41 And again he began to teach by the sea. And a great crowd was gathered together to him, so that going on board ship he sat in the sea, and all the crowd were close to the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things in parables. And he said to them in his doctrine, 3 Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow. 4 And it came to pass as he sowed, one fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 And another fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprung up out [of the ground] because it had no depth of earth; 6 and when the sun arose it was burnt up, and because of its not having any root, it withered. 7 And another fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And another fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and bore, one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred. 9 And he said, He that has ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And when he was alone, those about him with the twelve asked him [as to] the parables. 11 And he said to them, To you is given [to know] the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to them who are without, all things are done in parables, 12 that beholding they may behold and not see, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest it may be, they should be converted and they should be forgiven. 13 And he says to them, Do ye not know this parable? and how will ye be acquainted with all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word: 15 and these are they by the wayside where the word is sown, and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 And these are they in like manner who are sown upon the rocky places, who when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy, 17 and they have no root in themselves, but are for a time: then, tribulation arising, or persecution on account of the word, immediately they are offended. 18 And others are they who are sown among the thorns: these are they who have heard the word,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 4:1-18
Commentary on Mark 4:1-20
(Read Mark 4:1-20)
This parable contained instruction so important, that all capable of hearing were bound to attend to it. 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! 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. In the great field of the church, the word of God is dispensed to all. Of the many that hear the word of the gospel, but few receive it, so as to bring forth fruit. Many are much affected with the word for the present, who yet receive no abiding benefit. The word does not leave abiding impressions upon the minds of men, because their hearts are not duly disposed to receive it. The devil is very busy about careless hearers, as the fowls of the air go about the seed that lies above ground. Many continue in a barren, false profession, and go down to hell. Impressions that are not deep, will not last. Many do not mind heart-work, without which religion is nothing. Others are hindered from profiting by the word of God, by abundance of the world. And those who have but little of the world, may yet be ruined by indulging the body. God expects and requires fruit from those who enjoy the gospel, a temper of mind and Christian graces daily exercised, Christian duties duly performed. Let us look to the Lord, that by his new-creating grace our hearts may become good ground, and that the good seed of the word may produce in our lives those good words and works which are through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God the Father.