Mark 4:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:7-19

The Word choked in the heart. Thorns make a good hedge but a bad crop. The soil here described was in itself rich, good soil. But it could not grow both thorns and wheat, and, when occupied by the one, failed to yield the other. I. WHAT ARE THE THORNS THAT OVERGROW THE SOIL ? Thorns, thistles, brambles, briers, are signs of neglect. They are the emblems of the primeval curse, for the garden was by our first parents exchanged for the thorny wilderness. In our parable the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:8-20

The Word fruitful in the heart. Most varied results attend the preaching of the gospel. Look at our Lord's own ministry. On the one hand, we are told, "He did there no mighty works because of their unbelief;" "yet they believed not upon him; 'and we find him exclaiming, "Woe unto you, cities!" etc. On the other hand, "the multitude heard him gladly;" of the Samaritans, "many more believed because of his word," and sometimes, in their eagerness, "they pressed upon him to hear," etc. Nor was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:10

When he was alone . These words do not appear in St. Matthew's account. He simply says that " the disciples came and said unto him." This must have been upon some other occasion. It could not have been when be was preaching from the boat; for St. Mark says, they that were about him with the twelve . He is the only evangelist who notices this. We must not forget that, besides the twelve, there were seventy other disciples. They asked of him the parables ( τὰς παραβολάς ), according... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 4:10-25

The lamp of parabolic teaching. Probably the opposition, malignity, and misrepresentation of the scribes and Pharisees were the occasion of the commencement by our Lord of a new style of public teaching. He did not wish at present to excite so much turmoil and violence as should lead to the interruption of his ministry. His design was to introduce into men's minds new ideas of the spiritual reign of God—ideas altogether in contradiction to their own carnal notions and hopes. He knew,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 4:10-13

See the notes at Matthew 13:10-17. On Mark 4:12, see the notes at John 12:39-40.When he was alone - That is, separate from the multitude. When he withdrew from the multitude a few followed him for the purpose of more instruction.Mark 4:13Know ye not this parable? - This which is so plain and obvious.How then will ye know all parables? - Those which are more difficult and obscure. As they were themselves to be “teachers,” it was important that they should be acquainted with the whole system of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 4:10-12

Mark 4:10-12. When he was alone That is, retired apart from the multitude. Unto them that are without So the Jews termed the heathen: so our Lord terms all obstinate unbelievers; for they shall not enter into the kingdom; they shall abide in outer darkness. So that seeing they may see, and not perceive They would not see before; now they could not, God having given them up to the blindness which they had chosen. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Mark 4:1-29

PARABLES54. The sower (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-29; Luke 8:1-18)To visit all the towns of Galilee was a huge task. Jesus and his disciples were helped in this work by a group of women who went with them to look after their daily needs (Luke 8:1-3). Crowds of people came to see Jesus wherever he went, and were often a hindrance to the progress of the gospel. It seems that one reason Jesus began to teach extensively in parables was to separate those who were genuinely interested from those who... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Mark 4:10

was = came to be. they that were about Him . . . asked . Occurs only in Mark. Showing that this parable was spoken after that in Luke 8:0 . See note on Mark 4:3 . about = around. Greek peri . App-104 . with = in conjunction with. Greek. sun. App-104 . Not the some word as in Mark 4:16 , Mark 4:24 , Mark 4:30 , Mark 4:36 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 4:10

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables. 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: that seeing they may see and not perceive; and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them.They that were about him with the twelve ... refers to a wider circle of believers, perhaps including the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Mark 4:10

Mark 4:10. And when he was alone,— Many writers of harmonies, thinking this inconsistent with the acknowledged circumstances of the history, havesupposed, that the interpretation of the parable was not given now, but on some other occasion, though, for the sake of perspicuity, it is related together with the parable; yet the nature of the thing, as well as the testimony of St. Matthew, Mat 13:10 prove sufficiently, that the question which occasioned this interpretation was put immediately after... read more

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