Mark 4:3-20
Summary for Mark 4:3-9: 4:3-9 a The collection begins with the longest parable and its interpretation (4:13-20 b), focusing on various types of soil as an analogy for various conditions of the human heart.4:10 c The scene changes from Jesus’ teaching a very large crowd from a boat to his being alone with the twelve disciples and ... others. Their question concerns all the parables (4:33-34 d), not just this one.
Summary for Mark 4:11-12: 4:11-12 e Jesus’ real followers were permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God—namely, that the Kingdom of God had come (1:14-15 f) and that Christ, the Son of God, was in their midst (1:1 g). For outsiders, it all seemed like riddles.
• Jesus’ reply to the disciples’ question suggests that the parables were intended to prevent outsiders from understanding them, so that they would be unable to repent and be forgiven. The quotation from Isa 6:9-10 h (Greek version) suggests that it was an intentional judgment on the hearers. Jesus’ teaching in parables, and the resultant unbelief of outsiders, fulfilled what the Scriptures had predicted. The sensitive nature of Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom of God (a theme that would have made Roman authorities very uneasy) made teaching in parables useful in defusing this issue.
4:13 i If Jesus’ hearers could not understand the parable, they might lack the grace of citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom. However, even the insiders required Jesus’ explanation.
Summary for Mark 4:14-20: 4:14-20 j The interpretation of the parable of the four soils is allegorical. The farmer represents a preacher of God’s word (4:14 k). The four types of soil that receive the seed represent different responses to the preaching of the word. The point of this parable and its interpretation is that hearers should be good soil and heed God’s word (4:9 l). Only those who produce fruit and endure to the end will be saved (13:13 m; 8:35 n; Rev 2:10-11 o).
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