Teks -- Mark 4:1-4 (AV)

4:1 And@ he began @ again@ to teach @ by@ the sea side_:@ and@ there was gathered @ unto@ him@ a great@ multitude_,@ so that@ he@ entered @ into@ a ship_,@ and sat @ in@ the sea_;@ and@ the whole@ multitude@ was @ by@ the sea@ on@ the land_.@ 4:2 And@ he taught @ them@ many things@ by@ parables_,@ and@ said @ unto them@ in@ his@ doctrine_,@ 4:3 Hearken _;@ Behold _,@ there went out @ a sower @ to sow _:@ 4:4 And@ it came to pass _,@ as@ he sowed _,@ some@ fell @ by@ the way side_,@ and@ the fowls@ of the air@ came @ and@ devoured @ it@ up _.@

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Mar 4:1 - Sat in the sea

Sat in the sea ( kathēsthai en tēi thalassēi ).

In the boat, of course, which was in the sea. He first sat by the beach (Mat 13:1) and then a very great multitude (ochlos pleistos ) made him enter a boat in which he sat and taught. It was a common experience now to teach the crowds on the beach (Mar 2:13; Mar 3:7-9).

Robertson: Mar 4:1 - There is gathered

There is gathered ( sunagetai ).

Graphic pictorial present again. See the crowds pressing Jesus into the sea.

Robertson: Mar 4:2 - He taught them

He taught them ( edidasken autous ).

Imperfect tense describing it as going on.

Robertson: Mar 4:2 - In parables

In parables ( en parabolais ).

As in Mar 3:23, only here more extended parables. See notes in Matthew 13 for discussion concerning Christ’ s use of parables. Eight are given there, one (the Lamp both in Mar 4:21 and Luk 8:16 (both Sower and the Lamp in Luke), one alone in Mar 4:26-29 (seed growing of itself) not in Matthew or Luke, ten on this occasion. Only four are mentioned in Mark 4:1-34 (The Sower, the Lamp, the Seed Growing of Itself, the Mustard Seed). But Mark adds (Mar 4:34) "without a parable spake he not unto them,"clearly meaning that Jesus spoke many others on this occasion and Matt. after mentioning eight (Mat 13:34) makes the same statement. Manifestly, therefore, Jesus spoke many parables on this day and all theories of exegesis or dispensations on the basis of the number of these kingdom parables are quite beside the mark.

Robertson: Mar 4:2

@@In beginning Jesus said: Hearken (Akouete ). It is significant that even Jesus had to ask people to listen when he spoke. See also Mar 4:9.

Vincent: Mar 4:1 - Again

Again

He had taught there before. See Mar 3:7-9.

Vincent: Mar 4:1 - In the sea

In the sea

Mark only.

Vincent: Mar 4:1 - There was gathered

There was gathered ( συνάγεται )

The A. V. misses Mark's graphic use of the present, " There is gathered." So Rev.

Wesley: Mar 4:1

Mat 13:1; Luk 8:4.

Wesley: Mar 4:2 - He taught them many things by parables

After the usual manner of the eastern nations, to make his instructions more agreeable to them, and to impress them the more upon attentive hearers. A parable signifies not only a simile or comparison, and sometimes a proverb, but any kind of instructive speech, wherein spiritual things are explained and illustrated by natural, Pro 1:6.

Wesley: Mar 4:2 - To understand a proverb and the interpretation

The proverb is the literal sense, the interpretation is the spiritual resting in the literal sense killeth, but the spiritual giveth life.

Wesley: Mar 4:3 - Hearken

This word he probably spoke with a loud voice, to stop the noise and hurry of the people.

JFB: Mar 4:1 - And he began again to teach by the seaside: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude

Or, according to another well-supported reading, "a mighty" or "immense multitude."

JFB: Mar 4:1 - so that he entered into a ship

Rather, "the ship," meaning the one mentioned in Mar 3:9. (See on Mat 12:15).

JFB: Mar 4:1 - and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land

Crowded on the seashore to listen to Him. (See on Mat 13:1-2.)

JFB: Mar 4:2 - And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine

Or "teaching."

Parable of the Sower (Mar 4:3-9, Mar 4:13-20).

JFB: Mar 4:3 - Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow

What means this? See on Mar 4:14.

First Case: THE WAYSIDE. (Mar 4:4, Mar 4:15).

JFB: Mar 4:4 - And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the wayside

By the side of the hard path through the field, where the soil was not broken up.

JFB: Mar 4:4 - and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up

Not only could the seed not get beneath the surface, but "it was trodden down" (Luk 8:5), and afterwards picked up and devoured by the fowls. What means this? See on Mar 4:15.

Second Case: THE STONY or rather, ROCKY GROUND. (Mar 4:5, Mar 4:16).

Clarke: Mar 4:2 - He taught them many things by parables

He taught them many things by parables - See every part of this parable of the sower explained on Mat 13:1 (note), etc.

Clarke: Mar 4:4 - The fowls

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 Mark, from Luk 8:5.

Defender: Mar 4:2 - parables

Of the seven parables of the kingdom, Mark only includes in his account the parables of the sower (Mark 4:3-20) and the mustard seed (Mar 4:30-32). On these and the other parables, see notes on Matthew 13.

Defender: Mar 4:2 - doctrine

"Doctrine" is the same Greek word as "teaching.""

TSK: Mar 4:1 - he began // so that

he began : Mar 2:13; Mat 13:1, Mat 13:2-9; Luk 8:4-8

so that : Luk 5:1-3

TSK: Mar 4:2 - by parables // in his

by parables : Mar 4:11, Mar 4:34, Mar 3:23; Psa 49:4, Psa 78:2; Mat 13:3, Mat 13:10,Mat 13:34, Mat 13:35

in his : Mar 12:38; Mat 7:28; Joh 7:16, Joh 7:17, Joh 18:19

TSK: Mar 4:3 - Hearken // there

Hearken : Mar 4:9, Mar 4:23, Mar 7:14, Mar 7:16; Deu 4:1; Psa 34:11, Psa 45:10; Pro 7:24, Pro 8:32; Isa 46:3, Isa 46:12; Isa 55:1, Isa 55:2; Act 2:14; Heb 2:1-3; Jam 2:5; Rev 2:7, Rev 2:11, Rev 2:29

there : Mar 4:14, Mar 4:26-29; Ecc 11:6; Isa 28:23-26; Mat 13:3, Mat 13:24, Mat 13:26; Luk 8:5-8; Joh 4:35-38; 1Co 3:6-9

TSK: Mar 4:4

Mar 4:15; Gen 15:11; Mat 13:4, Mat 13:19; Luk 8:5, Luk 8:12

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Mar 4:1 - And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine

Mar 4:1-9 The parable of the sower.

Mar 4:10-13 Why Christ taught in parables.

Mar 4:14-20 The exposition of the parable.

Mar 4:21-25 The light of knowledge is given to be communicated to others.

Mar 4:26-29 The kingdom of God likened to the seed which groweth

imperceptibly,

Mar 4:30-34 and to a grain of mustard seed.

Mar 4:35-41 Christ stilleth a tempest by his word.

Ver. 1,2. We may observe that our Saviour often preached by the seaside, the reason of which was, doubtless, he had there the convenience by a boat or ship to quit himself of the inconvenience of the people’ s pressing upon him: he was now in Galilee, which bordered upon the sea.

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine Some of those things which our Lord taught his people by earthly similitudes are afterwards expressed, but probably he taught them many more things than the evangelists have left us upon record.

And said unto them in his doctrine: that may be understood in a double sense; either understanding by doctrine his way of teaching which he affected, and made much use of, viz. by similitudes; or else thus, that he intermixed with the doctrine which he taught them several parables, some of which here follow.

Poole: Mar 4:3-20 - given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God // See Poole on "Mat 13:1"

Ver. 3-20. See Poole on "Mat 13:1" , and following verses to Mat 13:23 . The parable is recorded both by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and is of excellent use:

1. To show the excellency of the word of God, which is here (as in other places) called the word it is the seed of God, the good seed: and the excellency of the ordinance of preaching, for that is the seed sown.

2. To show us the different effect of the word preached from moral discourses and philosophical disputes, from which can be expected no fruit; but where the sower soweth the word, there is yet a very different effect. Some bring forth the fruit of faith and holiness, and the abiding fruit of it, though in different degrees. But many, yea the most of those that hear it, either bring forth no fruit, or no abiding fruit, which is indeed no true fruit. The causes of this are, some men’ s perfunctory and careless hearing, never regarding to meditate on it, apply it to their own souls, or to hide it in their memories. Others not suffering it to sink into their hearts, and to take root in them, though it may at present a little affect them, and make them matter of discourse. Other men’ s thoughts being taken up with business, and the care of this world, and their hearts filled with the love of the things of this life, which they cannot part with when trouble and persecution for the owning and profession of the gospel ariseth.

3. It likewise teacheth us a sure note of unprofitable hearers of the word, as also of those whom the word is likely to profit, and have any good and saving effect upon. The former hear, but never regard whether they understand what they hear, yea or no. The others are not satisfied with hearing unless they understand; for those who went to him to know the parable, were not the twelve only, (who are often called his disciples emphatically), but those others that were about him, to whom it was

given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God

4. The most of our Saviour’ s hearers were doubtless members of the Jewish church, yet our Saviour, Mar 4:11 , styles the most of them those that are without; which teacheth us that not only such as are out of the pale of the church, but those also who are out of the degree of election, those to whom it is not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, are in Christ’ s account without. For other things concerning this parable, they are fully spoken to in our notes;

See Poole on "Mat 13:1" , and following verses to Mat 13:23 .

Lightfoot: Mar 4:1 - He began to teach

And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.   

[He began to teach.] That is, he taught; by a phrase very usual to these holy writers, because very usual to the nation: Rabh Canah began to be tedious in his prayer; that is, he was tedious. That scholar began to weep; that is he wept. "The ox began to low"; that is, he lowed. "When the tyrant's letter was brought to the Rabbins, they began to weep"; that is, they wept.   

This our evangelist useth also another word, and that numberless times almost: the others also use it, but not so frequently; namely, the word presently; which answereth to the word out of hand; most common among the Talmudists. We meet with it in this our evangelist seven or eight times in the first chapter, and elsewhere very frequently: and that not seldom according to the custom of the idiom, more than out of the necessity of the thing signified.

Lightfoot: Mar 4:4 - And some fell

And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.   

[And some fell.] According to what falls. The Gloss there, "According to the measure which one sows." And there the Gemarists speak of seed falling out of the hand; that is, that is cast out of the hand of the sower: and of seed falling from the oxen; that is, "that which is scattered and sown" by the sowing oxen. "For (as the Gloss speaks) sometimes they sow with the hand, and sometimes they put the seed into a cart full of holes, and drive the oxen upon the ploughed earth, and the seed falls through the holes."

Haydock: Mar 4:1

If we examine St. Matthew on this point, we shall discover that this discourse was made on the same day as the preceding discourse; for St. Matthew informs us, that having finished this exhortation, he the same day went and taught by the sea. (Ven. Bede)

Gill: Mar 4:1 - And he began again to teach by the sea side // and there was gathered unto him a great multitude // so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea // and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land

And he began again to teach by the sea side,.... He went out of the house where he was at Capernaum, the same day he had the above discourse with the Scribes and Pharisees, and on which his mother and: brethren came to speak with him; and from thence he went where he had been before, and taught the people; namely, to the sea side, the shore of the sea of Galilee, or Tiberias:

and there was gathered unto him a great multitude; which followed him from the house, and from other parts of the city, and perhaps from the adjacent places:

so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; in the ship at sea, at some little distance from the shore; the sea of Tiberias being rather a lake, and within land, had no tide, and so was still and quiet:

and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land; stood on the land, all along the sea shore; See Gill on Mat 13:1, Mat 13:2.

Gill: Mar 4:2 - And he taught them many things by parables // and said unto them in his doctrine

And he taught them many things by parables,.... As he sat in the ship, and they stood on shore;

and said unto them in his doctrine; as he was teaching them, and delivering unto them the doctrine he had received from his Father: though the Jews say ^c, that

"the Israelites will have no need לתלמודו של מלך משיח, "of the doctrine of the king Messiah, in the time to come"; because it is said, "unto him shall the Gentiles seek", and not the Israelites.''

But it appears from hence, and many other places, that the Israelites both stood in need of his doctrine, and sought after it; and very excellent it was; the doctrine of God, and of the grace of God; and was spoken with authority, and in such a manner as never man spake, and which he delivered to his apostles; and which, if ministers bring not with them, should not be bid God speed.

Gill: Mar 4:3 - Hearken, behold, there went out a sower to sow.

Hearken, behold, there went out a sower to sow. By whom is meant Jesus Christ, who came forth from God as a teacher, and went out into the land of Judea to preach the Gospel, which is sowing spiritual things among men; and this may be also applicable to any faithful minister of the word.

Gill: Mar 4:4 - And it came to pass, as he sowed // some fell by the way side // and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up

And it came to pass, as he sowed,.... Whilst he was preaching the, Gospel, casting about the precious seed of the word, he was laden with:

some fell by the way side; the common beaten path: the word was dispensed among some men comparable to it, on whom it lighted, but made no impression; there it lay, though not long, and was not inwardly received, and took no root, and consequently was of no effect:

and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up; the devils, who have their abode in the air, especially the prince of the posse of them; and the Syriac version reads it in the singular number, "and the fowl came"; that ravenous bird of prey, Satan, who goes about seeking what he may devour; and for this purpose attends where the word is preached, to hinder its usefulness as much as in him lies.