rwp - Mark:4:1-20

rwp@Mark:4:1 @{Sat in the sea} (\kathsthai en ti thalassi\). In the boat, of course, which was in the sea. He first sat by the beach (Matthew:13:1|) and then a very great multitude (\ochlos pleistos\) made him enter a boat in which he sat and taught. It was a common experience now to teach the crowds on the beach (2:1,13; strkjv@3:7-9|). {There is gathered} (\sunagetai\). Graphic pictorial present again. See the crowds pressing Jesus into the sea.

rwp@Mark:4:2 @{He taught them} (\edidasken autous\). Imperfect tense describing it as going on. {In parables} (\en parabolais\). As in strkjv@3:23|, only here more extended parables. See on ¯Matthew:13| for discussion concerning Christ's use of parables. Eight are given there, one (the Lamp both in strkjv@Mark:4:21| and strkjv@Luke:8:16| (both Sower and the Lamp in Luke), one alone in strkjv@Mark:4:26-29| (seed growing of itself) not in Matthew or Luke, ten on this occasion. Only four are mentioned in strkjv@Mark:4:1-34| (The Sower, the Lamp, the Seed Growing of Itself, the Mustard Seed). But Mark adds (4:34|) "without a parable spake he not unto them," clearly meaning that Jesus spoke many others on this occasion and Matt. after mentioning eight (Matthew:13:34|) makes the same statement. Manifestly, therefore, Jesus spoke many parables on this day and all theories of exegesis or dispensations on the basis of the number of these kingdom parables are quite beside the mark. In beginning Jesus said: {Hearken} (\Akouete\). It is significant that even Jesus had to ask people to listen when he spoke. See also verse 9|.

rwp@Mark:4:7 @{Choked} (\sunepnixan\). \Pnig\ means to strangle, throttle. Mark has the compounded form with \sun-\, squeezed together. strkjv@Matthew:13:7| has \apepnixan\, {choked off}. {Yielded no fruit} (\karpon ouk edkan\). In Mark alone. Barren in results.

rwp@Mark:4:8 @{Growing up and increasing} (\anabainonta kai auxanomena\). In Mark alone. A vivid detail enlarging on the continued growth implied in the imperfect "yielded fruit" (\edidou karpon\). It kept on yielding as it grew. Fruit is what matters.

rwp@Mark:4:10 @{When he was alone} (\hote egeneto kata monas\). Only in Mark. Vivid recollection of Peter. Mark has also "they that were about him with the twelve" (\hoi peri auton sun tois ddeka\), Matthew and Luke simply "the disciples." They did not want the multitude to see that they did not understand the teaching of Jesus.

rwp@Mark:4:11 @{Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God} (\Humin to mustrion dedotai ts basileias tou theou\). See on ¯Matthew:13:11| for word \mustrion\. Here (Mark:4:11; strkjv@Matthew:13:11; strkjv@Luke:8:10|) alone in the Gospels, but in Paul 21 times and in the Revelation 4 times. It is frequent in Daniel and O.T. Apocrypha. Matthew and Luke use it here in the plural. Matthew and Luke add the word {to know} (\gnnai\), but Mark's presentation covers a wider range than growing knowledge, the permanent possession of the mystery even before they understand it. The secret is no longer hidden from the initiated. Discipleship means initiation into the secret of God's kingdom and it will come gradually to these men. {But unto them that are without} (\ekeinois de tois ex\). Peculiar to Mark, those outside our circle, the uninitiated, the hostile group like the scribes and Pharisees, who were charging Jesus with being in league with Beelzebub. strkjv@Luke:8:10| has "to the rest" (\tois loipois\), strkjv@Matthew:13:11| simply "to them" (\ekeinois\). Without the key the parables are hard to understand, for parables veil the truth of the kingdom being stated in terms of another realm. Without a spiritual truth and insight they are unintelligible and are often today perverted. The parables are thus a condemnation on the wilfully blind and hostile, while a guide and blessing to the enlightened. {That} (\hina\). Mark has the construction of the Hebrew "lest" of strkjv@Isaiah:6:9f|. with the subjunctive and so strkjv@Luke:8:10|, while strkjv@Matthew:13:13| uses causal \hoti\ with the indicative following the LXX. See on ¯Matthew:13:13| for the so-called causal use of \hina\. Gould on strkjv@Mark:4:12| has an intelligent discussion of the differences between Matthew and Mark and Luke. He argues that Mark here probably "preserves the original form of Jesus' saying." God ironically commands Isaiah to harden the hearts of the people. If the notion of purpose is preserved in the use of \hina\ in Mark and Luke, there is probably some irony also in the sad words of Jesus. If \hina\ is given the causative use of \hoti\ in Matthew, the difficulty disappears. What is certain is that the use of parables on this occasion was a penalty for judicial blindness on those who will not see.

rwp@Mark:4:12 @{Lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them} (\mpote epistrepssin kai aphethi autois\). Luke does not have these difficult words that seem in Isaiah to have an ironical turn, though strkjv@Matthew:13:15| does retain them even after using \hoti\ for the first part of the quotation. There is no way to make \mpote\ in strkjv@Mark:4:12| and strkjv@Matthew:13:15| have a causal sense. It is the purpose of condemnation for wilful blindness and rejection such as suits the Pharisees after their blasphemous accusation against Jesus. Bengel says: _iam ante non videbant, nunc accedit iudicium divinum_. Jesus is pronouncing their doom in the language of Isaiah. It sounds like the dirge of the damned.

rwp@Mark:4:13 @{Know ye not this parable?} (\ouk oidate tn paraboln tauten;\). They had asked Jesus his reasons for using parables. This question implies surprise at their dulness though initiated into the secret of God's Kingdom. Incapacity to comprehend this parable of the sower raises doubt about all the others on this day and at all times.

rwp@Mark:4:14 @{The sower soweth the word} (\ho speirn ton logon speirei\). Not put thus clearly and simply in strkjv@Matthew:13:19| or strkjv@Luke:8:11|.

rwp@Mark:4:15 @{Where the word is sown} (\hopou speiretai ho logos\). Explanatory detail only in Mark. {Satan} (\Satans\) where strkjv@Matthew:13:19| has {the evil one} (\ho ponros\) and strkjv@Luke:8:12| {the devil} (\ho diabolos\). {Sown in them} (\esparmenon eis autous\). Within them, not just among them, "in his heart" (Matt.).

rwp@Mark:4:19 @{The lusts of other things} (\hai peri ta loipa epithumiai\). All the passions or longings, sensual, worldly, "pleasures of this life" (\hdonn tou biou\) as Luke has it (Luke:8:14|), the world of sense drowning the world of spirit. The word \epithumia\ is not evil in itself. One can yearn (this word) for what is high and holy (Luke:22:15; strkjv@Phillipians:1:23|).

rwp@Mark:4:20 @{Bear fruit} (\karpophorousin\). Same word in strkjv@Matthew:13:23| and strkjv@Luke:8:15|. Mark gives the order from thirty, sixty, to a hundred, while strkjv@Matthew:13:23| has it reversed.