1.
And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
And. Note t he Figure of speech Polyeyedeton ( App-6 ), in verses: Mark 4:1-9 .
again . lie had taught there before. Compare Mark 3:7-9 .
by . . . side = beside. Greek. para . App-104 .
unto. Cr. pros. App-104 .
multitude = crowd.
into. Greek. eis . App-104 .
a = the. i.e. in the ship on the sea. Greek en. App-104 .
by = toward: i.e. facing. Greek pros, as "unto", above.
on = upon. Greek. epi . App-104 .
2.
And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
3.
Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Greek. idou. App-133 .
there went out . This parable is repeated in Luke 8:4 under different circumstances from those in Matthew 13:3 , which accounts for the variation of wording. The an tecedents in Matthew and Mark are the visit or His kinsfolk, Mark 3:31-34 (which is a consequent in Luke 8:4 ). The consequent in Matthew and Mark is the question of the Twelve concerning others who asked the meaning. In Luke the consequent is the question of the Twelve as to its meaning (thus hearing it for the first time), followed by the visit of His kinsfolk. Why should not a parable be repeated several times? Why need they be identical? and why should not two accounts of the same be supplementary?
4.
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.
it came to pass . A Hebraism,
as he sowed = in (Greek. in as in Mark 4:2 ) his sowing.
5.
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
on . Greek. epi. App-104 . Not the some word as in Mark 4:8 .
stony ground = the rocky (place understood).
not . Greek. ou . App-104 . Not the same word as in Mark 4:12 .
earth = soil. Greek. ge. App-129 . Not the same word as in Mark 4:12 .
immediately. See note on Mark 1:12 .
because, &c. = on account of
its having . Greek. dia . App-104 .Mark 4:2 .
no. Greek. me . App-105 . Not the same word as in verses: Mark 4:7 , Mark 4:17 , Mark 4:40 .
6.
But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
when . . . was up = having risen.
7.
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8.
And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
9.
And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10.
And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
was = came to be.
they that were about Him . . . asked . Occurs only in Mark. Showing that this parable was spoken after that in Luke 8 . See note on Mark 4:3 .
about = around. Greek peri . App-104 .
with = in conjunction with. Greek. sun. App-104 . Not the some word as in Mark 4:16 , Mark 4:24 , Mark 4:30 , Mark 4:36 .
11.
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
is = hath been.
know = got to know. Greek. ginosko, App-132 . Compare 1 Corinthians 2:14 . All the texts omit "to know" and read "has been given the secret" of the Kingdom, &c.
mystery = secret. Not before made known: i.e. its proclamation would be received only by a few.
the kingdom of God . See App-114 .
that are without = outside (that circle). Occurs only in Mark. Compare 1 Corinthians 5:12 , 1Co 5:13 . 1 Thessalonians 4:12 . In Matthew "to them", In Luke "to others".
done = come to be (spoken).
12.
That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
That, &c . Quoted from Isaiah 6:9 , Isaiah 6:10 . See App-107 .
seeing . . . see. Figure of speech Polyptoton, ( App-6 ). Greek. blepo. App-133 .
not. Greek. me . App-105 .
perceive = see. App-133 .
hearing . . . hear . Figure of speech Polyptoton . App-6 .
be converted = return [to the Lord].
sins . App-128 .
be forgiven. See Isaiah 6:10 .
13.
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
Know ye not . . . ? = Have ye no intuitive knowledge of. Greek. oida. App-132 . A Divine supplement, here.
parables = the parables.
14.
The sower soweth the word.
word , Greek. logos . See note on Mark 9:32 .
15.
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16.
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
with gladness . This effect of thus hearing has the "immediate" ending described in Mark 4:17 .
with = in association with. Greek. meta. App-104 .
17.
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
18.
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19.
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
cares = anxieties.
world = age. Greek. aion . App-129 .
of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .
20.
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
21.
And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
Is . . . brought = Doth . . come. Figure of speech l'rosopopoeia App-6 .
candle = the lamp. Greek. luchnos . App-130 .
to be put = in order to be placed.
under. Greek. hupo. App-104 .
bushel = the measure.
bed. Greek kline. Not the same word as in Mark 2:4 .
and not to be = [Is it] not [brought] in order that it may be.
candlestick = the lampstand.
22.
For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
nothing = not (Greek. ou. App-105 .) anything.
manifested. Greek phaneroo. App-106 .
was any thing kept secret = does a secret thing take place.
it should come abroad = it may come into (Greek. eis. App-104 .) [the] light ( App-130 8),
23.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
If, &c. Assuming the hypothesis as a fact. App-118 .
24.
And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
Take heed. App-133 .
what . On the former occasion the Lord said "how" (Luke 8:18 ).
with. Greek. en . App-104 .
to you. shall more be given = to you, and that with interest.
25.
For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
from. Greek. apo . App-104 .
26.
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
So = Thus.
if. A contingent hypothesis. App-118 .
a man . Greek. anthropos. App-123 .
should cast = should have cast.
seed = the seed.
into = upon. Greek. epi . App-104 .
27.
And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
should sleep, and rise . These Present Tenses, following the Past in Mark 4:26 , indicate the continued rising and sleeping after the seed was sown.
spring = sprout.
grow up = lengthen.
knoweth = has no intuitive knowledge. Greek. oida App-132 .
28.
For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
of herself . Greek. automate = automatically. The word occurs only here and Acts 12:10 . Galen (quoted by Wetstein) says it means "Not as being without a cause, but without a cause proceeding from us". "God clothes the grass". The explanation is in 1 Corinthians 3:6 , 1 Corinthians 3:7 ,
the. the = a. a.
the full corn = full corn.
29.
But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
is brought forth = delivers itself up.
putteth in = sentient forth. Greek apostello. App-174 ., Compare John 4:38 .
30.
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
comparison = parable.
shall we = are we to.
31.
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
in upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .
that be in the earth. Divine supplement here.
32.
But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
groweth up . Divine supplement here.
shooteth out = makes.
the air = the heaven. Singular. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 . Occurs only in Mark.
33.
And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
spake = was He speaking.
as they were able to hear . Occurs only in Mark.
34.
But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
expounded = kept expounding. Compare Luke 24:27 and 2 Peter 1:20 .
35.
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
And the same day. This miracle is not the same as that recorded in Matthew 8:23-27 , but is the same as that in Luke 8:22-25 .
into. Greek. eis App-104 .
36.
And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
also. ships = boats also. Occurs only in Mark.
other . Greek. Plural of allos. App-124 .
37.
And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
storm = squall. The earlier storm in Matthew was caused by an earthquake (Greek. seismos) . That storm was before the calling of the Twelve (Matthew 8:24 and Mark 10:1 ). This storm was subsequent (Compare Mark 3:13 ).
beat = were beating Thecefoer an open boat.
fullfilling. In the earlier storm it was gettingcovered.
38.
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
in = on. Greek. epi . App-104 . All the texts prefer Greek. en = in ( App-104 .)
asleep = sleeping (soundly). App-171 .
a pillow = the [wooden] seat [with its leathern covering [or cushion].
Master = Teacher. App-98 . Mark 4:1 .
perish = are perishing.
39.
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
rebuked the wind first, and then the disciples, because the danger was greater. In the earlier storm, He rebuked the disciples first, and the storm after, for the opposite reason.
was = became,
40.
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
so = thus.
41.
And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
feared exceedingly = feared with a great fear. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 .
to. Greek pros. App-104 .
What manner of Mau . . . ? = Who then is this One?