Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 4:28

"The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear." — Mark 4:28 (ASV)

This parable emphasizes the mysterious power of the seed to produce a crop. All the farmer can do is plant the seed on suitable ground; he cannot make the seed grow, nor does he understand how it grows. But it does grow and produces grain. In the same way, the hidden and somewhat ambiguous kingdom of God will some day burst out in its full glory. The harvest spoken of is the eschatological judgment (cf. Joel 3:13).