Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 4:2

ἐδίδασκεν. The imperf. is again accurate; cf. Mark 1:21; Mark 1:32; Mark 1:35; Mark 1:45; Mark 2:2; Mark 2:13; Mark 3:2; Mark 3:11; Mark 3:23. Both A.V. and R.V. make πολλά a cogn. acc., but it is probably adverbial as usual, meaning “often,” i.e. “in many parables,” in paravolis multis (d). See on Mark 3:2. Parables appear to have become more freq. as Christ’s audiences became larger and more mixed in character. Of these Mk gives us only four, of which only one, the Seed growing secretly (Mark 4:26-29), is peculiar to his Gospel. Parables instructed the real disciples, without harming the careless, and without giving openings to hostile listeners. See Hastings’ D.B. art. “Parable.”

ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ. In the course of His teaching. Here and Mark 12:38 only; 2 John 1:9 is different. In the Gospels, διδασκαλία occurs only in Mark 7:7 = Matthew 15:9. Burkitt calls attention to the fact that the Sower, the Seed growing secretly, and the Mustard-seed “are extraordinarily appropriate in the setting given them by S. Mark. The seed had been sown, the first harvest of disciples had just been reaped, although much of what had been said had fallen on deaf or forgetful ears.”

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 4:2

Old Testament

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