Mark 4:14-20

The Explanation of the Parable.

Jesus now provides the explanation for the parable. It should be noted how smoothly it fits in without there being anything of a mechanical nature in the interpretation which would be the hallmark of later allegorical interpretation. This method of parable followed by explanation follows Old Testament precedence. See for example Ezekiel 17:1; Zechariah 4:2. It was also a feature of the Rabbis. It was thus typically Jewish.

Analysis.

a “The sower sows the word” (Mark 4:14).

b “And these are they by the wayside, where the word is sown. And when they have heard Satan comes immediately and takes away the word which has been sown in them” (Mark 4:15).

c “And in the same way these are they who are sown on the rocky places who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy. Yet they have no root in themselves but endure for a while. Then when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble” (Mark 4:16).

b “And others are those who were sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word, and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things, entering in, choke the word and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:18).

a “And those are they that were sown on the good ground, such as hear the word and firmly receive it, and bear fruit thirtyfold, sixtyfold and a hundredfold” (Mark 4:20).

Note that in ‘a' the sower sows the word, and in the parallel it produces abundance of good grain. In ‘b' Satan snatches the word away and in the parallel the word is choked. Centrally in ‘c' we have the example of the false confession that does not stand the test of time, the ‘easy belief' that does not result in any real change. Compare John 6:66.