Mark 4:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 4:1-9

Mark 4:1-9. And he began to teach by the seaside See notes on Matthew 13:1-17. He taught them many things by parables After the usual manner of the eastern nations, to make his instructions more agreeable to them, and to impress them the more upon attentive hearers. A parable signifies not only a simile, or comparison, and sometimes a proverb, but any kind of instructive speech, wherein spiritual things are explained and illustrated by natural. Proverbs 1:6, To understand a proverb and... 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 4:3

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Greek. idou. App-133 . there went out . This parable is repeated in Luke 8:4 under different circumstances from those in Matthew 13:3 , which accounts for the variation of wording. The an tecedents in Matthew and Mark are the visit or His kinsfolk, Mark 3:31-34 (which is a consequent in Luke 8:4 ). The consequent in Matthew and Mark is the question of the Twelve concerning others who asked the meaning. In Luke the consequent... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 4:3

Hearken: Behold the sower went forth to sow: and it came to pass as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it. And other fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered way. And other fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And others fell into the good ground,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Mark 4:3

3. Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow—What means this? See on :-. First Case: THE WAYSIDE. (Mark 4:4; Mark 4:15). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Mark 4:1-34

2. Jesus’ teaching in parables 4:1-34This is the first of three extended teaching sessions that Mark recorded (cf. Mark 7:1-23; Mark 13:3-37). Jesus’ three parables in this section describe the character of the messianic kingdom.Parables are illustrations that teach truth by comparisons (Gr. parabole, lit. "something thrown alongside," similitudes). Some are long stories, but others are short similes, metaphors, analogies, or proverbial sayings (cf. Mark 2:19-22; Mark 3:24-25; Mark 3:27). The... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Mark 4:3-9

The parable of the soils 4:3-9 (cf. Matthew 13:3b-9; Luke 8:5-8)Jesus introduced and concluded this parable with instructions that His hearers should give it careful consideration (Mark 4:3; Mark 4:9, cf. Mark 4:23). Mark’s account of this parable is almost identical to Matthew’s. It is the only parable that Jesus spoke this day that all three synoptic evangelists recorded. Probably Jesus taught this parable many times during His ministry as an itinerant preacher, and the disciples were... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 4:1-41

Parable of the Sower. Stilling the Tempest1-9. Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1; Luke 8:4). See on Mt.10-20. The parable interpreted (Matthew 13:10; Luke 8:9). See on Mt.21-25. Further remarks upon teaching by parables (Luke 8:16-18). Omitted by Mt, who introduces these sayings in other connexions, viz. Matthew 5:15; Matthew 7:2; Matthew 10:26, which see.21. A candle] RV ’the lamp.’ A bushel] RV ’the bushel.’ A bed] RV ’the bed.’ A candlestick] RV ’the stand.’ St. Matthew introduces this... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Mark 4:1-20

IV.(1-20) He began.—See Notes on Matthew 13:1-23. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Mark 4:3

(3) A sower.—Better, the sower. read more

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