1,2. The secret of the Lord was with them. THE CONTEXT. When they feared the winds and the seas, it was for want of the reverence they ought to have had for Christ. It grows gradually; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear, v. 28. Note, This should quicken us both to prayer and pains that we may get knowledge, that there are a great many things which we are concerned to know; and if we understand not the plain truths of the gospel, how shall we master those that are more difficult? If ye receive not this, ye will not know how to use the key by which ye must be let into all the rest." Gifts and graces multiply by being exercised; and God has promised to bless the hand of the diligent. It is just with God to say of those that will not see, that they shall not see, and to hide from their eyes, who only look about them with a great deal of carelessness, and never look before them with any concern upon the things that belong to their peace. The Candle Under a Bushel. Chapter 4. II. Had not the necessity of the case called for it, they would not have stirred up or awoke their Master, till he had pleased (Cant. This paragraph explains why many did not understand Jesus' parables. Many a good lesson of humility, charity, self-denial, and heavenly-mindedness, is choked and lost by that prevailing complacency in the world, which they are apt to have, on whom it smiles. Their address to Christ is here expressed very emphatically; Master, carest thou not that we perish? The motions of soul they have, answerable to what they hear, are but a mere flash, like the crackling of thorns under a pot. 20:27), lighted by the Father of lights; the most eminent are but candles, poor lights, compared with the Sun of righteousness. 4. Compare Luke 13:18, 19 . Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself, as the wisdom from above doth in a good conversation. In Matthew it is said, The men marvelled; here it is said, They feared greatly. It comes to perfection at last (v. 29); When the fruit is brought forth, that is, when it is ripe, and ready to be delivered into the owner’s hand; then he puts in the sickle. See note on Matt. Mark 4, William Barclay's Daily Study Bible, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, as set of 17 volumes on the New Testament, the result of Barclay's dedicated work The reproof Christ gave them for their fears, is here carried further than in Matthew. The seed cast into the ground will spring. Mark’s Good News. 5. But now that they saw a demonstration of his power over them, they feared them less, and him more. And he told them what a distinguishing favour it was to them, that they were made acquainted with the mystery of the kingdom of God, v. 11. Matthew gives this saying more fully and clearly. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. Bible > Bible Commentary; John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible; Mark; Mark 4; John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible << Mark 3 | Mark 4 | Mark 5 >> (Read all of Mark 4) Verse 1. A candle gives light but a little way, and but a little while, and is easily blown out, and continually burning down and wasting. Coffman's Commentaries on the BibleMark 4. If ye be faithful servants to him, he will be a faithful Master to you: with the upright he will show himself upright.". Mark 4:4 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Mark 4:4, NIV: "As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up." Caesar encouraged the master of the ship, that had him on board, with this, Caesarem vehis, et fortunam Caesaris—Thou hast Caesar on board, and Caesar’s fortune. Gifts and graces make a man as a candle; the candle of the Lord (Prov. Note, The words of Christ demand attention, and those who speak from him, may command it, and should stir it up; even that which as yet we do not thoroughly understand, or not rightly, we must carefully attend to, believing it to be both intelligible and weighty, that at length we may understand it; we shall find more in Christ’s sayings than at first there seemed to be. He begins (v. 3), with, Hearken, and concludes (v. 9) with, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 2. See note on Matt. The noise is threatening and terrifying; let us hear no more of it. No, the comparison is borrowed from this earth, it is like a grain of mustard-seed; he had compared it before to seed sown, here to that seed, intending thereby to show. All Christians, as they have received the gift, must minister the same. 2. Read Mark 4 commentary using John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. Here it is, How is it that ye have no faith? Those may suspect their faith, who can entertain such a thought as that Christ careth not though his people perish, and Christ justly takes it ill. Lastly, The impression this miracle made upon the disciples, is here differently expressed. Never were there such great things undertaken by such an inconsiderable handful, as that of the discipling of the nations by the ministry of the apostles; nor a work that was to end in such great glory, as the work of grace raised from such weak and unlikely beginnings. We must not hence infer that we may be careless of our health, but we may learn hence not to be over nice and solicitous about the body. Those that would improve in knowledge, must be made sensible of their ignorance. Like a grain of mustard seed. Christ was awhile sowing himself, when he went about teaching and preaching; now he sends his ministers, and sows by their hand. 29. See Jn. This parable contained instruction so important, that all capable of hearing were bound to attend to it... View the entire commentary. 45:15. In chapter 1, Jesus called his first disciples and began his preaching and healing ministry. Compare Luke 8:22-25 . The parable of the seed, and the four sorts of ground (v. 1-9), with the exposition of it (v. 10-20), and the application of it (v. 21-25). 3:6-9 ). Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness; how God manifested in the flesh came to be believed on in the world, 1 Tim. Light is meant to illuminate. 11:4, 6), and must look up to God, who gives seed to the sower, 2 Co. 9:10. They feared a great fear; so the original reads it. If we understand not the rules we are to observe in order to our profiting by the word, how shall we profit by any other rule? For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. A word of command to us; when our wicked hearts are like the troubled sea which cannot rest (Isa. 31. When therefore these fowls come down upon the sacrifices, we should take care, as Abram did, to drive them away (Gen. 15:11); that, though we cannot keep them from hovering over our heads, we may not let them nestle in our hearts. Study the bible online using commentary on Mark 4 and more! Mark 4:4, KJV: "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." All rights reserved. Both admonitions are very important. We should hear attentively, earnestly and devoutly the word of the Lord. and not to be set on a candlestick? God expects a grateful return of his gifts to us, and a useful improvement of his gifts in us; for (v. 21), Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? Mark 4 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary provides a free-flowing commentary on the entire text of each biblical book, along with background material. He began again to teach by the seaside. Those who are lighted as candles, should set themselves on a candlestick; that is, should improve all opportunities of doing good, as those that were made for the glory of God, and the service of the communities they are members of; we are not born for ourselves. It is sad to think, how much of the precious seed of the word of God is lost, and sown in vain; but there is a day coming when lost sermons must be accounted for. Mark 4:10-13 Why Christ taught in parables. Jesus’ role as teacher is important in this Gospel. Those that have but little of the world, may yet be ruined by an indulgence of the body. Their confidence lay in this, that they had their Master with them; and the ship that has Christ in it, though it may be tossed, cannot sink; the bush that has God in it, though it may burn, shall not consume. 5:35); of those to whom Ezekiel was a lovely song (Eze. III. 12. The Storm on the Sea. ); but it is here more fully related. Without a parable, etc. The word of command with which Christ rebuked the storm, we have here, and had not in Matthew, v. 39. This is the sense of "the earth bringing forth fruit of herself," in Mark 4:27. II. 35. Mark's report is nearly that of Matthew Mark 4:1-20 Matthew 13:1-23, word for word, as well as of the explanation that follows. Mark 4:35-41 Christ stilleth a tempest by his word. 24. This intimates, (1.) He shows them what a shame it was, that they needed such particular explanations of the word they heard, and did not apprehend it at first. There arose a great storm. Thus he changed his method, that if possible all might be reached and wrought upon. 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. First, That in the great field of the church, the word of God is dispensed to all promiscuously; The sower soweth the word (v. 14), sows it at a venture, beside all waters, upon all sorts of ground (Isa. 1. The parable of the grain of mustard-seed, and a general account of Christ’s parables (v. 30–34). The storm was so great, that the ship was full of water (v. 37), not by springing a leak, but perhaps partly with the shower, for the word here used signifies a tempest of wind with rain; however, the ship being little, the waves beat into it so that it was full. The word of God, the Gospel. The church hath shot out great branches, strong ones, spreading far, and fruitful. First the blade. If the seed be sown on good ground, if the heart be humble, and holy, and heavenly, there will be good fruit, and it will abound sometimes even to a hundred fold, such a crop as Isaac reaped, Gen. 26:12. In the New Testament the word parable is used to refer to all these sorts of comparisons and others, too, including proverbs and riddles. This parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress … Mark’s Gospel is a gospel of deeds. Mark 4 Bible Commentary. The days the parables were uttered. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Mark 4:26-34 . Matthew gives much the fullest account of this day's teaching, reporting a number of parables not found elsewhere. The gospel kingdom in the world, shall increase and spread to the remotest nations of the earth, and shall continue to the latest ages of time. 121:3, 4); he slept, but his heart was awake, as the spouse, Cant. 10. To understand a proverb and the interpretation— The proverb is the literal sense, the interpretation is the spiritual resting in the lit… Thirdly, Many are much affected with the word for the present, who yet receive no abiding benefit by it. 7. By this therefore Christ proves himself to be God. IV. Can you envision Jesus stepping onto a boat, sitting, and gently teaching? 12:5. Who hath begotten me these? Here seems to be a new convenience found out, which had not been used before, though he had before preached by the sea side (ch. Those only who are converted, have their sins forgiven them: and it is the misery of unconverted souls, that they lie under unpardoned guilt. 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