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Bible Commentaries
Mark 4

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Verses 10-20

Jesus explains the parable of the four soils

Matthew 13:10-23	Mark 4:10-20	Luke 8:9-15
Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?	Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.	Luke 8:9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.	Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without,	Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God:
Matthew 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Matthew 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables:	all [these] things are done in parables:	but to others in parables;
because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.	Mark 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.	that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Matthew 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Matthew 13:16 But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. Matthew 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous [men] have desired to see [those things] which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear [those things] which ye hear, and have not heard [them].

Matthew 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.	Mark 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?	Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this:
	Mark 4:14 The sower soweth the word.	The seed is the word of God.
Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.	Mark 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.	Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Matthew 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;	Mark 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;	Luke 8:13 They on the rock [are they], which, when they hear, receive the word with joy;
Matthew 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.	Mark 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.	and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word;	Mark 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,	Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth,
and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.	Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.	and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.	Mark 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive [it], and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.	Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience.

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Verses 21-22

Jesus teaches about being the light of the world

Matthew 5:14-16

Mark 4:21-22

Luke 8:16-18

Luke 11:33-36

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

	Lamp on a stand	Lamp on a stand	Lamp of the body
Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.	Mark 4:21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?	Luke 8:16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth [it] under a bed; but setteth [it] on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.	Luke 11:33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth [it] in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.	Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.	Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither [any thing] hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.	Luke 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when [thine eye] is evil, thy body also [is] full of darkness.
	Mark 4:23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
	Mark 4:24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that have shall more be given.	Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear:	Luke 11:35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
Matthew 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.	Mark 4:25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.	for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.	Matthew 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Luke 11:36 If thy whole body therefore [be] full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

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Verses 30-32

Jesus tells the parable of the mustard seed

Matthew 13:31-32	Mark 4:30-32	Luke 13:18-19
Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven	Mark 4:30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?	Luke 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:	Mark 4:31 [It is] like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth,	Luke 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden;
Matthew 13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds:	is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.	Mark 4:32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.	and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

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Verses 35-41

Jesus calms the storm

Matthew 8:23-27	Mark 4:35-41	Luke 8:22-25
Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.	Mark 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.	Luke 8:22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

Mark 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.	Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow:	Luke 8:23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled [with water], and were in jeopardy.
Matthew 8:25 And his disciples came to [him], and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.	and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?	Luke 8:24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish.
	Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.	Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.	Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?	Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith?
Matthew 8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!	Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?	And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

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Bibliographical Information
"Commentary on Mark 4". "The Gospels Compared". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/tgc/mark-4.html. 2014.

Matthew 13:1-9	Mark 4:1-9	Luke 8:4-8
Matthew 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.	Mark 4:1 And he began again to teach by the sea side:
Matthew 13:2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.	and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.	Luke 8:4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city,
Matthew 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying,	Mark 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,	he spake by a parable:
Behold, a sower went forth to sow;	Mark 4:3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:	Luke 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed:
Matthew 13:4 And when he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:	Mark 4:4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.	and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
Matthew 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:	Mark 4:5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:	Luke 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up,
Matthew 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched;	Mark 4:6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched;
and because they had no root, they withered away.	and because it had no root, it withered away.	it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
Matthew 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:	Mark 4:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.	Luke 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.	Mark 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.	Luke 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold.
Matthew 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.	Mark 4:9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.	And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Bible Commentaries
Mark 4

The Gospels ComparedGospels Compared

Verses 1-9

Verses 10-20

Verses 21-22

Verses 30-32

Verses 35-41

Bible CommentariesMark 4

The Gospels ComparedGospels Compared

Verses 1-9

Verses 10-20

Verses 21-22

Verses 30-32

Verses 35-41

Bible Commentaries
Mark 4