Mark 4

 

 1 And (*) he began again to teach by the (a) seaside, and there gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat (b) in the sea, and all the people was by the sea side on the land.

 

(*) Matthew 13:1; Luke 8:4 .

(a) Seaside of Tiberias.
(b) In a ship which was launched into the sea.

 

 2 And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in (*) (♣) his doctrine,

 

(*) It is called Christ’s doctrine, either for that he was accustomed to speak unto them by similitudes; or else because it had that virtue and majesty that men could not deny but it came from heaven.

(♣) Or, as he taught.

 

 3  (1) Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow.

 

(1) The selfsame doctrine of the Gospel is sown everywhere, but it hath not like success indeed through the fault of man, but yet by the just judgment of God.

 

 4 And it came to pass as he sowed, that some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the heaven came, and devoured it up.

 

 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth, and by and by sprang up, because it had not depth of earth.

 

 6 But as soon as the sun was up, it was burned up, and because it had not root, it withered away.

 

 7 And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, so that it gave no fruit.

 

 8 Some again fell in good ground, and did yield fruit that sprung up, and grew, and it brought forth, some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold.

 

 9 Then he said unto them, He that hath (*) ears to hear, let him hear.

 

(*) For God doeth not open all men’s hearts to understand his mysteries.

 

 10 And when he was (c) alone, they that were (d) about him with the twelve, asked him of the parable.

 

(c) Word for word, solitary.
(d) They that followed him at the heels.

 

 11 And he said unto them, To (*) you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but unto them that are (e) (♣) without, all things be done in parables,

 

(*) Which are led by the Spirit of God.

(e) That is to say, to strangers, and such as are none of ours.

(♣) And are not of the number of the faithful, neither attain to the pith and substance, but only stay in the outward rind and bark.

 

 12  (*) That they seeing, may see, and not discern, and they hearing, may hear, and not understand, lest at any time they should turn, and their sins should be forgiven them.

 

(*) Isaiah 6:9; Matthew 13:14; Luke 8:10; John 12:40; Acts 28:26; Romans 11:8 .

 

 13 Again he said unto them, Perceive ye not this parable? How then should ye understand all other parables?

 

 14 The sower soweth the word.

 

 15 And these are they that receive the seed by the wayside, in whom the word is sown; but when they have heard it, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

 

 16 And likewise they that receive the seed in stony ground, are they, which when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with gladness.

 

 17 Yet have they no root in themselves, and endure but a time; for when trouble and persecution ariseth for the word, immediately they be offended.

 

 18 Also they that receive the seed among the thorns, are such as hear the word,

 

 19 But the cares (f) of this world, and the (*) deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things enter in, and choke the word, and it is unfruitful.

 

(f) Which pertain to this life.

(*) 1 Timothy 6:17 .

 

 20 But they that have received seed in good ground, are they that hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, one corn thirty, another sixty, and some a hundred.

 

 21  ¶ (2) Also he said unto them, (*) Is (♣) the candle (♠) light to be put under a bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put on a candlestick?

 

(2) Although the light of the Gospel be rejected of the world, yet it ought to be lighted, if it were for no other cause than this, that the wickedness of the world might be made manifest.

(*) Mark 5:15; Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33 .

(♣) Christ setteth before their eyes the true patron of a Christian life.

(♠) Or, brought.

 

 22  (*) (♣) For there is nothing hid, that shall not be opened, neither is there a secret, but that it shall come to light.

 

(*) Matthew 10:26; Luke 8:17; Luke 12:2 .

(♣) We may not take occasion to do evil under color to hide our doings; for all shall be disclosed at the length.

 

 23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

 

 24  (3) And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear. (*) With (♣) what measure you mete, it shall be measured unto you; and unto you that hear, shall more be given.

 

(3) The more liberally that we communicate such gifts as God hath given us with our brethren, the more bountiful will God be toward us.

(*) Mark 7:2; Luke 6:38 .

(♣) If you do your endeavor faithfully, ye shall be recompensed justly.

 

 25  (*) For unto him that hath, shall it be given, and from him that hath not, shall be taken away, (♣) even that he hath.

 

(*) Matthew 13:12; Matthew 25:29; Luke 8:18; Luke 19:26 .

(♣) That which he thinketh himself to have.

 

 26  ¶ (4) Also he said, So is the (*) kingdom of God, as if a man should (♣) cast seed in the ground,

 

(4) The Lord soweth and reapeth after a manner unknown to men.

(*) These two similitudes following prove, that although the kingdom of God seemeth to have very little appearance or beginning, yet God doeth increase it above man’s reason.

(♣) If the ministers do their duty, God will give the increase.

 

 27 And (g) should sleep, and rise up night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he (h) not knowing how.

 

(g) That is, when he hath done sowing, should pass the time both day and night, nothing doubting, but that the seed would spring which groweth both day and night.
(h) It is the part of the ministers, to labor the ground with all diligence, and commend the success to God; for that mighty working whereby the seed cometh to blade and ear, is secret, and only known by the fruit.

 

 28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit (i) of herself, first the blade, then the ears, after that full corn in the ears.

 

(i) By a certain power which moveth itself.

 

 29 And as soon as the fruit sheweth itself, anon he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

 

 30  ¶ (*) (5) He said moreover, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it?

 

(*) Matthew 13:31; Luke 13:19 .

(5) God far otherwise than men use, beginneth with the least, and endeth with the greatest.

 

 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which when it is sown in the earth, is the least of all seeds that be in the earth;

 

 32 But after that it is sown, it groweth up, and is greatest of all herbs, and beareth great branches, so that the fowls of the heaven may build under the shadow of it.

 

 33 And (*) with many such parables he preached the word unto them, (k) as they were able to hear it.

 

(*) Matthew 13:14 .

(k) According to the capacity of the hearers.

 

 34 And without parables spake he nothing unto them; but he (l) expounded all things to his disciples apart.

 

(l) Word for word, Loosed, as you would say, read the hard riddles.

 

 35  ¶ (*) Now the same day when even was come, he said unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

 

(*) Matthew 8:23; Luke 8:22 .

 

 36 And they left the multitude, and (*) took him as he was in the ship; and there were also with him other little ships.

 

(*) And set forward.

 

 37  (6) And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves dashed into the ship, so that it was now full.

 

(6) They that sail with Christ, although he seems to sleep never so soundly when they are in danger, yet they are preserved of him in time convenient, being awaked.

 

 38 And he was in the stern (*) asleep on a pillow; and they awoke him, and said to him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

 

(*) Christ leaveth us oftentimes to ourselves, both as well that we may learn to know our own weakness, as his mighty power.

 

 39 And he arose up, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, and be still. So the wind ceased, and it was a great calm.

 

 40 Then he said unto them, (m) Why are ye so fearful? (*) How is it that ye have no faith?

 

(m) How cometh it to pass that you have no faith?

(*) Or, have you not yet faith.

 

 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who is this, that both the wind and sea obey him?

 

 

Steve

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