14 "The sower sows the word . 15 "These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown ; and when they hear , immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 16 "In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who , when they hear the word , immediately receive it with joy ; 17 and they have no firm root in themselves , but are only temporary ; then , when affliction or persecution arises because of the word , immediately they fall away . 18 "And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns ; these are the ones who have heard the word , 19 but the worries of the world , and the deceitfulness of riches , and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word , and it becomes unfruitful . 20 "And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil ; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit , thirty , sixty , and a hundredfold ."
21 And He was saying to them, " A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket , is it, or under a bed ? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand ? 22 " For nothing e is hidden , except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret , but that it would come to light . 23 " If anyone has ears to hear , let him hear ." 24 And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides . 25 " For whoever has , to him more shall be given ; and whoever does not have , even what he has shall be taken away from him."
26 And He was saying , "The kingdom of God is like e a man who casts seed upon the soil ; 27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day , and the seed sprouts and grows -how , he himself does not know . 28 "The soil produces crops by itself ; first the blade , then the head , then the mature grain in the head . 29 "But when the crop permits , he immediately puts in the sickle , because the harvest has come ."
30 And He said , "How shall we picture the kingdom of God , or by what parable shall we present it? 31 "It is like a mustard seed , which , when sown upon the soil , though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil , 32 yet when it is sown , it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches ; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE ."
33 With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; 34 and He did not speak to them without a parable ; but He was explaining everything privately e to His own disciples .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 4:14-34
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.
Commentary on Mark 4:21-34
(Read Mark 4:21-34)
These declarations were intended to call the attention of the disciples to the word of Christ. By his thus instructing them, they were made able to instruct others; as candles are lighted, not to be covered, but to be placed on a candlestick, that they may give light to a room. This parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress in the world. Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself in a good conversation. It grows gradually: first the blade; then the ear; after that the full corn in the ear. When it is sprung up, it will go forward. The work of grace in the soul is, at first, but the day of small things; yet it has mighty products even now, while it is in its growth; but what will there be when it is perfected in heaven!