Marcos 4

Marcos 4

Morris - Mark records two parables (that of the candlestick and also of the silent growth of the seed sown) after that of the Sower, both amplifying the latter. The first stresses the importance of sowing--letting our light shine and keeping it bright. The second reminds us that the actual subterranean growth of the seed, finally springing out of the ground and producing fruit, is not the work of the sower but of the Creator who designed this amazing mechanism. It symbolizes the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the one who has heard God's Word (compare John 3:8, Ecclesiastes 11:5,6). The human witness conveys the Word, but he does not win the soul. As Paul said: "Neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:7). Ecclesiastes 11:5; 6 Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. (11:6) Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good. John David Jones - Now, we are back here at a principle which runs right through the New Testament, viz, this, that every gift conferred upon us by God is conferred upon us for use; not for our own enjoyment or enrichment, but for service. God never blesses a man for his own sake; He blesses him that he may become a blessing. He never saves a man for his own sake; He saves him that he may become a saviour He never enriches a man for his own sake; He enriches him that he in his turn may become a source of enrichment to others. (Commentary) Bruce Barton - The disciples may have wondered why Jesus seemed to be deliberately hiding the truth of the gospel through parables. Perhaps they thought that if the Word was going to fall on hard hearts, then why should they sow it so liberally? Shouldn't they just limit their teaching to those who were ready and eager to listen? But Jesus' words answered their question (whether spoken in private or considered in their mind in public). "No," explained Jesus, "I am not deliberately trying to hide the truth from people. That would be like lighting a lamp and then putting it under a bowl. Why then light the lamp at all? If I am hiding the truth, there is no reason for me to teach." The purpose of the parables is not to conceal the truth, but to reveal it; the parables explain in everyday terms truths that human minds cannot grasp. Thus the parables do not obscure, they clarify-but only to those who are willing to listen and believe. The disciples may have been beginning to understand the mission to which Jesus had called them. Like the farmer in the parable, theirs would be the job of sowing the seed of the gospel in a largely hostile world. The light of the truth about Jesus had illuminated them, and it was their ministry to shine that light to a sin-darkened world. Their witness for Christ would be public, not hidden. The benefits of knowing Jesus and receiving salvation were not to be kept to themselves, but passed on to others. Christ's message is intended for all people. We should not hide our Christianity from the watching world. (LAC) ARE YOU A “BASKET CASE” CHRISTIAN? Many Christians today are hidden from sight, reluctant to be identified as Christians. Such a Christian is like a brand-new light that never leaves the carton it came in. If a lamp doesn't help people see, it isn't worth much. Does your life show other people how to find God and how to live for him? If not, ask what "baskets" have hidden your light. Complacency, resentment, embarrassment, stubbornness of heart, or disobedience could keep you from shining. The Bushel and the Bed "Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed?" Mark 4:21 Christ is the Light of the world (John 8:12). Believers are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). Our light is Christ within. We are to let our light shine, not shine it. It is to be a glow, not a glare. Two things hinder Christian testimony, the bushel and the bed. The bushel stands for business, commercialism, money-making. Your only business is to do the will of God. That is your vocation but most Christians treat it as a vacation, something to be done only once in a while. If you are a farmer, it really is God's farm; you are just the tenant. If you keep store, really it is God's store; you are but the clerk. Don't let the bushel smother the candle! The bed stands for pleasure, ease, worldly comfort. There is no testimony among those who are at ease in Zion. Churches are filled with "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3:4). And if "she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth" (1 Tim. 5:6) what a host of animated corpses run around doing church work! Said the Irishman who saw a tombstone marked "I yet live": "If I was dead I wouldn't be ashamed to admit it!" But professing believers are dead and don't know it nor does Sardis know she is dead though she has a name to be alive. Beware the bushel and the bed! Mattoon comments on the possible meaning of putting the lamp under a bed - The mention of the bed is a reminder or symbol of leisure. Beloved, we can become so involved in pleasure-seeking or frivolity, that we cease to shine. Many Christians today do not want to be inconvenienced by sacrifices, interested in spiritual matters, or involved in serving the Lord because they want the freedom to pursue their pleasures. There is nothing wrong in having fun or a good time, but if our frivolity hurts our Christian testimony, causes us to neglect our responsibilities for Christ, or gets us out of church, then we have a problem. We neglect to fulfill the purpose for which Christ saved us and suffer from a case of mistaken identity. Victories for the souls of men are not won on the playground, but on the battlefield of life. Good Public Relations Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Mark 4:21 The Gospels have much to say about publicity and public relations. The phenomenon of John the Baptist, for example, points us to the legitimacy of these activities when they are pursued in the best way, for the best ends. In opposition to the sincere, truthful efforts of John the Baptist (which were not self-serving or self-aggrandizing but intended for the good of the mission) are those of the hypocritical Pharisees, who sought to portray a false image of what they did and who they were in order to gain undeserved praise. Jesus wants the world to know who we are, who we truly are. A leader will understand this and make every effort to ensure that this happens by first ensuring that his followers know who he is and what he's about. Jesus did this by often questioning his disciples about himself and his mission to be sure that their understanding constantly increased. He also wanted the world to know the truth of his identity and his mission. So he employed the publicity methods of his day to accomplish this, starting with John the Baptist. If he had not hoped to disseminate his mission or message, he would have stayed in one place to teach his disciples. Instead, he traveled constantly, teaching and preaching in all sorts of venues to all sorts of people. Years ago, the Mercedes-Benz automobile company ran ads describing a brand new technology to help cars absorb the impact of a front-end collision. Although they owned the rights to the revolutionary technology, they freely shared it with other car companies in the interest of promoting safety. The tag line of the ad consisted of these thought-provoking words: "Some things in life are too important not to share." In the same way, a leader must ensure that his "good news" isn't the "world's best kept secret." A wise leader will see the mission at the center of his efforts Herbert Lockyer- The reason for teaching in parables is given (Mark 4:10-12). Truth is hidden in parables in order that it may be revealed (Mark 4:21-25). This important principle is further enunciated in the phrase, "The measure you give will be the measure you get" (Mark 4:24. R.S.V.). This parable follows on that of The Sower, and related to it, teaches them at least two great truths. 1. The light of divine truth is given, not to be obscured by the believer's commercial affairs, the bushel, or by his domestic responsibilities, the bed, but to be manifested before all. 2. The primary obscuration in the parabolic form of teaching was gradually to give way to full illumination. "Now we see through a glass darkly: then face to face." Our Lord promised His own the Divine Spirit, who, when He came, would take of the things of Christ and reveal them unto their minds. This meant that He would unfold the inner, spiritual significance not only of all the parables, but of all the truth He had declared while in their midst. The full revelation once grasped was not hid but published abroad. (All the Parables of the Bible) Many Christians today are hidden from sight, reluctant to be identified as Christians. Such a Christian is like a brand-new light that never leaves the carton it came in. If a lamp doesn't help people see, it isn't worth much. Does your life show other people how to find God and how to live for him? If not, ask what "baskets" have hidden your light. Complacency, resentment, embarrassment, stubbornness of heart, or disobedience could keep you from shining. What do you need to do to let your light shine? (Life Application Study Bible) Let It Shine! Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16. Some hide their light under bushel or bed (Mk. 4:21; Lk. 8:16), being busy or lazy, so that it fails to shine. Some go to the other extreme, like the Pharisees (Mt. 6:1, 2, 16), who wanted to impress people with their piety. It is not a glare but a glow, and we are simply to let it shine. Some saints remind us of a man with a high-powered flashlight trying to dazzle people with a blinding display. God prefers stars to comets. His figure is a candle, not a firecracker. Between the saints who hide their light and those who display it we have hard going these days. We learn more and more to appreciate those who just let it shine. We are too aware of the "men" in our text and not aware enough of our Father. Our sole business is to glorify Him and so let our light shine that others will glorify Him too. (Vance Havner) ILLUSTRATION - A young boy of about nine went with his parents to Europe one summer. Part of their tour included visits to the great old cathedrals of the past. As he visited cathedral after cathedral he saw the massive stained glass portraits of the disciples and of other saints. He was very impressed as he stood in these great empty halls looking through the beautiful stained glass windows. Upon returning to his church, he was asked by his Sunday School teacher about the great churches of Europe, and what he liked the most. He thought for a moment and he said, “I loved the sense of awesomeness and the hugeness of who God must be.” “And what is a saint?” his teacher asked next. His mind went back to those massive beautiful stained glass windows and he said, “A saint is a person the light shines through.” That is a good definition of what a saint of God is supposed to be. We have no light of our own, but like the moon, we are to reflect the light of Jesus to a lost and dying world. (From Alan Carr) ILLUSTRATION - Ramona had the UPS man bring the package inside. With trembling hands, she slit the box open and gently removed the bubble wrap. Ramona had wanted a Tiffany lamp ever since she could remember. On her last birthday, her father had taken her into a store to pick out the one she wanted. And now, it was hers. Ramona found the perfect spot for the lamp in her living room, plugged it in, and flipped the switch. She gasped. It’s even more beautiful than I remembered. Then Ramona found her thickest blanket and draped it over her new lamp. ....Jesus said, “As long as I’m in the world, I’m light for the world” (John 9:5). Now it’s our responsibility to reflect his light to everyone around us. By living for Christ, we show how dark life is without him, shed light on God’s Word, and direct others to the path to find him. We want to be careful not to let timidity, sin, or a reluctance to share our faith dim our light. Wherever we go, our Father wants us to shine so brightly that others will see him.(Drawing Closer to God - Diane Matthews) Daniel Akin - Introduction: 1) Sometimes the work of the Lord can become frustrating. It can be disappointing. We work hard but see little fruit from our efforts. We shine the light of the gospel and sow the seed of the Word but not much happens. It seems almost futile. Why even continue? 2) William Carey (1761-1834), the father of the modern missionary movement, labored in India 7 years before seeing his 1st Indian convert. He shared the gospel faithfully for more than 40 years but the fruit of his labor was minimal in his lifetime. Still, he could say in the midst of it all, “the future is as bright as the promise of God” and “expect great things [from God], attempt great things [for God].” 3) Adoniram Judson (1788-1850), the father of American Baptist missions, labored in Burma also for 7 years before seeing his 1st convert. He would bury 2 wives, a number of children, and die disappointed his labors for the gospel yielded so little fruit. Yet like Carey, he was faithful to the end, and could voice these words, “In spite of sorrow, loss, and pain, our course be onward still; we sow on Burma‟s barren plain, we reap on Zion‟s hill.” 4) I cannot help but believe these men, as well as many others, were inspired to press on and stay with it by a little lamp, a bunch of seeds, and one small mustard seed! (What Do We Learn About Jesus And His Kingdom From A Lamp, A Bunch of Seeds And One Small Seed?) The extension of the kingdom The kingdom, as it appeared in its beginning, is like the little grains of wheat cast into the damp soil in the chilly days of spring. To the mature Christian of today it is like the city which John saw, filling all his vision, let down out of heaven from God, glowing with strange opaline light, so that neither sun nor moon were longer needed, with jasper walls and pavements of transparent gold, and great gates, each a single pearl, and at each gate a glorious angel. This parable teaches us that one of the agencies bringing about this result is man’s work in the kingdom. 1. To make known its character and the conditions of entrance into it. Even the smallest taper is lighted in order that it may give light. The youngest disciple is to shine for the guidance of others. The rays of one little lamp, piercing through miles of gloom, have saved noble ships from destruction, with all their precious living freight. It may have been only such a lamp as lights one little room; but it was surrounded by powerful reflectors, which sent its rays afar, and multiplied its influence a hundredfold. 2. To give his mind and heart to increase his knowledge and experience of the truth by which the kingdom grows. The lighted lamp must have oil to feed upon. We cannot be making known the character of the kingdom unless our knowledge of it is growing. Alas for him before whose eyes the vision of the heavenly city, once seen, is allowed to fade and disappear! On the other hand, the more brightly we shine, the more eagerly we seek and the more fully we receive that which keeps the light burning. The more generously we give to others what we know of the gospel, the more clearly it will be revealed to us. (A. E. Dunning.) The Word not to be hidden This reproves those who hide their knowledge of the Word, and keep it to themselves only, shutting up this light within their own breast, as it were, as in a close and private place, that it cannot be seen of others, and so as others have no benefit by it. They do not shine to others by the light of that knowledge which is in them; they show forth no fruits of it in a holy conversation; neither are they careful to communicate their knowledge to others by instruction of them in the ways of God. What is this but hiding the candle under a bushel, or setting it under a bed, when it should be set upon a candlestick, that the light of it might be plainly seen by those in the house? Let such consider how great a sin it is to hide the spiritual gifts bestowed on us by God, and not to employ them well to the glory of God and the good of our brethren. If thou hast never so much knowledge in the Word, and yet dost hide it only in thine own breast, and in thine own head, and dost not shine to others by the light of it, then thy knowledge is no sanctified and saving knowledge; for if it were, it could not thus lie hid and buried in thee, but it would manifest itself toward others for their good: it would not only enlighten thy mind, but also thy whole outward life and conversation, causing thee to shine as a light or candle unto others. (G. Petter.) Sharing our light It might seem a superfluous thing to urge the communication of gospel hopes and comforts, but there is none more needed. For one person who puts the candle on a candlestick, there are twenty that put it under a bushel-a dull wooden measure that keeps in all the light. There are many sorts of bushels. 1. One very bad one, and much employed to cover the light, is modesty (falsely so called). Modesty pretends to be not good enough or wise enough to speak, and turns the soul into a dark lantern. 2. Selfishness is another bushel for the light; forbidding men to take the trouble to shed it. 3. Indolence. 4. Fearfulness. 5. Despair of people heeding. 6. A narrow doctrine of salvation. 7. Sometimes a little scientific knowledge, creating conceit, makes a bushel; men being so anxious to mix the earthly with the heavenly light that the grave, sweet light of godly knowledge cannot get though the mistiness of the earthly mixture. (R. Glover.) Mark 4:22 “For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. NET Mark 4:22 For nothing is hidden except to be revealed, and nothing concealed except to be brought to light. GNT Mark 4:22 οὐ γάρ ἐστιν κρυπτὸν ἐὰν μὴ ἵνα φανερωθῇ, οὐδὲ ἐγένετο ἀπόκρυφον ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα ἔλθῃ εἰς φανερόν. NLT Mark 4:22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. KJV Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. ESV Mark 4:22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. NIV Mark 4:22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. ASV Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. CSB Mark 4:22 For nothing is concealed except to be revealed, and nothing hidden except to come to light. NKJ Mark 4:22 "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. NRS Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. YLT Mark 4:22 for there is not anything hid that may not be manifested, nor was anything kept hid but that it may come to light. NAB Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. NJB Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden, but it must be disclosed, nothing kept secret except to be brought to light. GWN Mark 4:22 There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light. BBE Mark 4:22 There is nothing covered which will not be seen openly, and nothing has been made secret which will not come to light. Ps 40:9,10 78:2-4 Ec 12:14 Mt 10:26,27 Lu 8:17 12:2,3 Ac 4:20 Ac 20:27 1Co 4:5 1Jn 1:1-3 Mark 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE MANIFESTATION OF THE HIDDEN For (gar) is a term of explanation. He is explaining the light of the candle and what it would accomplish. It would reveal what was hidden and what was secret. For - Our Lord assigns this as a reason for putting the lamp on the stand. The pertinency of the reasoning is not all at once apparent. But it becomes clear when we look at it more closely. All this connects itself with that Mark 4:11, to which I have already referred, in which Jesus said to his disciples, "Unto you is given the mystery of the Kingdom of God." The disciples may have thought that this was a kind of esoteric doctrine, which was to be kept secret from the crowds. No, says our Lord, whatever light is given to you is given that you may share it, for there is no one thing hidden unless that it may by and by be manifested. Nothing is to be hidden forever. There is always a final end to the hiding, and that is that it may be manifested. (J D Jones) Nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light - He has been speaking of parable of the sower, and now speaks of light. Some say that this verse refers to our hidden thoughts and actions that will be revealed when Christ returns, but that does not fit the context. Irving Jensen - The ultimate purpose of Jesus’ parables is to bring light to those who hear and respond. When He hides some deep truths by parables, He still has the long-range purpose. “All that is now hidden will someday come to light” (Mk 4:22, TLB). THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO INTERPRET MARK 4:22 – (1) All of what we do will one day be exposed to the Light - This is more of an application (2) What Jesus has taught in parable and is temporarily hidden from common understanding will one day come to light. This would begin to come to light first after His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension when they who were now the LAMPS would be given OIL FOR THE LAMPS at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them with power from on High (Acts 1:8, Lk 24:45) and they would boldly witness – the truth that He had taught them, much of it in parables, that others could not understand would now be revealed and brought to the light in their Spirit filled proclamation of the Gospel. You and I are today the continuation of the line of those who are to reveal and bring to light the truths which are still hidden and secret to men who are lost and without Christ and His Spirit to teach them. Then finally when Jesus returns, the Lamp Jesus Christ will be fully revealed in glory – let me give you just 3 passages that show the revelation and the light of the Lamp at His Second Coming. Mt 24:30+ And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. Rev 1:7+ BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. Phil 2:10-11+ so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. If you needed motivation to go out and reveal what is hidden, and bring to light what is hidden to every lost man’s heart, the certainty of His Second Coming should be sufficient motivation. Jesus Himself said “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.”(John 9:4) Hiebert - The double statement stresses the idea of purpose. The underlying law is that when things are hidden, the intention is that in due time they will be revealed. Things that are precious are hidden in order that they may not be abused or misappropriated by those who do not recognize their true nature or function. But they are hidden in order that at the proper time they may be brought forth; for things that are never seen again are lost, not hidden. Prudently the parabolic method now hid the mystery of the kingdom from those without, but the intention was that it was to be made known by His enlightened disciples. They must not think that He intended the revelation to them to remain secret. The kingdom of God, as embodied in Jesus’ Person and ministry, was now a veiled revelation to those without, but He intended that later it should receive a glorious manifestation through the ministry of His followers. The full content of this revelation could only be known and understood after His death and resurrection.