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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Mark 4:30-32

MARK—NOTE ON Mark 4:30 A third parable teaches that the kingdom of God begins in a small and unnoticed way, which is not what the people expected (see note on vv. 26–29). A mustard seed (see note on Matt. 13:31–32) could produce a bush as large as 3 by 12 feet (0.9 by 3.7 m). The nesting of birds in the shadow of the grown bush is a picture of divine blessing (see Psalms 91:1).

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See also Mark 4:30-32 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 30. _WHEREUNTO SHALL WE LIKEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD?_] How amiable is this carefulness of Jesus! How instructive to the preachers of his word! He is not solicitous to seek _fine turns_ of eloquenc...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHEREUNTO SHALL WE LIKEN ... - This shows the great solicitude which Jesus had to adapt his instructions to the capacity of his disciples. He sought out the most plain and striking illustrations - an...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Teaching by the Seaside. The Parable of the Sower. (Mark 4:1. Matthew 13:1; Luke 8:4 .)_ 2. The Word to shine forth in testimony. (Mar

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    The teaching in parables to the multitude is now resumed, and two further examples are given, those of the seed growing secretly and the mustard seed. The first is peculiar to Mk. Loisy interprets it...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    TEACHING IN PARABLES (Mark 4:1-2)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    He said: "How shall we find something with which to compare the Kingdom of God, or what picture will we use to represent it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the ground,...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    COMPARISON. parable. SHALL WE. are we to....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Parable of the Mustard Seed 30. _Whereunto shall we liken_ This method of asking a question before beginning a discourse was not unknown to the Rabbis. See the parallel in Luke 13:18....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    30–32. THE MUSTARD SEED Matthew 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΠΩ͂Σ ([819][820][821][822][823]) rather than τίνι ([824][825][826]). ΘΩ͂ΜΕΝ ([827][828][829][830][831][832]) rather than παραβάλωμεν ([833][834]2[835][836]). [819] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discove...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _JESUS SPOKE ABOUT CANDLES AND SEED MARK 4:21-34:_ Often we act much more foolish in our spiritual lives than we would ever consider doing in our physical lives. Men would never light a candle to prod...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΌΜΟΙΏΣΩΜΕΝ _aor. conj. act. от_ ΌΜΟΙΌΩ (G3666) уподоблять, сравнивать, ΘΏΜΕΝ _aor. conj. act. от_ ΤΊΘΗΜΙ (G5087) помещать. Используется в символических сравнениях (AS). Формы _conj._ являются совещат...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1424 THE GRAIN OF MUSTARD-SEED Mark 4:30. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which, w...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _SUMMARY 4:1-34_ In the parables of this section, especially in those of the sower, the seed and the mustard seed, the prophetic power of Jesus is clearly exhibited. Without superhuman foresight he co...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    F. THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED. 4:30-32. _TEXT 4:30-32_ An he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, wh...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compa...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    10-13 Compare Mat_13:10-17; Luk_8:9-10. 11 The kingdom of God had been foretold and typified in their sacred Scriptures, but now the Lord is unfolding a phase of its history which was unknown to the...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PARABLE OF THE SOWER. STILLING THE TEMPEST 1-9. Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1; Luke 8:4). See on Mt....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED (Matthew 13:31; Luke 13:18). See on Mt. 33, 34. Matthew 13:34; Matthew 13:35. See on...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST IN THE BIBLE: MARK’S GOSPEL _KEITH SIMONS_ This commentary HAS BEEN through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 4 THE STORY ABOUT THE SEEDS VERSES 1-9 Every farmer knows that he must plant his s...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WITH WHAT COMPARISON SHALL WE COMPARE IT? — Literally, _By what parable shall we set it forth?_ The question which introduces the parable is in St. Mark and St. Luke, but not in St. Matthew. It gives...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 4:30-34 (MARK 4:30) THE MUSTARD SEED "And He said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _The Mustard Seed_ (Matthew 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19)....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    πῶς … θῶμεν (_vide_ above). This introductory question, especially as given in the text of W.H [29], is very graphic = how shall we liken the Kingdom of God, or in (under) what parable shall we place...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    GROWTH IN GOD'S KINGDOM Mark 4:10-41 How quick the Master was to observe the meaning of natural symbols! To Him all things were unfoldings of eternal mystery, and the ways of men unconsciously mirror...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In verses Mark 4:1; Mark 4:10, we have the explanation of the reason of the parabolic teaching of Jesus. He clothed divine truth in picture forms that men might more easily look upon it and learn it,...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (5) And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? (5) God uses a method that men never do, beginning with the least and ending with the greate...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    THE GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED Matthew 13:31-32, & Mark 4:30-32. “And He said, To what must we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable may we expound it? It is like a grain of mustard, which, when it...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    THE PROGRESSIVE GRACE IN THE HEART Mark 4:26-34. “And He said, Thus is the kingdom of God as if a man may cast seed upon the ground, and he may sleep, and it springs up, night and day, and the seed ge...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (30) And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? (31) _It is_ like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    It is remarkable how tradition has contrived to injure the truth in touching the question of the method of the gospel we now enter on; for the current view which comes down to us from the ancients, st...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _MARKS OF THE CHURCH_ ‘Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God?… It is like a grain of mustard seed.’ Mark 4:30 What are the characteristics of the Church which would possess the future? What a...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    This introduces the true character and result of His own service, and all the history of the service that should be accomplished unto a far distant future; as well as the responsibility of His discipl...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE SAID,.... Still continuing his discourse on this subject, and in order to convey to the minds of his disciples clearer ideas of the Gospel dispensation, the success of the Gospel, and the usefu...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? Ver. 30. _Whereunto shall we liken, &c._] The wisdom of God, the great Counsellor, seems to be a...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God_, &c. See notes on Matthew 13:31. _He spake the word unto them as they were able to hear it_ Adapting it to the capacity of his hearers, and speaking as pl...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    Parable of the mustard-seed. Matthew 13:31-32....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Parable of the grain of mustard-seed:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND HE SAID, WHEREUNTO SHALL WE LIKEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, OR WITH WHAT COMPARISON SHALL WE COMPARE IT?...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    His teaching now at the seaside corresponds to Matthew 13:1, but only two of the seven parables in Matthew are mentioned here, for Matthew gives a full dispensational picture, while Mark dwells simply...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    TITLE: How does your garden grow? TEXT: Mark 4:26-30 PROPOSITION: We are involved but can't explain the process of growth. QUESTION: How? KEY WORD: Evidences SCRIPTURE READING: Same INTRODUCTION: 1....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    21-34 These declarations were intended to call the attention of the disciples to the word of Christ. By his thus instructing them, they were made able to instruct others; as candles are lighted, not...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Ver. 30-32. We met with this parable in MATTHEW 13:31,32, where the reader will find we have given the sense of it. It is a prophetical parable, foretelling the great success that the gospel, which at...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X Some one will then say, If they are not really parables, what are they? Shall we then say in keeping with the diction of the Scripture that they are similitudes (c...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Mark 4:30 Then G2532 said G3004 (G5707) what G5101 liken G3666 (G5661) kingdom G932 God G2316 Or...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED (4:30-32). The grain of mustard seed was a favourite illustration of Jesus (Matthew 13:31; Matthew 17:20; Luke 13:19; Luke 17

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    TWO PARABLES EMPHASISING NEW BIRTH AND GROWTH (4:26-32). Jesus follow up the parable of the sower with two parables about new birth and growth. In these the seed of the word is sown, and it produces n...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGLY RULE OF GOD WILL NOW BE SPREAD WIDELY AND WILL PRODUCE ABUNDANT FRUIT (4:1-34). As we have already seen the Gospel began with Jesus Christ as God's beloved Son and has gradua...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Mark 4:30-34. THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD-SEED. See on Matthew 13:31-35; comp. Luke 13:18-19....

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Mark 4:30. HOW SHALL WE LIKEN? Opening a discussion with a question seems to have been a usual mode with Jewish teachers. Here our Lord graciously includes His disciples (‘we') who were also to teach...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    ON PARABLES, see the note on Matthew 13:1-52. In his report of the discourse in parables, Mark gives but three, one of them not mentioned elsewhere. Each independently chose these out of the many utte...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    HOW SHALL WE LIKEN? (Πως ομοιωσωμεν?) Deliberative first aorist subjunctive. This question alone in Mark. So with the other question:IN WHAT PARABLE SHALL WE SET IT FORTH? (εν τιν αυτην παραβολη θ...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Mark 4:30 I. Observe the minuteness of the seed which is ordinarily first deposited by God's Spirit in man's heart. If you examine the records of Christian biography, you will find, so far as it is po...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Mark 4:30 The kingdom of God is not the Church, but a far wider, vast, outlying region; where Jehovah's omnipotence and wisdom with, indeed, all His glorious attributes reign absolutely. The Church i...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Mark 4:26 Christ's Idea of Christianity. I. The kingdom of God, or the beginning of a truly religious life in the soul of a man, may be obscure, imperceptible and unconscious. When a man is building...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Parable of the sower. Parable of the candle. Parable of the mustard seed. Jesus stills the storm. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Satan, disciples. CONCLUSION: The present age is a time for missions an...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Mark 4:12. _That seeing they may see, and not perceive._ St. Luke gives the true sense of these words, which often occur. Acts 28:26. They mark, according to Dr. Lightfoot, the obduracy which fell on...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _It is like a grain of mustard seed._ THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED In the parable before us, the unity of the kingdom becomes conspicuous, the individuality of its members subordinate. The figure...

  • The Gospels Compared

    JESUS TELLS THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED MATTHEW 13:31-32; MARK 4:30-32; LUKE 13:18-19; MATTHEW 13:31 Another parable put h

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 4 1 _The parable of the sower_, 14 _and the meaning thereof_. 21 _We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others_. 26 _The parable of the seed growing secretly_, 30 _and of the musta...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Mark 4:30_ (PARALLELS: Matthew 13:31; Luke 13:18.) _The rise and progress of Christianity_.— I. CHRISTIANITY IS INSIGNIFICANT IN ITS BEGINNING.— 1. Its Founder a...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MARK 4:1 AND AGAIN HE BEGAN TO TEACH BY THE SEASIDE. This return to the seaside is mentioned by St. Mark only. From this time our Lord's teaching began to be more public. The room and the...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now in our Bibles to the gospel according to Mark, chapter 4. Beginning in chapter 4, we have the beginning of the ministry of Christ in parables. There is often times a mistaken opinion...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Lamentations 2:13; Luke 13:18; Luke 13:20; Luke 13:21; Matthew 11:16

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Peculiar to Mark. With what comparison shall we compare it? [ε ν τ ι ν ι α υ τ η ν π α ρ α β ο λ η θ ω μ ε ν]. Lit., In what parable might we put it? Rev., In what parable shall we set it forth? Note...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    GETTING WHAT YOU GIVE Mark 4:24 INTRODUCTORY WORDS There are many "as" and "sos" in the "Word of God. These cover various lines of consideration. Let us suggest one or two of these before we take u...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    The design of our Saviour in this parable is to show how the gospel-church, from small and little, from unlikely and contemptible beginnings, should spread and increase, fructify and grow up, like as...

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