John Gill Commentary Mark 4:30

"And he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth?" — Mark 4:30 (ASV)

And he said
Still continuing his discourse on this subject, and in order to convey to the minds of his disciples clearer ideas of the Gospel dispensation, the success of the Gospel, and the usefulness of their ministration of it.

This was for their encouragement, however unpromising things might then be:

whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison
shall we compare it ?
It was usual with the Jewish doctors, when about to illustrate anything in a parabolical way to begin with such questions; as, (hmwd rbdh hml) , "to what is this thing like" ^F4 ? when the answer is to such or such thing, as here.

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F4: T. Hieros. Bava Bathra, fol. 16. 2. T. Bab. Zebachim, fol. 82. 1. & Sabbat, fol. 108. 1. & passim.