(chapter 5 will follow in the next issue)
Observe the Text to understand the author’s meaning:
Read 4:1-34. Reread 4:1-20. This is the only place in Mark where Jesus tells parables. Although we are told in Mark that Jesus speaks to the multitudes, this is the only place we hear the content of Jesus’ teaching to the multitudes. Who is Jesus talking to in vs 1-9? Who is he talking to in vs 10-34?
What according to vs 14 do the seeds represent? What happens to the word which corresponds to seeds sown along side the road which the birds eat up? What happens to the word which is sown on rocky ground and does not develop strong roots?
What happens to the word which is sown among the thorns? The thorns are pretty specific, what are they? These are not thorns of illness or suffering but very specific ones. These people do not fall away from the Word, but they bear no fruit. Is Timothy saying the same thing in 2 Tim 3:1-5? Discuss.
What happens to the word which is sown in good soil?
This is the first teaching on the Kingdom of God. What is the teaching here? Will everyone respond to the word? Will everyone be a part of the kingdom?
4:10-12 are hard verses. See the quote from Isaiah 6: 8-10. What do the verses mean?
Reread 4:21-23. These verses teach more about the Kingdom of God. What is the teaching in light of the previous verses?
Reread 4:24-25. If this again is a parable about the kingdom, what is it saying?
Reread 4: 26-29. Another lesson about the kingdom. If Jesus is talking to the disciples who will be the ones to “cast seed upon the soil,” what is Jesus telling them? Who sows and who harvests? Who is the one who causes the seed to sprout and grow? Would this be a helpful lesson for a teacher, Jesus, to tell his followers? Why?
Reread 4: 30-34. Another lesson about the kingdom. What is the lesson here? How is this an encouragement to disciples whose leader will be crucified before too long? Is this a recurring theme through Scripture, from the weakest, smallest comes the great because of the power of God. Can you think of any other place in Scripture this theme is presented?
In the above lessons about the Kingdom of God, who does the growth in the Kingdom depend on? Explain the difference between what the disciples are called to do and what God does. Calvin says that God deliberately started from weak and lowly beginnings so that the progress which seems impossible would glorify him.
Read 4:35-41. Up until now the disciples have been onlookers to Jesus’ authority and miracles. Now what happens? Why did the disciples wake up Jesus? Remember four of these men are fisherman and probably accustomed to the storms on the Sea of Galilee and yet this one terrified them. What did they expect Jesus to do? What does he do?
What is their reaction? Read Psalm 107:23-32. Notice Jesus words, “Hush be still” are the words God speaks in Psalm 107. What does this tell us about who Jesus is?
After Jesus calms the sea, instead of rejoicing, the disciples become afraid. Why? The disciples had seen the unclean spirits obey Jesus, and had seen his authority over all kinds of illness, now they see even nature—the wind and the sea, obey him. The final lesson on the kingdom is that the King is here—the one who rules heaven and earth!
Interpret the Text:
1) What does this chapter say about the Kingdom?
2) About the King? About authority? Discuss the meaning of the “sovereignty of God” from this chapter.
3) Do you see this chapter as an encouragement to the disciples? How?
Application
1) What kind of seed are you? Have you ever been persecuted because of the word? If you have not, why is that? If you were, did you fall away? What helped you not to fall away?
2) Are you a person like the seed that fell among the thorns where the “worries of the world and deceitfulness of riches and desires for other things choke out the word and it becomes unfruitful?”
3) How is your life a light put on a lampstand? How is it not?
4) What is your standard of measure? What should it be?
5) What encouragement does it give you that there will be a kingdom of God; that the small mustard seed will grow into a large tree?
6) What does it mean in your life and in your relationship with Jesus Christ to know that Christ is all powerful– that Christ is not bound by the natural world but in fact rules over the natural world?
5) How is this chapter an encouragement for your ministry?
Bible Study Notes
(Compare these notes to your thoughts after you have looked at the passages and answered the questions yourself)
4:1-20. Notice that it is persecution because of the word. There are other kinds of suffering that are not included here.
Notice that the people in whom the seeds are sown are those that appear to hear and accept the word. They are not rebellious people who outright reject God’s Word. These people are open to the word and receive it on some level. Maybe Jesus is making a distinction between those who in 3:35 come and “sit around” him but who may not “do the will of God.” The seed is sown but then withers or is choked out.
Calvin says of the first group that they come to hear the word but have no understanding because they do not come in humility or meekness. The second group falls away because of temptation and because “they themselves think that they have a true faith.” The third group allows the thorns—pleasures of the world, evil desires, avarice and others anxieties of the flesh—to crowd out the Word of the Lord.
4:10-12. This may be a statement of predestination or it may be a statement of the blindness of the scribes and Pharisees who see but do not perceive. Remember Jesus is speaking here to his disciples. Perhaps he is encouraging them that although they are to preach, not everyone to whom they preach will bear fruit. That is not their fault but is the nature of the Kingdom.
Calvin writes, “The Gospel is not the cause of blindness…in itself or in its nature, but only in the event. It is like the dimsighted going out in the sunshine. It only makes their eyes weaker sighted going out in the sunshine….Yet, the fault lies, not in the sun, but in their eyes. When the Word of god blinds and hardens the reprobate, it is through their own native depravity; so far as the Word is concerned, it is accidental.”
Our repentance does not force God to act and forgive us. Rather, God is ready to forgive us but awaits our turning to him and repenting of or sins.
4:21-23. Calvin suggests that Jesus is saying that even though not all of the seed will fall on fertile ground, still the kingdom will not remain hidden—it will flourish and come to light. That is an encouragement to the disciples to preach about the kingdom even if much of the seed falls on poor soil—their work will bear fruit. It is also an admonition to us, if we are good soil, we are expected to bear fruit.
4:24-25. Mark says to be “careful what you listen to.” Perhaps “your measure” is the pharisaical laws, or the Scripture, or your own heart, or your own god, or TV or books. Whatever you measure life by, you will be measured. Whatever your source of Truth is, that is what you will be measured by. If you seek riches or desires for other things(from vs 19), you will be measured by that and they will be taken away (rust) but if you seek the true things, the light, the Gospel, more will be added—that is, deeper understanding will be given.
4:35-41. The same authority that will cause the kingdom to flourish, now is evidenced in Christ’s rule over the natural world.
Its interesting that their question is, “don’t you care that we are perishing?” That is precisely why Jesus came, because he does care that we are perishing!
This study first appeared in Theology Matters, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Jul/Aug 1995).
