A.T. Robertson Commentary Mark 4
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Mark 4
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Mark 4
"And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land." — Mark 4:1 (ASV)
Sat in the sea (καθησθα εν τη θαλασση). In the boat, of course, which was in the sea. He first sat by the beach (Matthew 13:1) and then a very great multitude (οχλος πλειστος) made him enter a boat in which he sat and taught. It was a common experience now to teach the crowds on the beach (2:1,13; 3:7-9).
There is gathered (συναγετα). Graphic pictorial present again. See the crowds pressing Jesus into the sea.
"And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his teaching," — Mark 4:2 (ASV)
He taught them (εδιδασκεν αυτους). Imperfect tense describing it as going on.
In parables (εν παραβολαις). As in 3:23, only here more extended parables. See on Mt 13 for discussion concerning Christ's use of parables. Eight are given there, one (the Lamp both in Mr 4:21 and Lu 8:16 (both Sower and the Lamp in Luke), one alone in Mr 4:26-29 (seed growing of itself) not in Matthew or Luke, ten on this occasion. Only four are mentioned in Mr 4:1-34 (The Sower, the Lamp, the Seed Growing of Itself, the Mustard Seed). But Mark adds (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 (Matthew 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. In beginning Jesus said:
Hearken (Ακουετε). It is significant that even Jesus had to ask people to listen when he spoke. See also verse 9.
"And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit." — Mark 4:7 (ASV)
Choked (συνεπνιξαν). Πνιγω means to strangle, throttle. Mark has the compounded form with συν-, squeezed together. Matthew 13:7 has απεπνιξαν,
choked off .
Yielded no fruit (καρπον ουκ εδωκαν). In Mark alone. Barren in results.
"And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold." — Mark 4:8 (ASV)
Growing up and increasing (αναβαινοντα κα αυξανομενα). In Mark alone. A vivid detail enlarging on the continued growth implied in the imperfect "yielded fruit" (εδιδου καρπον). It kept on yielding as it grew. Fruit is what matters.
"And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables." — Mark 4:10 (ASV)
When he was alone (οτε εγενετο κατα μονας). Only in Mark. Vivid recollection of Peter. Mark has also "they that were about him with the twelve" (ο περ αυτον συν τοις δωδεκα), Matthew and Luke simply "the disciples." They did not want the multitude to see that they did not understand the teaching of Jesus.
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