Marcos 4
R.C.H. Lenski · Citado em PreceptAustin
Marcos 4
Lenski has an interesting comment - The way in which Mark records them shows that they were not spoken in rapid succession, but that after each parable Jesus made a pause in order to allow it to be absorbed by the hearers. (ISMG) Beginning here in Mark 4 we see a shift in the way Jesus addresses the crowds, because now parables are given not to reveal but to hide truths from those who not have hearts to hear and receive the truth. As Jesus explained to His disciples "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside (UNBELIEVERS) get everything (HOW MUCH?) in parables." (Mk 4:11+). From now on, only those men and women who have "ears to hear" will be able to understand the deeper meaning of Jesus' parabolic stories. Some would consider this change of teaching style a form of "judicial hardening," meaning that because the crowds refused to receive and respond to His clear teachings, their hearts gradually had hardened to the truth He spoke. It was not Jesus' desire nor intent (cf the heart of God in 2 Pe 3:9+, 1 Ti 2:4), but was more a "commentary" (so to speak) on the hearts of the majority of the Jews who heard "the gracious words which were falling from His lips." (Lk 4:22+) It was a matter of their personal choice, but choice always comes "pre-packaged" with consequences which in this case the consequence would be their inability to understand Jesus' parables, for the rest of His ministry! Stated another way, the "paradoxical aspect" of this parable is that Jesus adopts this teaching method in order to prevent some people from understanding His teaching! This begs the question, why even teach if what is taught is not caught? Good question! Jesus elucidates on the reasoning in His later quote from Isaiah, but in brief, He is teaching the multitudes ,but they will not be able to understand because of the hardness of their hearts (Mk 4:12+). A parable then is not to HIDE from ALL, but to REVEAL to SOME (in this case the "some" being His disciples and you if you are His disciple - Mk 4:13+)! THOUGHT - If you are not His disciple, than chances are that you read the Word of God and have little understanding of what you are reading. If that is your experience then you need to examine yourself as Paul commands the Corinthians in 2 Cor 13:5+, because if you are truly born again, then the Father and the Son have given you the gift of the Spirit of Truth Who now lives in you to enable you to understand spiritual truth (cf Jn 14:17, 15:26, 16:13) Parables (symbols) (3850)(parabole from para = beside, near + ballo = throw, cast; English "parable") is literally a throwing beside or placing of one thing by the side of another (juxtaposition as of ships in battle in classic Greek). The metaphorical meaning is to place or lay something besides something else for the purpose of comparison. A spiritual or moral truth would often be expressed by laying it alongside, so to speak, a physical example that could be more easily understood. A common, observable object or practice was used to illustrate a subjective truth or principle. In simple terms something which was well known was verbally "laid alongside" something which was not known in order to explain it. In short the known truth explained the unknown truth. A parable is a way to make abstract truth more concrete, interesting and easier to remember and apply. Here in Mark 4, Matthew 13 and Luke 8 we see that the parable takes on a different function, in essence hiding the truth from those who do not have ears (hearts) to hear the truth. To His disciples Jesus disclosed the hidden meaning, because their hearts were open to His truth. But to all others the unexplained parable became in effect an impossible riddle whose meaning could not be guessed. (See below for Daniel Akin's summary points on parables). A parable is a story that seeks to drive home a point by illustrating it using a familiar situation of common life. A parable is a teaching device in which a principle is concealed and a truth revealed, giving the hearer first sight then insight! It is like a mirror and a window, where we see through to truth about God, but like a mirror it forces us to look at ourselves. Paul made a similar statement writing that "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.." (1 Cor 2:14+) James Edwards - Parables cannot be understood apart from the one who tells them. Parables are not simply good advice, they are good news; for the life of Jesus is itself a parable, indeed the greatest parable. (PNTC-Mk) Warren
Marcos 4
Lenski - The parable closes with a call to the hearers to use their ears. The implication is that this simple narrative about the fate of the seed has a hidden meaning, and that if one applies his ears aright he will find that meaning, whereas if one has no ears, i. e., his ears refuse to function aright, he will only be mystified. This call to hear corresponds to the briefer call "Listen" (ἀκούετε) occurring in Mk 4:3. I like the NET Note - The translation "had better listen!" captures the force of the third person imperative more effectively than the traditional "let him hear," which sounds more like a permissive than an imperative to the modern English reader. This was Jesus' common expression to listen and heed carefully (cf. Matt 11:15, 13:43; Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8, 14:35). Moule paraphrases it: “Now think that one out for yourself, if you can!” Hiebert - a call found here in all the synoptics, marking the special importance of the parable. It was more than a pleasant story; it set forth truth that required serious consideration. It called for attention as well as discernment. The present imperative pressed upon the hearers their continuing duty to hear and heed what was taught. Jesus placed serious responsibility upon the hearer of the Word of God. Effective communication makes its demands upon the hearer as well as the speaker. (Ibid) William Lane - With the concluding admonition, “If you have ears to hear, then hear,” Jesus indicates that there is more to this story than appears on the surface. That is why it is “a parable.” (NICNT-Mk) Spurgeon rightly said "There are many, who have ears, who do not hear to any real purpose. There is the physical act of hearing, but they do not hear in the heart and the mind. It is a very different thing to have an impression on the drum of the ear and to have an impression on the tablet of the heart. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. NET Mark 4:10 When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. GNT Mark 4:10 Καὶ ὅτε ἐγένετο κατὰ μόνας, ἠρώτων αὐτὸν οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν σὺν τοῖς δώδεκα τὰς παραβολάς. NLT Mark 4:10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. KJV Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. ESV Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. NIV Mark 4:10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. ASV Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables. CSB Mark 4:10 When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables. NKJ Mark 4:10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. NRS Mark 4:10 When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. YLT Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, those about him, with the twelve, did ask him of the simile, NAB Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. NJB Mark 4:10 When he was alone, the Twelve, together with the others who formed his company, asked what the parables meant. GWN Mark 4:10 When he was alone with his followers and the twelve apostles, they asked him about the stories. BBE Mark 4:10 And when he was by himself, those who were round him with the twelve put questions to him about the purpose of the stories. Mk 4:34 Mk 7:17 Pr 13:20 Mt 13:10-17,36 Lu 8:9-15 Mark 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Parallel Passages: Matthew 13:10+ And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Luke 8:9+ His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant As soon as He was alone - This detail is found only in Mark's version. NLT says "Later when Jesus was alone." This time phrase indicates a "chronological break in the account of the parables taught during this day" (Hiebert). " Alone is monos (English - monopoly, monogamy, etc) which means without accompaniment, isolated from others, in this case isolated from the crowds. One is amazed that Jesus could even achieve this degree of solitude given the crowds. Hiebert says "It was apparently after the termination of the public ministry from the boat." We do know that after Jesus finished telling the parable of the tares "He left the crowds and went into the house." (Mt 13:36+) Did He also go into the house after the parable of the soils? While that is possible, we don't know for certain. POSB - the response to the parable is twofold. 1. The disciple hears the parable. He does not just hear the words, but he hears the message, and he hears with his heart. The disciple is receptive—willing to think and to meditate and to receive the message into his life. The disciple is willing to do exactly what the parable teaches. Thus, God reveals the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to him. 2. The unbeliever hears the parable, but not with spiritual ears. He just hears the words. Note that Jesus called unbelievers “them that are without.” An unbeliever is without, standing on the outside; he is an outsider. The outsider does exactly what Jesus says. “Seeing, they see, yet do not perceive” (v. 12). “Hearing, they hear, yet do not understand” (v. 12). His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables - His followers is more literally "those about Him." Notice the phrase along with the twelve indicates that this group of followers consisted of more than just the twelve disciples. "These followers are here distinguished from the larger crowd of uncommitted hearers as well as the Twelve." (Hiebert) Some writers may be correct in surmising that the disciples were too embarrassed to ask questions in public. Began asking is in the imperfect tense picturing them asking over and over which makes it obvious they did not understand the parable. Notice that parables is in the plural which would indicate that Jesus had spoken more than just the parable of the soils. Notice also that in the two parallel synoptic passages, there are actually two distinct questions, (1) why speak in parables (Mt 13:10) and (2) what is the meaning of the parable (Lk 8:9). Mark's phrase began asking encompasses both the WHY and the WHAT questions. Jesus answers the WHY in Mark 4:11-12 and the WHAT in Mark 4:13-20. Darrell Bock quips that "After Jesus tells the story, the disciples ask why he is resorting to parables. They know him well enough to recognize that this is not a lesson in agriculture for a 4H class or a polytechnic school." (Luke 8:4-9:17 Call to Faith and Christology) Daniel Akin - Mk 4:10-12 are something of an interlude between the telling of the parable (vs 3-9) and the explanation of it (Mk 4:14-20). Both the 12 and “those around him” wanted to know more about why He spoke in parables (Mk 4:10). What was the purpose for this particular method of teaching that Jesus so clearly favored? His answer constitutes what some would classify as one of the “hard sayings” of Jesus. It clearly requires careful consideration and reflection. Both the terms and the greater context are necessary if we are to understand what Jesus meant by what He says. Jesus addresses the 12 and those who want more of Him and His teachings (Mk 4:11) and says they will be granted access and insight to the secrets of the kingdom of God. In contrast, those on the “outside” will get no explanation but only more parables. Then he quotes the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-10+) to drive home the point and to demonstrate that the Scriptures are being fulfilled in Him! [Read Mk 4:12] What is he saying? What does He mean? The sun that melts the wax also hardens the clay! The Word of the Gospel hardens and blinds the resistant and the rebellious while it is enthusiastically received by the receptive. - Those outside are not denied the possibility of belief, but if they persist in unbelief then they will not receive more. In fact, Mk 4:25 now becomes clear and makes perfect sense, “For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Love the Word and you will get more. Refuse the Word and even what you have you will lose. (Mark 4:1-20 Do You Have Ears That Hear?) Parables (3850) see above on parabole Mark 4:11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, NET Mark 4:11 He said to them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables, GNT Mark 4:11 καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς, Ὑμῖν τὸ μυστήριον δέδοται τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ· ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὰ πάντα γίνεται, NLT Mark 4:11 He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, KJV Mark 4:11 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: ESV Mark 4:11 And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, NIV Mark 4:11 He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables ASV Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables: CSB Mark 4:11 He answered them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables NKJ Mark 4:11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, NRS Mark 4:11 And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; YLT Mark 4:11 and he said to them, 'To you it hath been given to know the secret of the reign of God, but to those who are without, in similes are all the things done; NAB Mark 4:11 He answered them, "The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, NJB Mark 4:11 He told them, 'To you is granted the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside everything comes in parables, GWN Mark 4:11 Jesus replied to them, "The mystery about the kingdom of God has been given directly to you. To those on the outside, it is given in stories: BBE Mark 4:11 And he said to them, To you is given the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are given in the form of stories; To you has been given - Mt 11:25 13:11,12,16 16:17 Lu 8:10 10:21-24 1Co 4:7 2Co 4:6 Eph 1:9 2:4-10 Tit 3:3-7 Jas 1:16-18 1Jn 5:20 but those who are outside - 1Co 5:12,13 Col 4:5 1Th 4:12 1Ti 3:7 get everything in parables - Mt 13:13 Mark 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Multiple related passages dealing with "judicial hardening" and the related topic of Jesus speaking in parables - Dt 29:4+, Isa 6:9,10+ Mt 13:11-15+ Mk 4:11-12+ Lk 8:10+ Jn 9:39-41, Jn 12:38-40 Acts 28:26,27+ Ro 11:7-10+, 2Co 3:14-15+, Eph 4:17-18+, 2Th 2:10-12+. DISCIPLES "INITIATED" INTO THE MYSTERY And He was saying to them - Was saying is in the imperfect tense which can mean Jesus was saying it over and over (perhaps they missed it the first time!). Them is His true followers including the twelve disciples and others who believed in Jesus.. To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God - To you is emphatic which clearly distinguishes these from those who are outside. Has been given is in the perfect tense meaning it was given (had been revealed - divine passive) at the time of their "initiation" in the past and has ongoing or present results. Stated another way it was given as a permanent possession. It includes the idea of permanency, so that now the disciples were permanent possessors of the secret of the Kingdom of God. Although they had some degree of understanding, they did not have full understanding, but that would come progressively over time. The only 3 uses of mystery in the Gospels are all in the context of Jesus' parabolic teaching (Matt. 13:11; Mk. 4:11; Lk. 8:10). Hiebert comments that "In its ultimate development, this mystery is the fully unfolded message of the gospel (cf. Ro 16:25–26+)." He goes on to add that "The essence of the revelation was that the kingdom was embodied in the Person, words, and work of Jesus. Their faith qualified the disciples to understand that the lowly Jesus is the very revelation of God to men." Barton adds that "They understood, though only partially, the “mystery” that God’s kingdom had arrived among them in the person of Jesus." (LAC-Mk) Lenski on mystery - This is a “mystery” because by their own nature and ability men are wholly unable to discover and to know any part of it. If a man is to be enlightened in regard to this mystery, it must be done by means of a divine gift, which means divine revelation plus the faith which receives that revelation Hiebert - As yet, they understood but little of the full import of the kingdom of God as embodied in Christ, but the reality that had been sown in their hearts would produce a glorious harvest in the future. But the fact that they had been given this mystery carried with it a sacred responsibility. (Ibid)
Marcos 4
Lenski - What occurred in the past that caused the present difference between the disciples and those outside? All the Scriptures answer: no unwillingness on the part of God to bestow the gift (1 Ti 2:4; 2 Pe. 3:9; Jn 3:16; Ma. 28:19, 20) but only the unwillingness of so many to receive God’s grace and gift (Mt. 23:37; Acts 7:51; Hos. 13:9). Persistently declining the grace and gift whenever it came to them, these people are now without it. Thus all the realities of the kingdom are still a mystery to them. They nullified every effort of God and of Christ to bestow the heavenly gift upon them; this nullifying is the work of persistent unbelief. The only thing that it left to Jesus is to speak “in parables” to those outside, who are still unbelieving after all his efforts. The believers will understand these parables because they possess the key to them by knowing the mystery of grace; the rest will not understand them because they lack that key (ISMG) Hiebert writes those who are outside that "The use of the parabolic method has instituted a sifting process among Jesus’ hearers, producing a separation between disciples and those uncommitted to Him." THOUGHT - As I wrote about those who are outside, I became convicted and overwhelmed with the truth of the reality that because of the gracious gift of the new birth, I am on the inside (as are all of you dear brothers or sisters in Christ), in the inner circle in an eternal covenant with Christ. Do we really grasp the privilege that God has granted each of us by "initiating us" (baptizing us) into Christ and into the mysteries of His glorious Kingdom? I fear not (speaking for myself)! "Now we see in a mirror dimly...now I know in part." (1 Cor 13:12) O, how the breadth and length and height and depth of this great truth should stir in our souls a deep love for Christ, a passion for the Father's purpose of proclamation of the Gospel, and a strong Spirit wrought desire to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against our souls (1Pe 2:11+)! Let our unceasing prayer be "that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened, so that we will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe....Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power (HIS SPIRIT) that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen". (Eph 1:18, 19+. Eph 3:20, 21+) Get everything in parables - Those who are outside got everything in parables meaning they could hear Jesus' stories, but they were not privy to His explanations of the deeper truths behind the stories. In short Christ's parables served to veil the truth or unveil the truth depending on the attitude of the hearer's heart. Those who heard and disbelieved received no further revelation and could not understand the parables. As Hiebert puts it Jesus' "parabolic ministry thus served to reveal the inner heart condition of the hearers. Unbelief nullified the divine effort to give them the revelation." (Ibid) Parables (3850) see above on parabole
Marcos 4
Lenski - Why parables for those outside? “That looking they might look and not see; and hearing they might hear and not understand.” Both statements have the same sense. This double purpose clause expresses the divine intention. When unbelief has advanced far enough, all its seeing and its hearing will not only produce nothing, it is even God’s own will that it should be so.....God is compelled to cast such people off, and in his judgment He lets the very Word become to them a savor of death unto death. (ISMG) Understand is the word suniemi which is a picturesque word meaning to put together the pieces as one would a puzzle. Because of their repeated rejection, the Jews will be prevented from putting together the priceless puzzle entitled "THE MESSIAH!" OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN - Matthew 13:15 has "might return and I would heal (iaomai) them" which is the literal quote from the Septuagint of Isaiah 6:10. The effect however is identical for in spiritual terms when one is forgiven of their sins they are spiritually healed and made whole. The key word in this section is otherwise which is the Greek word mepote which means "lest" which means "so as to prevent any possibility that" or "with the intention of preventing something." A T Robertson offers a sobering comment that "This negative purpose (mepote) as a judgment is left in the quotation from Isaiah. It is a solemn thought for all who read or hear the word of God." THOUGHT - As depressing as this passage is, praise God it does not sound the death knell for every Jewish person. All we have to do is study the life of one of the greatest Jewish men named Saul, who praise God met the Messiah, was blinded and made to see, and who turned around and was healed and re-named Paul the apostle! Amazing grace indeed! And praise God that many Jews in our day are having a similar "Saul to Paul" experience. If you would like a wonderful blessing, take time to watch and listen to this Jewish doctor (which is close to my heart as I continually pray for the soul of my dearest Jewish doctor friend who was my partner for over 30 years). Watch and listen. (For more encouraging videos see here and also see the main website One for Israel).
Marcos 4
Lenski - We need not regard the birds as devils (plural), they represent Satan in his different ways of snatching the Word away from men’s minds and hearts. At one time he tells a man that the Word which disturbs his conscience is a mere exaggeration, sin is not so deadly, God cannot have wrath, we must not allow our enlightened minds to be moved by such outworn notions; again he tells him that the Word is so uncertain that there is no uncontested fact in it, and no up-to-date man believes such things; then that the preachers themselves do not really believe what they say, that they preach only in order to make an easy living and are really hypocrites as their own actions often show. Numberless are these birds by which Satan operates. This, then, is the first group: hearers of the Word who have, indeed, heard it but promptly lose it again. That this is due to Satan’s work Jesus declares to be a fact, and it should serve as a mighty warning to every hearer. (ISMG) Satan is prompt. We may delay but Satan never does. -- C H Spurgeon Rich Cathers on how Satan takes away the Word is he shoots flaming arrows (Eph 6:16) reminding them of "the insidious lies the world has told us: (1) “The Bible is just a bunch of made-up stories” (2) “Jesus was not a real person” (ED: Or one I hear a lot - "Jesus never claimed to be God.") (3) “We are all products of evolution, there is no God who created everything” (ED: THANK YOU CHARLES DARWIN!) When a person has swallowed some of these lies, it’s easy for them to just blow it off when they hear that God loved them so much that He gave His Son to die for them." Adrian Rogers - There are a lot of people in this service today who have got a hard heart. And the seed will just lie on the surface, and the devil will come and snatch it away. You sit in this service and you figure up a business deal. You sit in this service and you are thinking about a party, what you are going to wear, and what you are going to have for dinner today. And the seed never ever gets in. That’s not my fault, folks. And it’s not the seed’s fault. It is the soil’s fault. Some fell on the wayside. And that’s the reason the Bible says, “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:15+) Don’t harden your heart, because the devil is there just to snatch that seed away. And his devil’s dirty birds are there just to gobble up the seed as it lies on the surface. It never penetrates. It never gets in, because your heart is so hard and so crusted. Are you that way? Be careful how you hear. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” The rich will get richer, and the poor will get poorer. (Be Careful How You Hear) Steven
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Lenski comments that "The moment they hear it they are delighted—this is what they have been waiting for, they sing the praises of the Word. The seed on the rock-soil springs up more quickly than that on the good soil, but beyond that fact this soil proves disappointing." (ISMG) THOUGHT - How many times I have been so encouraged by what seems like such a promising response to the Gospel "seed" and later to be disappointed when they fell away! In my immaturity, I thought I had done something wrong, that my presentation of the Gospel was faulty, etc. I wish I had fully understood Jesus' parable of the soils when I was a younger believer, for it would have saved me a great deal of angst. The problem is not with the sower nor with the seed but with the soil, the heart of the person who hears the Gospel. Remember, that the Gospel by definition is like a natural seed which has within its husk the power to germinate into a plant which grows and flourishes. Paul "defines" the Gospel as "the power (inherent power, "germinating power" - dunamis) of God for salvation to everyone who believes." (Ro 1:16-note). So the Gospel has the intrinsic, supernatural power but the person's heart lacks true belief. The heart of the problem is the heart (the soil), not the Gospel seed or the Gospel sower! Add to this the sad truth that most of the souls with whom we share the Gospel will not believe the Gospel for as Jesus clearly warned "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction (not loss of existence, but loss of the purpose and reason for existing!), and there are MANY who enter through it. 14 “For (term of explanation) the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are FEW who find it. (Mt 7:13-14+) Immediately (2117) (euthus) (Mk 4:5, Mk 4:15, 16, 17, Mk 4:29). Joy (5479)(chara) is a feeling of great pleasure, of inner gladness, or of delight. Joy is an emotion evoked by a sense of well-being. It is a deep feeling of happiness and contentment. Joy in the NT is virtually always used to signify a feeling of "happiness" that is based on spiritual realities (independent of what "happens"). Joy is a depth of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful heart. It is a cheerful heart that leads to cheerful behavior.