CHAPTER IV. AND he began again to teach by the sea-side; and there was gathered unto him a great 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased, and brought forth, some thirty, and multitude, so that he entered some sixty, and some a huninto a ship, and sat in the sea; | dred. and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them, in his doctrine, 3 Hearken: Behold, there went out a sower to sow; 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. CHAPTER IV. 1-9. Compare Matt. 13: 1–9. 10. When he was alone; that is, in the absence of the people; when there were present only the twelve disciples and a few others, who felt specially interested in the Saviour's instructions. || Asked of him the parable; the explanation of the parable. 11. Them that are without; them that do not belong to my company, who do not seek and do not enjoy intimate familiarity with me, as being deeply interested in my teaching. 9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. 13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? of Matthew in those verses furnishes aid in explaining the more brief language of Mark in this. That. The Greek particle thus rendered has sometimes the same meaning as the particle used by Matthew (13: 13), and signifying for that, or because. By the aid of this remark, the idea contained in the verse under consideration may be thus expressed: "for that (or because) though they see, yet they do not perceive; though they hear, yet they do not understand; so that they are not converted, 12. In order to understand this [so that they do not turn from their verse, it is desirable to read Matt. 13: sins,] and their sins are not forgiven 11-15, with the notes on those them." || Lest. See on Matt. 13: verses. The more copious language | 15. The original word thus rendered 14 The sower soweth the riches, and the lusts of other word. things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 15 And these are they by the way-side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of expresses the idea which we express by the terms so that [they will] not," &c. 14-20. Compare Matt. 13: 18-23. 21. A candle-bushel — candlestick. See on Matt. 5:15. || Under a bed. Beds, in the East, did not admit of a lamp's being placed under them; bedsteads, like ours, not being in use. Mattresses, or quilts, laid on an elevation, in a side of the room, composed the bed. The original word here signifies, not a bed to sleep on, but a couch on which the people reclined at their meals, and which was elevated three or four feet above the floor. By the comparison here employed, the Saviour showed his disciples that more abundant instruction was given to them than to the multitude, in order that they might impart to others the benefits which they had received from their Master. On them 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred. 21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear with what measure ye mete, it shall it would be incumbent to spread divine instruction. 22. Manifested. No part of the Saviour's instructions was intended to be always kept in obscurity; his design was, that in due time the truths which he was communicating should be distinctly and fully apprehended. When that time should arrive, his disciples were to be employed in the work of announcing and explaining his doctrines to the world. 23. Let him hear. It was the duty, then, of the disciples to hear attentively, and become prepared for their work. 24. What ye hear; probably, in what manner ye hear. Compare Luke 8: 18. The idea would be well expressed thus: "Take heed to (that is, consider carefully) what ye hear." With what measure, &c.; a common be measured to you; and unto | putteth in the sickle, because you that hear shall more be the harvest is come. given. 25 For he that hath, to him shall be given and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. 26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear; after that, the full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he 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 all the seeds that be in the earth: and 32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. 33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. drew an illustration respecting his religion. The husbandman commits the seed to the ground, and there quietly leaves it. By the care of divine providence, it springs up, and produces mature fruit, which at the proper time is gathered in. So, the principles of the Messiah's religion were communicated to men; God will make them efficacious, and secure the spread of them; blessed results will infallibly grow from these prof-principles, in the spiritual welfare and salvation of men. proverb, applicable in various circum- 25. Compare Matt. 13: 12. The history of the Christian religion affords the appropriate illustration of this parable. Christianity has been exerting its influence; it has produced happy results; and when the end of the world shall have come, countless multitudes, sanctified and redeemed, will be welcomed to the holiness and bliss of heaven. 30-32. Compare Matt. 13: 31, 32. 33. As they were able to hear it. Jesus accommodated himself, in his teaching, to the ability of the people. He knew their ignorance and their prepossessions; and like a wise, affectionate teacher, he adapted his in 34 But without a parable | the sea, Peace, be still. And spake he not unto them: and the wind ceased, and there was when they were alone, he ex- a great calm. pounded all things to his disciples. 35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship: and there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto structions to their necessities and their capacities. This remark of the evangelist confirms the view presented of v. 12; and shows that the Saviour was not harsh, and did not deal in vengeance with the ignorant, misjudging multitude; but in a patient and condescending manner sought to gain a lodgement in their hearts for the great principles of his religion. How worthy an example for ministers of the gospel, for parents, and for all who are engaged in the work of religious instruction! 34. Expounded; explained. 35-41 Compare Matt. 8: 18, 23 -27. They took him even as he was in the ship; just as he then was, without waiting to make any particular preparation for the tour, and without any intermission of his labors. 40. No faith. Compare Matt. 8: 26, who relates that Jesus said, O ye VOL. I. 22 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? A CHAPTER V. ND they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: of little faith. In animated speaking or description, expressions are often used which are not to be strictly understood. In the present instance, Jesus did not mean to charge the disciples with an utter destitution of faith; but with a lamentable deficiency of it, shown by their being filled with terror. Their going to Jesus in the midst of their fears, shows that they had some confidence in him as able to rescue them from danger. 4 Because that he had been to the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand,) and were choked in the sea. often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, that thou 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out and entered in self before him. 9. Legion. This was the name of a division in the Roman armies, comprising a few thousands of men. Hence the word came to be used indefinitely for a multitude. 14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. |