Parables of growth (Mark 4:26-34)

I. The Parable of the Seed Growing Spontaneously (4:26–29)

26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

A. God works even when our work is done.

This parable is found exclusively in Mark. The point of this parable is the passivity of the person who scatters and the power of God in acting apart from any human contribution. The sower scatters and then it is out of his hands.

The parable of the seed growing by itself has its own unique message to convey. Determining the precise focus of the parable is difficult. The sower plays a minimal role. The success of the Christian message similarly does not depend upon human effort or understanding—though Christians certainly need to scatter the seed—but upon divine power.

B. It will succeed because God is active.

The kingdom cannot be brought about by stringent activity or any other human effort unaided by God. This reminds us that we cannot make the seed grow; in fact, we cannot even explain how it grows.

It takes a good deal of faith to be a farmer, and also a good deal of patience. In the Parable of the Sower and the Soils, the Lord suggested that much of the seed scattered would fall on unproductive soil. This fact could discourage His workers.

So Jesus telling this story—and Mark recording it—encouraged disciples who were experiencing rejection of their message and frustration at their lack of understanding of God’s mysterious purposes that God’s kingdom would surely come.

II. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (4:30–32)

30 Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

A. This parable gave the disciples both warning and encouragement.

The encouragement was that, from very small beginnings, the kingdom would eventually grow in size and in influence. While a mustard seed is not the smallest seed in the world, it was probably the smallest seed that the Jews sowed in their gardens. It was a traditional symbol of that which is tiny.

Our Lord began with 12 Apostles. Later, there were as many as 500 believers (1 Cor. 15:6). Peter won 3,000 at Pentecost; and throughout the Book of Acts, that number steadily increased (Acts 4:4; 5:14; 6:1, 7). In spite of the sins and weaknesses of the church, the message has been carried to other nations; and one day, saints from every nation shall worship before His throne

B. What about the birds in the branches.

In the Parable of the Sower and Soils, the birds stood for Satan, who snatches the seed (Mark 4:15). If we are to be consistent in our interpretation, we must take this into consideration, for both parables were taught on the same day. The growth of the kingdom will not result in the conversion of the world. In fact, some of the growth will give opportunity for Satan to get in and go to work!

There was Judas in the disciple band, and Ananias and Sapphira were in fellowship with the Jerusalem church (Acts 5:1–11). Simon Magus was part of the church in Samaria (Acts 8:1–24), and Satan’s ministers boldly invaded the Corinthian church (2 Cor. 11:13–15). The bigger the net, the greater the possibility of catching both good and bad fish

III. Conclusion (4:33–34)

33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

A. Mark presented only a small selection of what Jesus taught.

The closing verses show that these are only samples of the many illustrations that Jesus used, and they show his graded method of instruction and explanation (as much as they could understand) to those who would listen. If the others had been ready to listen, then they too would have understood, and so would have received more teaching, as the disciples did.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, we become citizens of the heavenly nation, children in God’s family, and subjects of the King of kings and Lord of lords. What a privilege it is to know the Lord Jesus Christ! There is no unfair favoritism in the kingdom of God; we all have the same opportunities of spiritual growth, if only we will take them.

B. Everything Jesus taught was an enigma to those who were hostile or indifferent.

Jesus’ teaching point in a clear direction, but the destination cannot be seen from the vantage point of the hearing or the seeing. That destination is found only by perceiving that there is more to the ministry than meets the eye or the ear, and by following that perception through to the one who stands at the center of all that is happening.

The Twelve have taken steps in that direction, largely because they were called. The religious leadership refused to contemplate that possibility and were moving in the opposite direction. This drew a distinction between Jesus’ followers and those who refused to hear and understand.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, we become citizens of the heavenly nation, children in God’s family, and subjects of the King of kings and Lord of lords. What a privilege it is to know the Lord Jesus Christ!