Mark 4:26-34
Chapter 4
Parable of the Vitality of the Seed
He said: “In the kingdom of God, it’s like this: a man plants seeds in the soil.Whether he is asleep or awake, day or night, the seeds sprout and grow; he does not know how.
The soil produces on its own: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
When it is ready for harvest, they pull out the sickle to cut it—because the harvest time has come.”
Parable of the Mustard Seed
He said:
“What is the kingdom of God like? To what shall we compare it?
It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown, is the smallest of all the seeds scattered upon the soil.
But once sown, it grows up and becomes the largest of the plants in the garden; and it even grows branches so big that the birds of the air can take shelter in its shade.”
Use of Parables
Jesus used many such stories to communicate the word in a way they could understand.
He would not teach them without parables, but privately, to his disciples, he explained everything.
Commentaries
Parable of the Vitality of the Seed – Parable of the Mustard Seed.
The theme of these parables is the dynamic and paradoxical process of the kingdom. The first highlights its vital force: it grows gradually in silence, unnoticed, beyond human successes and failures, because it is God himself who makes it grow. The second emphasizes its paradoxical nature; it appears insignificant, but once set in motion, it has no boundaries and is open to all. These two parables serve as a message of encouragement and hope, not only for the disciples of that time but also for us, the disciples of today. It is an invitation to engage in the work of the kingdom, trusting our efforts to the power of God.
Use of Parables.
With these verses, Mark concludes his presentation of Jesus as Teacher. The phrase “according to what they could understand” refers not only to the intellectual ability but also to the willingness to accept the Word.