Mark 4

Thought on This Chapter

MK 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

In verse 8 Jesus talks about seed that fell on the good ground and in verse 20 He tells us the meaning of it.

MK 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

The good ground are those who not only hear the word but also receive it. And notice it does not stop there. They also bring forth fruit. Oh they will bring different amounts. Some will be more productive than others. But they will produce some.

There are two things I want to mention about this. First be careful how you judge someone who is producing less fruit than you. The one that produced a hundred fold was considered good ground just like the one who produced only 30.

Second, how is your fruit? Are you producing anything for the Lord. Every heart that is good ground will produce something. Here is where we need to examine our hearts. If our hearts are cold and stony, we need to repent of that and ask God to help us. Ask Him to change your heart so that it is good ground. A ground that can produce fruit for Him.

Thought On This Chapter

MK 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

There is indeed a spiritual battle that takes place for the souls of men. Satan does not sit by idle while his worldly kingdom is spoiled. He hate Jesus, he hates Christians, he does not want to see anyone come to Christ. Satan will throw up every road block he can. And when some people hear the word of God Satan comes and takes it away. And he is agressive and very active in this work. Verse 15 says that Satan comes immediately. He does not want to allow the seed that was sown in their hearts to sprout and grow into fruit.

How should this affect us? We need to realize that there is a battle going on; that we do have an adversary. Satan is going to try to counter the seed that we sow. When we witness and give the gospel, Satan will come along and try to disrupt that seed.

So what can we do about it? Pray, pray, pray. We have no power of our own, but our Father does. Pray that God will do a work in the hearts of those you witness to and that He will overcome the wicked ones efforts on behalf of those you tell the gospel to.

There is a battle going on. Always remember that God is greater. We are on the winning side.

King James Bible Main Index:

Mark 4 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

MK 4:1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

MK 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

MK 4:3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

MK 4:4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

MK 4:5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

MK 4:6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

MK 4:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

MK 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

MK 4:9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

MK 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

MK 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

MK 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

MK 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

MK 4:14 The sower soweth the word.

MK 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

MK 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

MK 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

MK 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

MK 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

MK 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

MK 4:21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

MK 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

MK 4:23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

MK 4:24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

MK 4:25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

MK 4:26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

MK 4:27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

MK 4:28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

MK 4:29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

MK 4:30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

MK 4:31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

MK 4:32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

MK 4:33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

MK 4:34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

MK 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

MK 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

MK 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

MK 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

MK 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

MK 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

MK 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

General Information About the Book of Mark.

Mark was blessed with a godly Home (Acts 12:12)

Mark was blessed with godly companions (Acts 12:25)

Mark was blessed with godly service (II Tim. 4:11)

In Mark we see Jesus the servant give His life in service and we see Jesus the servant give His life in sacrifice.

When you read the book of Mark look for:

The Servant's Work

The Servant's Words

The Servant's Ways

The Servant's Worth

The Servant's Will

The Servant's Wisdom

Outline of Mark Chapter 4

R. A series of parables
1. Parable of the soils
a. A sower goes out to sow
b. Some seed fell by the way side
c. Some fell on stony ground
1. It immediately sprang up
2. It had no depth
3. It was scorched because it had no root
d. Some fell among thorns
1. The thorns grew up
2. They choked it
e. Some fell on good ground
1. It yielded fruit
2. Some brought forth 30, 60, or 100
f. When they are alone they ask Jesus about the parable
g. Jesus tells them that He teaches in parables so that they may hear and not understand
h. Jesus gives them the interpretation of the parable
1. The sower sowes the word
2. The way side is when Satan takes away the word that was sown in their hearts
3. The stony ground is who endure but for a time
4. The thorns are those who the cares of the world choke the word
5. The good ground are those that bring forth fruit
2. Parable of the lamp
a. Is a candle to be put under a bushel?
b. Or under a bed?
c. Nothing is hid that will not be manifested
3. Parable of growth
a. You are returned your measure
b. More is given to them that hear
c. If you have you are given
d. If you have not it shall be taken
e. A man puts seed in the ground
1. The man sleeps
2. The man knows not how it grows
3. The man harvests the fruit
4. Parable of mustard seed
a. The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed
b. It is smaller than all the seeds
c. It grows up greater than all herbs
1. It has great branches
2. Fowls may lodge under the shadow of it
5. Jesus speaks with many such parables
a. He speaks the word unto them
b. As they were able to hear it
c. He did not speak to them without a parable
d. Jesus expounds the parables to His disciples when they are alone
S. Storm at sea
1. Jesus says let us pass over
2. They send away the multitude
3. A great storm arises
a. The waves beat the ship
b. The ship is now full
4. Jesus was asleep
a. They awake Him
b. They accuse Him of not caring that they perish
5. Jesus rebuked the wind
a. He said peace be still
b. The wind ceased
c. There was a great calm
6. Jesus rebukes the disciples
a. Why are ye fearful?
b. How is it that ye have no faith?
7. They feared exceedingly
8. They said to each other what manner of man is this
a. The wind obeys Him
b. The sea obeys Him

If you ever wondered if illustrations, stories, and object lessons in preaching is scriptural, read this chapter. The preaching of Jesus is full of them.

Not only does Jesus have the power to calm the wind and the sea, But He is also able to calm the storms in your life.

If you have raging anger, if you have terrible guilt that is tearing you apart, If you have no peace in your soul, then you need to ask Jesus come into your heart and save you. And Jesus will say peace be still. Jesus is the only one that can give you perfect peace.