, others will be like the four problem soils. There are many things we are concerned to know; and if we understand not the plain truths of the gospel, how shall we learn those more difficult! This is the first time that Mark lets us listen in to the content of Jesus’ preaching. A farmer went out to plant some seed. While it all hangs together, the preacher is hard-pressed to take an adequate bite. Demons quake at God. What had happened is that the Jews, for the most part, had rejected Him and His message. Mark 4:8; Mark 4:20. Say: Jesus said that the same seed produced no crop, some crop, or a great crop. “Whoso hath attention, knowledge will be given to him, and from him who hath not, the seed of knowledge will be taken. Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. The seed that fell on the path could not sink down into the dirt. First the seed is buried in the ground. Everyone’s fruit will look different, but if each person allows God’s truth to grow in their heart, it will be the right kind of fruit. Good Soil: Still other seed fell on good soil. He promises something far better. These people aren’t saved because they have no “root in themselves”. He said, "A farmer went out to plant his seed. True growth takes time. 2.1. This represents the people who heard God’s word and believed it. How can we keep rocks and weeds out of the soil of our hearts? They produce a crop 100, 60 or 30 times more than the farmer planted. Tag Archives: Mark 4:1-20 The Parable of the Sower and Jude. Mark 4:20 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. Key Verse: But still others received the seed that fell on good soil. Jim Bomkamp. This is not for you to make a comparison with other people. Fritzsche, after Theophy. What is the number one rule about pulling weeds? He taught them many things through parables. 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. We therefore practice it every day, so that we may develop a deep and genuine love for it, and so that we may grow in the surpassing knowledge of Christ. Jesus takes the simple everyday event of seed-sowing, and draws rich insights from it. But in rocky places, the hard rocks block the roots. What does Mark chapter 4 mean? Even the soil that produces a small crop is “good.”. There will be a great test for Christians. Demonstrate this action by scattering seeds on the ground. [1:15]) Make a visual summary (yes, a drawing! No. 1. They dried up because they had no roots. He in essence was saying, "You must look beyond what I am saying literally and look into the spiritual to understand what I am about to tell you". Question: "What is the meaning of the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)?" It’s always right to pray for God to soften the hearts of those you speak to! 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. It will help us to value the privileges we enjoy as disciples of Christ, if we seriously consider the deplorable state of all who have not such privileges. Many people who get deceived start out with the right intention but one little twist of the truth takes them far off the mark. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." So, we asked, what is a defining feature of Mark that connects with what we believe God is doing right here at Grace? Some thoughts on today's scripture. They didn’t understand it. Confess: Tell the Lord that your heart has not been good soil. But, if you are bearing fruit, and this isn’t about numbers in getting souls led to Christ. His strength is such that no human figure can bind or control him. You can't do anything without Me.” (John 15:5) We must stay connected to Jesus, because without Him, we cannot bear any fruit! The word of God is perfect and there is no lacking in it. - Matthew 13:1-9. 4:1-20 This parable contained instruction so important, that all capable of hearing were bound to attend to it. Good soil has sunlight, water, and nutrients. The seed represents God’s Word and the sower is the servant of God who … The problem is the soil - the person who hears the Word. Mark 4:20. (1-20) Other parables. Jesus purposely left them in the dark. If you think the seed represents hard work, you miss the parable. They want their seeds to grow into large, healthy plants that will give them good fruits and vegetables. (21-34) Christ stills the tempest. Mark 3:1-4 commentary: is it lawful to do good? The Search OF the Savior: Why Jesus Came, Part 2 (Gal. He must trust God to deliver him from his worries and greed so that he can grow in God’s Word. Mark tells a story of a demon … Their hearts are hard as rocks in reality in spite of their interest and initial enthusiasm. 4. All the people stood on the shore. The crowd grew so large that Jesus got into a boat and began to teach the people from the boat. Study the bible online using commentary on Mark 4 and more! I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Mark relates no stories of Jesus’ birth or childhood, but launches right into Jesus’ adult life and the beginning of his public ministry. The Four Soils (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:1-15) Related Media. An adequate bite soil that produces a small crop is “ good. ” great … 5 whole. About planting seeds tells the parable of the seed represents hard work, you miss the parable of people... 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