|
|
|
| Locate verse: Type a verse reference like 'Romans 10:9' or abbreviated 'Rm 10:9'. By just typing the verse one can jump to the corresponding verse on the active page (only works if the current page displays a chapter). If a chapter and a verse is entered without a book, the current selected book is assumed. Providing only the name of a book will bring one to the chapter index of that book. Examples (without the quotes): '1 Tim 3:16', 'Rv 1:8', 'Matthew 5', '3:16', '8', 'Phm'. |
THE GOSPEL OF MARK
[“Kingdom Mysteries”]
Key word: Kingdom
|| Matthew 13:1-9;59
Luke 8:4-859 Matthew 13:1-9: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
MK4:1 Now Jesus began to teach by the seashore and there gathered around him a crowd so large he got into a boat and sat a bit off shore. The whole crowd was on the beach at water’s edge.
MK4:2
Then Jesus taught them many things by means of parables, and in his teaching he said to them:
MK4:3
“Listen! A sower went out to sow,60
MK4:4
and it happened as he sowed that some [seed] fell by the side of the road. Now the birds of heaven came and picked them up.
MK4:5
Also, some [seed] fell on rocky ground where there was little soil. So, the seed sprouted quickly because it had no depth of soil.
MK4:6
But, when the sun rose the sprout was scorched and because it had no root it withered away.
MK4:7 Now [other seed] fell among thorns and when the thorns also grew up they choked it producing nothing.
MK4:8
Some, though, fell on good soil and it did produce something, sprouting and increasing – some yielding thirty times, some sixty times, and others even one-hundred times!”
MK4:9 And Jesus added:
“Let the one with ears – hear!”
60 Sower went out to sow: The parable illustrates four reactions to the teachings of Jesus – then, and today.
|| Matthew 13:10-15;61
Luke 8:9, 1061 Matthew 13:10-15: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
MK4:10
Now later when Jesus was alone, the Twelve and others around him asked him about the parables.
MK4:11
So, Jesus said to them:
“You have been entrusted with the knowledge of the mystery regarding God’s Realm, but to those outside everything is spoken in parables.
MK4:12
‘So that they may look, but, behold! they do not understand! And, hearing they may hear and yet still not understand. Otherwise, they at some time might turn around and their sins be forgiven.’”62
[Isaiah 6:9, 10]
MK4:13
So Jesus said to them:
“If you do not understand this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?”
62 Forgiven: Some mss say “healed.”
|| Matthew 13:18-23;63
Luke 8:11-1563 Matthew 13:18-23: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
MK4:14 “The Sower sows the Word.
MK4:15 Now those by the side of the road where the Word is sown, when they hear Satan arrives instantly and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.
MK4:16 And in the same way those sown on rocky soil, these are those who when they have heard the Word receive it at first with great joy.
MK4:17 But, without any real roots they endure only for a little while, and as soon as trouble or oppression occurs because of the Word, they instantly stumble.
MK4:18 Now those that are sown among the thorns, these are those who hear the Word,
MK4:19 but the anxieties of this period of time,64
and the seduction of riches choke the Word,65 and it becomes unfruitful.
64 Anxieties of this period of time: Or, KJV: cares of this world; NEB: worldly cares; GDS: worries of the time; MON: anxieties of life.
[1 John 2:15-17]
MK4:20
Finally, those who are sown in good soil are those who hear the Word and welcome it and also produce fruitage – some thirty, some sixty, and some one-hundred.”
65 The seduction of riches choke the Word: Or, KJV: the deceitfulness of riches; RIE: lure of;
NEB: false glamour of wealth; WMS: deceiving pleasures of being rich. [1 John 2:15-17]
|| Matthew 5:15;66
Luke 8:1666 Matthew 5:15: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
MK4:21 Jesus said to them: “Is a lamp brought [into the room] and put under a basket, or under a bed, and not put on the lamp-stand? MK4:22 For nothing is hidden that will not become manifest. MK4:23 Any person with ears to hear – listen!”
|| Matthew 7:2;67
Matthew 25:29;68
Luke 8:1867 Matthew 7:2: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. 68 Matthew 25:29: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
MK4:24 Jesus said to them: “Take care how you listen, for the standard you use will be the way you are going to be measured. Those who listen well will receive something extra. MK4:25 For the one who has responsibility will be given more; and the one who has nothing, even that will be taken away.”
MK4:26
Then Jesus said:
“God’s Realm69 is as if a person scattered seed on the ground,
MK4:27 then goes to sleep at night and rises the next day. The seed sprouts
and grows and the person has no idea how.70
69 God’s Realm: Jesus uses the designation to refer to the Church, or the Realm of Profession, the domain or territory over which
Christ reigns by God’s power. This parable is unique to Mark and there are several views.
MK4:28 For the ground
produces by itself: first the blade, then the stalk, and finally the full head of grain.
MK4:29 But, when the crop is ready, at once the sickle is put in, for the harvest has arrived.”
70 The person has no idea how: The growth of the Church has occurred miraculously as without any outside help, like a seed that grows of
itself to produce fruitage. Here the Sower has planted the seed, and then it would seem to the world, showed no interest in how it develops. Like a planted seed, the grow of the Church has amazed historians, and certainly no one could have predicted that within
three centuries such a small movement would become the state religion. As a comparative analogy see Paul’s example in 1 Corinthians 13:9-12.
|| Matthew 13:31, 32;71
Luke 13:18, 1971 Matthew 13:31, 32: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
MK4:30 Jesus said:
“With what will we compare God’s Realm? Or, what parable might we use to explain it?
MK4:31 It is like a mustard-seed72
when first planted in the ground is among the tiniest of all seeds.
MK4:32 But once grown it becomes one of the largest of all bushes, so even the birds of the sky nest in its shade.”
72 Mustard-seed: The Church begins with essentially twelve men and a few score disciples. It grows over three centuries into a massive bush, almost like a tree. Had anyone predicted to the Jews or Romans that within three centuries the Nazarene movement would become the state religion and that Emperor himself would be a Christian – there would have been universal laughter. Had those persons in the 3rd Century been told that Christianity would become the world’s largest religion with two billion adherents among the most powerful nations on earth – none would have believed it.
|| Matthew 13:34, 357373
Matthew 13:34, 35: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
MK4:33
Now Jesus taught his message with the use of many parables according to their ability to understand.74
MK4:34
And without a parable he never spoke, but when they were all alone Jesus would explain everything to his disciples.
74 According to their ability to understand: Or, NEB: as far as they were able to receive it; WEY: according to their capacity for receiving
it; PME: such as their minds could take it. This is not reported in Matthew.
|| Matthew 8:18, 23, 27;75
Luke 8:22-2575 Matthew 8:18, 23, 27: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
MK4:35
Now that same day when it was night-time, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us go across the Sea of Galilee.”
MK4:36
So after they dismissed the crowds, the disciples took Jesus away aboard a fishing boat. Also, other small fishing boats went with them.
MK4:37
But, a great windstorm came up and the waves were smashing into the boat so that it was swamped.
MK4:38
Jesus himself was in the stern asleep with his head on a cushion.76
His disciples woke him up and yelled: “Lord, do you not care if we all perish!”
MK4:39
So Jesus rose and then rebuked the wind, speaking to the sea:
“Hush! Be quiet!”
And the wind did stop and a perfect calm came over the sea.
MK4:40
Jesus said to them:
“Why are you so frightened? Have you no faith?”
MK4:41
Then they were awestruck and said to one another: “Who really is this [person] that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
76 With his head on a cushion: This little detail is not mentioned in Matthew and Luke.
|
|
Nazarene Commentary 2000© Mark Heber Miller ©2000 All Rights Reserved |
