Church Fathers Commentary Mark 4:30-34

"And he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth, yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it; and without a parable spake he not unto them: but privately to his own disciples he expounded all things." — Mark 4:30-34 (ASV)

Glossa Ordinaria: After telling the parable about the fruit that comes from the seed of the Gospel, he now adds another parable to show the excellence of the Gospel's doctrine above all other doctrines.

For this reason, it is said, And He said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God?

Theophylact of Ohrid: The word of faith is very brief indeed: Believe in God, and you will be saved. But its preaching has spread far and wide over the earth and has grown so much that the birds of heaven—that is, contemplative people, sublime in understanding and knowledge—dwell under it.

For how many wise men among the Gentiles, leaving their wisdom behind, have found rest in the preaching of the Gospel! Therefore, its preaching is greater than all.

St. John Chrysostom: And also, because the wisdom spoken among the perfect expands what was told to people in short discourses—growing to an extent greater than all other sayings—for there is nothing greater than this truth.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Again, it put forth great boughs, for the Apostles branched out like the boughs of a tree—some to Rome, some to India, and some to other parts of the world.

Pseudo-Jerome: Alternatively, that seed is very small in fear but great when it has grown into charity, which is greater than all herbs, for God is love (1 John 4:16), while all flesh is grass (Isaiah 40:6).

The boughs which it puts forth are those of mercy and compassion, since under its shade the poor of Christ—who are meant by the living creatures of the heavens—delight to dwell.

The Venerable Bede: Again, the man who sows is interpreted by many to be the Savior Himself, and by others, as a person sowing in their own heart.

St. John Chrysostom: Then after this, Mark, who delights in brevity, adds this to show the nature of the parables: And with many such parables spake He the word unto them as they could hear Him.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Since the multitude was uneducated, He instructs them using examples from food and familiar things. For this reason, He adds, But without a parable spake He not unto them, that is, so that they would be encouraged to approach and ask Him.

The text continues, And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples—that is, all the things they did not understand and asked Him about, not simply everything, whether it was obscure or not.

Pseudo-Jerome: For they were worthy to hear the mysteries privately, in the most secret sanctuary of wisdom. They were people who, removed from the crowds of evil thoughts, remained in the solitude of virtue; for wisdom is received in a time of quiet.