CHAPTER IV. _The parable of the sower_, 1-9. _Its interpretation_, 10-20. _The use we should make of the instructions we receive_, 21-26. _The parable of the progressively growing seed_, 26-29. _Of the mustard seed_, 30-34. _Christ and his disciples are overtaken by a storm_, 35-38. _He rebuk... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 4:4. _THE FOWLS_] του ουρανου, _of the air_, is the common reading; but it should be omitted, on the authority of nine _uncial_ MSS., upwards of _one hundred_ others, and almost all the _versions_. _Bengel_ and _Griesbach_ have left it out of the text. It seems to have been inserted in Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 4:9. _AND HE SAID - HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR._] The _Codex Bezae_, later _Syriac_ in the margin, and seven copies of the _Itala_, add, και ὁ συνιων συνιετω, _and whoso understandeth, let_ _him understand_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 4:10. _THEY THAT WERE ABOUT HIM_] None of the other evangelists intimate that there were _any_ besides the _twelve_ with him: but it appears there were several others present; and though they were not styled disciples, yet they appear to have seriously attended to his public and private i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 4:11. _UNTO YOU IT IS GIVEN TO KNOW_] γνωναι, _to know_, is omitted by ABKL, ten others, the _Coptic_, and one of the _Itala_. The omission of this word makes a material alteration in the sense; for without it the passage may be read thus: - _To you the_ _mystery of the kingdom of God is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 4:13. _KNOW YE NOT THIS PARABLE?_] The scope and design of which is so very obvious. _HOW THEN WILL YE KNOW ALL PARABLES?_] Of which mode of teaching ye should be perfect masters, in order that ye may be able successfully to teach others. This verse is not found in any of the other evang... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 4:15. THESE _ARE THEY_] Probably our Lord here refers to the people to whom he had just now preached, and who, it is likely, did not profit by the word spoken. _WHERE THE WORD IS SOWN_] Instead of this clause, four copies of the _Itala_ read the place thus - _They who are sown by the way... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES_] This is variously expressed in different copies of the Itala: _the errors - delights of_ _the world - completely alienated (abolienati) by the pleasures of_ _the world. The lusts of other things _- which have not been included in the _anxious cares of the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _IS A CANDLE - PUT UNDER A BUSHEL!_] The design of my preaching is to enlighten men; my parables not being designed to hide the truth, but to make it more manifest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _FOR THERE IS NOTHING HID_, c.] Probably our Lord means, that all that had hitherto been _secret_, relative to the salvation of a lost world, or only obscurely pointed out by types and sacrifices, shall now be uncovered and made plain by the everlasting Gospel. Matthew 5:15, Matthew 5:15 _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _AND UNTO YOU THAT HEAR SHALL MORE BE GIVEN._] This clause is wanting in DG, _Coptic_, and four copies of the _Itala_; and in others, where it is extant, it is variously written. _Griesbach_ has left it out of the text, and supposes it to be a gloss, _Whosoever hath, to him shall be given_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _HE THAT HATH_] Matthew 13:12, Matthew 13:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _SO IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD_] This parable is mentioned only by Mark, a proof that Mark did not _abridge_ Matthew. Whitby supposes it to refer to the good ground spoken of before, and paraphrases is thus: - "What I have said of the seed sown upon good ground, may be illustrated by this para... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _AND SHOULD SLEEP AND RISE NIGHT AND DAY_] That is, he should _sleep_ by _night_, and _rise_ by _day_; for so the words are obviously to be understood. _HE KNOWETH NOT HOW._] How a plant grows is a mystery in nature, which the wisest philosopher in the universe cannot fully explain.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _BRINGETH FORTH - OF HERSELF_] αυτοματη. By its own energy, without either the influence or industry of man. Similar to this is the expression of the poet: - _Namque aliae_, NULLIS HOMlNUM COGENTIBUS, ipsae SPONTE SUA _veniunt_. VIRG. Geor. l. ii. v. 10. "Some (trees) grow of _their own... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 4:29. _HE PUTTETH IN THE SICKLE_] αποστελλει, _he sendeth_ _out the sickle_, i.e. _the reapers_; the _instrument_, by a metonomy, being put for the _persons_ who use it. This is a common figure. It has been supposed that our Lord intimates here that, _as soon_ as a soul is made completel... [ Continue Reading ]
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 eloquence to charm the minds of his auditors, nor to draw such _descriptions_ and _comparisons_ as may surpr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED_] See on Matthew 13:31; Matthew 13:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _WITH MANY SUCH PARABLES_] πολλαις, _many_, is omitted by L, _sixteen_ others; the _Syriac_, both the _Persic_, one _Arabic,_ _Coptic, Armenian, AEthiopic_, and two of the _Itala_. _Mill_ approves of the omission, and _Griesbach_ leaves it doubtful. It is probably an interpolation: the tex... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _HE EXPOUNDED ALL THINGS TO HIS DISCIPLES._] That they might be capable of instructing others. _Outside hearers_, those who do not come into _close fellowship_ with the true disciples of Christ, have seldom more than a _superficial_ knowledge of Divine things. In the _fellowship_ of the s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _LET US PASS OVER UNTO THE OTHER SIDE._] Our Lord was now by the _sea of Galilee_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. THEY _TOOK HIM EVEN AS HE WAS IN THE SHIP._] That is, the _disciples; he was now_ εν τω πλοιω, _in the boat_, i.e. his _own boat_ which usually waited on him, and out of which it appears he was then teaching the people. _There were_ several _others there_ which he might have gone in, had t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 37. _A GREAT STORM OF WIND_] Matthew 8:24, Matthew 8:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _ON A PILLOW_] προσκεφαλαιον probably means a _little_ _bed_, or _hammock_, such as are common in _small vessels_. I have seen several in _small packets_, or _passage boats_, not a great deal larger than a _bolster_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _PEACE, BE STILL._] _Be silent! Be still_! There is uncommon _majesty_ and _authority_ in these words. Who but God could act thus? Perhaps this salvation of his disciples in the boat might be designed to show forth that _protection_ and _deliverance_ which Christ will give to his followers... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 4:40. _WHY ARE YE SO FEARFUL?_] Having me with you. _HOW IS IT THAT YE HAVE NO FAITH?_] Having already had such proofs of my unlimited power and goodness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 4:41. _WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS?_] They were astonished at such power proceeding from a person who appeared to be only like one of themselves. It is often profitable to entertain each other with the succour and support which we receive from God in times of temptation and distress; and t... [ Continue Reading ]