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

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

CHAPTER FOUR:
PARABLES TO ILLUSTRATE THE KINGDOM

[“Kingdom Mysteries”]
Key word: Kingdom

Mark 4:1-9 – Teaching in Parables

|| Matthew 13:1-9;[1] Luke 8:4-8

MK4:1 Now Jesus began to teach by the seashore and there gathered around him a crowd so large he got into a boat and sat a bit off shore. The whole crowd was on the beach at water’s edge. MK4:2 Then Jesus taught them many things by means of parables, and in his teaching he said to them: MK4:3 “Listen! A sower went out to sow,[2] MK4:4 and it happened as he sowed that some [seed] fell by the side of the road. Now the birds of heaven came and picked them up. MK4:5 Also, some [seed] fell on rocky ground where there was little soil. So, the seed sprouted quickly because it had no depth of soil. MK4:6 But, when the sun rose the sprout was scorched and because it had no root it withered away. MK4:7 Now [other seed] fell among thorns and when the thorns also grew up they choked it producing nothing. MK4:8 Some, though, fell on good soil and it did produce something, sprouting and increasing – some yielding thirty times, some sixty times, and others even one-hundred times!” MK4:9 And Jesus added: “Let the one with ears – hear!”

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[1] Matthew 13:1-9: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Sower went out to sow: The parable illustrates four reactions to the teachings of Jesus – then, and today.

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Preceding

Matthew 13:1-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable: the Soil and the Seed

Mark 3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Review Questions on Chapter Three

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Additional reading

1. Jesus the Storyteller 2 Interpreting Jesus’ stories
2. Leading people astray!
3. The Parable of the Sower
4. Seeds, weeds and kingdoms
5. Seeds and weeds for being the greatest nation
6. What God should I believe in

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Related articles

1. How Is Your Hearing?
2. Lenten Devotional: March 2
3. Speaking in Parables
4. Parable of the Sower
5. Exploring The Parable of the Sower
6. The Parable of the Sower in Modern Day
7. Aim To Pass The Test
8. Heart-A-Check Meter
9. Which Soil are You?
10. Seeds and Me
11. The Soil – Part 1
12. The Soil – Part 2
13. The Soil – Part 3
14. The Soil – Part 4
15. God’s dirt, word and work [Sermon]
16. Parable of the Torso?
17. The primacy it requires
18. Sculptor and Clay
19. Matthew 13: Jesus, the Greatest Storyteller Speaks in Parables to Bring the Kingdom to Us
20. Don’t give up
21. Kingdom secrets and the unstoppable word in the soil of your soul (Growing deeper with Luke 8:4-15)

Matthew 13:1-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable: the Soil and the Seed

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
PARABLES ON KINGDOM MYSTERIES

Matthew 13:1-9 – Parable: the Soil and the Seed

|| Mark 4:1-9; Luke 8:4-8

MT13:1 After leaving the house that day Jesus was sitting by the sea. MT13:2 A large crowd approached Jesus so he moved into a boat and sat down. The large crowd was standing upon the beach. MT13:3 Jesus began to speak to them about many things in parables,[1] saying: “Look! A sower[2] went out to sow [seed]. MT13:4 In the process of sowing, some [seeds] fell beside the roadway,[3] and the birds came and swallowed them.[4] MT13:5 Other seeds fell upon roadside gravel where there was little dirt.[5] Right away the seed sprouted though the dirt was so meager. MT13:6 But, when the sun rose the sprouts were scorched, and since there was no root, they shriveled up. MT13:7 Other seeds fell upon thorn-weeds[6] and they sprouted and choked out the sprouts. MT13:8 And yet still other seeds fell upon good dirt[7] and fruitage was produced – some a hundred times, another sixty times, and another thirty times. MT13:9 Let the one with ears, hear.”[8]

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[1] Parables: Or, GDSP: figures; BAS: in the form of a story; AMP: illustration. The Greek is PARABOLAIS. The word occurs in Matthew 17 times, Mark 13 times, Luke 18 times, but not in John. Many of the Nazarene’s teachings are in the form of parables.

[2] Sower: Farmers and herdsmen are familiar object lessons by the Nazarene. The Greek is SPEIRON (from SPERMA).

[3] Fell beside the roadway: Or, KJV: fell by the way side; TCNT: along the path.

[4] Swallowed them: Or, KJV: devoured them; PME: swooped down and gobbled them up.

[5] Roadside gravel where there was little dirt: Or, KJV: stony places; TCNT: rocky places; KJV: no deepness of earth; PME: shallow soil; KNX: because they had not sunk deep in the ground.

[6] Thorn-weeds: Or, NEB: thistles.

[7] Good dirt: Or, KJV: good ground; WMS: rich soil.

[8] Let the one with ears, hear: Compare the notes on Matthew 11:15; 13:43.

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Preceding

Matthew 12:46-50 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Family of Messiah

Matthew 13 – Parables on Kingdom mysteries

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Additional reading

1. How long to wait before bringing religiousness and spirituality in practice
2. Looking for True Spirituality 5 Fruitage of the Spirit
3. A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
4. A Living Faith #9 Our Manner of Life
5. Apple of Gods eye
6. Sow and harvests in the garden of your heart
7. You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone
8. Bearing fruit
9. Picking Stones
10. Seeds and weeds for being the greatest nation
11. Seeds, weeds and kingdoms

 

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Related reading

1. Matthew 13:1-12 Jan 18 (KJV/NKJV Comparison)
2. Bible Study Notes on Matthew 13:1-23 – 20180110
3. Matthew 13丨C. H. Spurgeon
4. Matthew 13丨John Calvin
5. Where is Your Heart?
6. Nothing Could Possibly Go Wrong
7. Two Witnesses: heart and mind
8. The Importance of Weed Control
9. Keep Racing!
10. Losing Ground in a Post-Christian America