Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:14-20 – Sower Parable Explained

Mark 4:14-20 – Sower Parable Explained

|| Matthew 13:18-23;[1] Luke 8:11-15

MK4:14 “The Sower sows the Word. MK4:15 Now those by the side of the road where the Word is sown, when they hear Satan arrives instantly and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts. MK4:16 And in the same way those sown on rocky soil, these are those who when they have heard the Word receive it at first with great joy. MK4:17 But, without any real roots they endure only for a little while, and as soon as trouble or oppression occurs because of the Word, they instantly stumble. MK4:18 Now those that are sown among the thorns, these are those who hear the Word, MK4:19 but the anxieties of this period of time,[2] and the seduction of riches choke the Word,[3] and it becomes unfruitful. MK4:20 Finally, those who are sown in good soil are those who hear the Word and welcome it and also produce fruitage – some thirty, some sixty, and some one-hundred.”

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[1] Matthew 13:18-23: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Anxieties of this period of time: Or, KJV: cares of this world; NEB: worldly cares; GDS: worries of the time; MON: anxieties of life. [1 John 2:15-17]

“15 Do not continue loving the world-order of humanity, nor the things in the world-order of humanity. If anyone ever loves the world-order of humanity then the love of the Father is not in such a person. 16 Because everything in the world-order of humanity – the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the prideful display of possessions of this life – it is not of the Father but it is from the world-order of humanity. 17 For the world-order of humanity is going its way and its desire with it, but the person doing the will of The God will remain throughout that new Age to come.” (1Jo 2:15-17 mhm)

[3] The seduction of riches choke the Word: Or, KJV: the deceitfulness of riches; RIE: lure of; NEB: false glamour of wealth; WMS: deceiving pleasures of being rich. [1 John 2:15-17]

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Preceding

Matthew 13:10-15 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Why Speak in Parables?

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:1-9 – Teaching in Parables

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:10-13 – How Will You Understand?

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Additional reading

1. Seeds, weeds and kingdoms
2. Jesus the Storyteller 2 Interpreting Jesus’ stories
3. The Parable of the Sower

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Related

1. Speaking in Parables
2. Parable of the Sower
3. The Parable of the Sower
4. We Are the Soil
5. What kind of seed are you?
6. What Kind Of Soil Does Your Seed Grow In
7. The Garden of our Heart
8. The Seeds We are Called to Sow
9. Seeds and Me
10. Sunday Sermon: Sowing Discipleship
11. Aim To Pass The Test
12. How Is Your Hearing?
13. Exploring The Parable of the Sower
14. The Parable of the Sower in Modern Day
15. Matthew 13: Jesus, the Greatest Storyteller Speaks in Parables to Bring the Kingdom to Us
16. Overcoming the Thorns
17. Mark 4:18-19
18. What You Can’t Buy
19. Search Me, God