Mark 4:26
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Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
Open source ↗In this chapter, we have, I. The parable of the seed, and the four sorts of ground (Mar 4:1-9), with the exposition of it (Mar 4:10-20), and the application of it (Mar 4:21-25). II. The parable of the seed growing gradually, but insensibly (Mar 4:26-29). III. The parable of the grain of mustard-seed, and a general account of Christ's parables (Mar 4:30-34). IV. The miracle of Christ's sudden stilling a storm at sea (Mar 4:35-41).
Open source ↗4:26-34 Mark now gives additional seed parables (cp. 4:3-20). Their common theme is the secret of the Kingdom of God (4:11). The parables of the seed growing secretly (4:26-29) and of the mustard seed (4:30-32) describe different stages of the seed-growth process. The Kingdom of God is hidden (4:21), but growth is certain (4:26-29) and the result will be glorious (4:32). 4:26-29 This parable focuses on the seed and its inevitable growth. • Just as the earth produces the crops on its own, the consummation of God’s Kingdom does not depend on human action. • The leaf blade, the heads of wheat, and the ripened grain describe normal stages in a seed’s growth.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
Blessed are those who sow beside abundant waters, who let the ox and donkey range freely.
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it.
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.
Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.
Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”