Mark 4:12-17

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 4:10-12

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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 4:13-20

4:13-20 "Don't you understand this parable?" he said to them. "How then will you understand all the parables? What the sower is sowing is the word. The kind of people represented by the case in which the seed fell by the side of the road, are those in whose case the word is sown, and whenever they hear it, immediately Satan comes, and snatches away the word that was sown into them. Just so, the kind of people represented by the case in which the seed was sown on the rocky ground, are those,... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:13

And he saith unto them, know ye not this parable ?.... So easy to be understood, taken from things common, and which fall under every one's observation: and how then will you know all parables ? if not this single one, and which is so plain, how will ye be able to understand the numerous parables hereafter to be related, and which will be much more difficult? read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:14

The sower soweth the word. Though our Lord thought fit to give the above gentle rebuke to his disciples for their dulness; yet he condescends to favour them with an interpretation of the above parable, which here begins: by this it appears, that the seed in the parable, before delivered, and which fell on different sorts of ground, is the word of God, which was preached to hearers of different dispositions: the word is the word of life and truth; the word of peace and reconciliation; the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:15

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown ,.... Such hearers are represented by the way side, in which the seed fell; who, coming where the Gospel is preached, stop awhile and hear it, and so are only casual and accidental hearers of it: but when they have heard ; and indeed whilst they are hearing, and before they are well got out of the place of hearing, Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts . The devil, signified by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:16

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground ,.... Such sort of hearers of the word are signified by the stony ground, on which the seed were sown, who are constant hearers of the word, and have some understanding of it, and some sort of affection for it, and yet their hearts are not truly broken by it; they are not brought to a thorough sight and sense of sin, and of their need of Christ, and salvation by him; their stony hearts are not taken away, and hearts of flesh given... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 4:17

And have no root in themselves ,.... The word has no root in their hearts, only in their natural affections: nor is the root of grace in them; there is no heart work, only speculative notions, and flashy affections: and so endure but for a time : they continue hearers and professors of the Gospel but for a small season; like the Jews, who rejoiced in the ministry of John the Baptist for a while, and then left him: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 4:13

Know ye not this parable? - The scope and design of which is so very obvious. How then will ye know all parables? - Of which mode of teaching ye should be perfect masters, in order that ye may be able successfully to teach others. This verse is not found in any of the other evangelists. read more

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