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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 4:1-20

The foregoing chapter began with Christ's entering into the synagogue (Mark 4:1); this chapter begins with Christ's teaching again by the sea side. Thus he changed his method, that if possible all might be reached and wrought upon. To gratify the nice and more genteel sort of people that had seats, chief seats, in the synagogue, and did not care for hearing a sermon any where else, he did not preach always by the sea side, but, having liberty, went often into the synagogue, and taught there;... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 4:3-9

4:3-9 "Listen! Look! The sower went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seed fell along the roadside; and the birds came and devoured it. Some fell upon rocky ground where it did not have much earth; and it sprang up immediately, because it had no depth of earth, but, when the sun rose, it was scorched, and it was withered away, because it had no root. Some fell among thorns; and the thorns crowded in on it until they choked the life out of it, and it did not yield any fruit. And some fen on... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 4:10-12

4:10-12 When Jesus was alone, his own circle of people, together with the Twelve, asked him about the parables. He said to them, "To you there is given the knowledge of the Kingdom of God which only the initiated can know. To those who are outside, everything is expounded by means of parables, so that they may indeed see and yet not perceive the meaning of things, and may indeed hear and not understand, lest at any time they should turn and be forgiven." This has always been one of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:9

And he said unto them ,.... To the multitude of hearers that were on the sea shore attending to the word preached, and among whom, doubtless, there were all those sorts of hearers mentioned in this parable: he that hath ears to hear, let him hear : observe, and take notice of what has been said, as being of the greatest moment and importance: for a larger explanation and illustration of this parable, see the notes on Matthew 13:3 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:10

And when he was alone ,.... After the multitude was dismissed, and he either remained in the ship, or left it, and retired to some private place, it may be to Simon's house in Capernaum. The Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, "when they were alone"; meaning as follows, they that were about him with the twelve ; that is, such disciples of his, who, besides the twelve, constantly attended him; perhaps those who now were, or hereafter were the seventy disciples. The Vulgate Latin... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:11

And he said unto them ,.... His disciples; unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God ; or the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, the secrets of the Gospel dispensation, the mysterious doctrines of grace; See Gill on Matthew 13:11 , but unto them that are without ; "to strangers", as the Syriac and Arabic versions render it, who were not the disciples of Christ, nor admitted to any intimacy with him; who came only to amuse themselves with the sight of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:12

That seeing they may see ,.... Which the end and reason of his speaking to them in parables. The passage referred to is in Isaiah 6:9 . See Gill on Matthew 13:14 . See Gill on Matthew 13:15 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 4:9

And he said - He that hath ears to hear, let him hear - The Codex Bezae, later Syriac in the margin, and seven copies of the Itala, add, και ὁ συνιων συνιετω , and whoso understandeth, let him understand. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 4:10

They that were about him - None of the other evangelists intimate that there were any besides the twelve with him: but it appears there were several others present; and though they were not styled disciples, yet they appear to have seriously attended to his public and private instructions. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 4:11

Unto you it is given to know - Γνωναι , to know, is omitted by ABKL, ten others, the Coptic, and one of the Itala. The omission of this word makes a material alteration in the sense; for without it the passage may be read thus: - To you the mystery of the kingdom of God is given; but all these things are transacted in parables to those without. Griesbach leaves it doubtful. And Professor White says, probabiliter delendum . I should be inclined to omit it, were it not found in the... read more

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