Mark 4:24-25

D. A WARNING FOR HEARERS. 4:24-25

TEXT 4:24-25

And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you: and more shall be given unto you. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 4:24-25

182.

Please associate these verses with what has been saidwhat is the measure and measuring.

183.

Who would measure to the apostles?

184.

How does this principle apply to today?

185.

Isn-'t it unfair to give to the one who has and take from the one who has not?

186.

Please explain in your own words the principle involved.

COMMENT

The four parables of Mark were all given at the same time and place. The parallel accounts are in Matthew 13:18-32 and Luke 8:11-19.

19. This warning for the hearers is also found in Luke 8:18.

OUTLINE1. Measure determines measuring, Mark 4:24 a, Mark 4:2. He who has, Mark 4:25 a. Mark 4:3, He who has not, Mark 4:25 b.

ANALYSIS

I.

MEASURE DETERMINES MEASURING, Mark 4:24.

1.

What amount are you giving of what I have given to you?

2.

What you have given determines what you shall receive,

II.

HE WHO HAS, Mark 4:25 A.

1.

The one or ones to whom Jesus has given.

2.

If this one gives of what he has received he shall receive more.

III.

HE WHO HAS NOT, Mark 4:25 B.

1.

He refuses to give what he has.

2.

What he had is lost.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

I.

MEASURE DETERMINES MEASURING, Mark 4:24.

Mark 4:24-25. Thus far the duty of using the truth as light has been grounded in the nature of truth and the purpose of the Teacher; now it is grounded in the law of human life itself. The words, And he saith unto them, repeated here, probably indicate, not a new beginning with a change of time and place, but rather the narrator's remembrance of the special emphasis with which all this was spoken, very likely after a solemn pause.Take heed what ye hear. Luke, how ye hear. Not, Be careful what you listen to, as if he would warn against dangerous teachers, but, Carefully consider what you are hearing; observe how important it is; remember how necessary that you make the right use of it. It is almost, Take heed to what you hear, The reason assigned for this caution is that, according to the universal law, what one does will return to him.The words that hear are to be omitted, and the omission considerably changes the structure of the sentence: With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you, and added to you.This saying, With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you, proverbial in form, is applied in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:2) to the retribution that must come upon uncharitableness and self-willed judgment. Here our Lord gives it a quite different application; it is a law of life, and may be applied in many ways. In this case its lesson is, You will be dealt with, as to truth, as you deal with others. Hide it, and it will be hidden from you; impart it, and it will be imparted to you. How many souls, in dealing with trust as God has given it to them, have found it even sothat concealment was loss, while giving was gain! If the apostles had kept their truth as a private trust, how their souls would have shrivelled!Shall more be given is a promise of a return, which shall be not merely as the gift, but greater. So Luke 6:38. (Compare 2 Corinthians 9:8-14).

II.

HE WHO HAS, Mark 4:25 A.

Mark 4:25 contains what was evidently more or less a proverbial saying with our Lord. He that hath, to him shall be given, etc. (See Matthew 25:29; Luke 19:26.) Here it fits the connection far otherwise than as in the passages referred toanother illustration of our Lord's various use of single important sayings. Here, by a very striking turn of thought, he that hath is identified with him who imparts his trust of truth to others, the free giver, the true apostle, messenger of grace and truth; while he that hath not is identified with him who keeps his trust of truth to himself, content to be ever a disciple without becoming an apostle. The giver hath, the miser hath not. How true a description of men, and how true an interpretation of the law of life!And now it is declared that for these two classes there shall be retribution. He that hath, to him shall be given. So Luke 6:38a passage that may serve as a link between this and Matthew 7:2: --Give, and it shall be given unto you. (See also Luke 12:48).

III.

HE WHO HAS NOT, Mark 4:25 B.

And he that hath not, from him shall he taken even that which he hath. How is this? He hath not, and yet he hath, something that he can lose. Yes; the spiritual miser possesses much in his own esteem; much truth has been entrusted to him; but if he is not a giver of truth, and so a possessor, his possession shall become no possession: what he hath shall be worthless to him. Such instruction may well have made the apostles careful what use they made of the parables. Partly to this, perhaps, it is due that they were so faithful in putting the lamp on the lampstand, not only by preaching, but also by making record of his words, especially such words as these. (W. N. Clarke).

FACT QUESTIONS 4:24-25

217.

Read Matthew 7:2 and Luke 6:38 and show the difference in the use of the same principle here.

218.

Is this a warning or an encouragement? Discuss.

219.

Who is the one to whom much was given?

220.

How does the attitude of hearing and heeding the words of Jesus relate to this?