Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 4:29

παραδοῖ. Aor. subj. = παραδῷ (WH. App. p. 168). Cf. γνοῖ Mark 5:43, δοῖ Mark 8:37, παραδοῖ Mark 14:10. The meaning is uncertain; either alloweth (R.V. marg.), or “bringeth itself forth”; cf. 1 Peter 2:23, where παρεδίδου may mean “committed himself.”

ἀποστέλλει. He sendeth forth (Mark 3:14; Mark 6:7; Mark 13:27). Perhaps an echo of Joel 3:13, ἐξαποστείλατε δρέπανα, ὅτι παρέστηκεν τρυγητός. Cf. Revelation 14:15, πέμψον τὸ δρέπανόν σου … ὅτι ἐξηράνθη ὁ θερισμός. It is the husbandman who does this. The earth has done her mysterious work, and now he is wanted again. In class. Grk δρεπάνη is more common.

παρέστηκεν. Is ready, ready for the sickle, as in Joel 3:13, where Vulg. has maturavit, not adest, as here.

We have Christ’s interpretation of the Sower and of the Tares, but not of this kindred parable. As in the Sower, the seed is the Gospel and the soil is the hearts of those who receive it. The Sower and Reaper is Christ. Between His first and second coming we have the mysteriously combined action of soil and seed in the whole history of the Church. There is a remarkable parallel in Epictetus (Dis. iv. 8 sub fin.); “Fruit grows thus. The seed must be buried for some time, be hid, grow slowly, that it may come to perfection … Let the root grow, then acquire the first joint, then the second, then the third. Then in this way the fruit will naturally force its way out, even if I do not wish it.” See on Mark 4:17.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 4:29

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