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the Week of Proper 13 / Ordinary 18
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THE MESSAGE

Mark 4:26

Then Jesus said, "God's kingdom is like seed thrown on a field by a man who then goes to bed and forgets about it. The seed sprouts and grows—he has no idea how it happens. The earth does it all without his help: first a green stem of grass, then a bud, then the ripened grain. When the grain is fully formed, he reaps—harvest time!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Kingdom of Heaven;   Regeneration;   Sermon;   Symbols and Similitudes;   Word of God;   Thompson Chain Reference - Kingdom, Similitudes of;   Parables;   Similitudes;   Truth;   The Topic Concordance - Kingdom of God;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Emblems of the Holy Spirit, the;   Parables;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Kingdom of god;   Parables;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christ, Christology;   Kingdom of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Mark, the Gospel According to;   Nicodemus;   Parable;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Mark, the Gospel of;   Messianic Secret;   Parables;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Kingdom of God;   Mark, Gospel According to;   Parable;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Character;   Discourse;   Doctrines;   Husbandman ;   Kingdom Kingdom of God;   Kingdom of God (or Heaven);   Lord's Prayer (Ii);   Mark, Gospel According to;   Mission;   Nature and Natural Phenomena;   Parousia (2);   Physical ;   Progress;   Prophet;   Science (2);   Seed;   Seed (2);   Seventy (2);   Social Life;   Tares ;   Teaching of Jesus;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   Kingdom or Church of Christ, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jesus Christ (Part 1 of 2);   Kingdom of God (of Heaven), the;   Mark, the Gospel According to;   Parable;   Providence;   Seed;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - New Testament;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for October 12;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“The kingdom of God
King James Version (1611)
And he said, So is the kingdome of God, as if a man should cast seede into the ground,
King James Version
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
English Standard Version
And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.
New American Standard Bible
And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;
New Century Version
Then Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is like someone who plants seed in the ground.
Amplified Bible
Then He said, "The kingdom of God is like a man who throws seed on the ground;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;
Legacy Standard Bible
And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;
Berean Standard Bible
Jesus also said, "The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
Contemporary English Version
Again Jesus said: God's kingdom is like what happens when a farmer scatters seed in a field.
Complete Jewish Bible
And he said, "The Kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
Darby Translation
And he said, Thus is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth,
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Jesus said, "God's kingdom is like a man who plants seed in the ground.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Also he said, So is the kingdome of God, as if a man should cast seede in the ground,
George Lamsa Translation
And he said, Such is the kingdom of God, like a man who casts seed in the ground.
Good News Translation
Jesus went on to say, "The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his field.
Lexham English Bible
And he said, "The kingdom of God is like this: like a man scatters seed on the ground.
Literal Translation
And He said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed on the earth,
American Standard Version
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth;
Bible in Basic English
And he said, Such is the kingdom of God, as if a man put seed in the earth,
Hebrew Names Version
He said, "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed on the eretz,
International Standard Version
He was also saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground.Matthew 13:24;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as a man who shall cast seed into the earth;
Murdock Translation
And he said: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he sayde, so is the kyngdome of God: euen as yf a man shoulde sowe seede in the grounde,
English Revised Version
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth;
World English Bible
He said, "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed on the earth,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground,
Weymouth's New Testament
Another saying of His was this: "The Kingdom of God is as if a man scattered seed over the ground:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide, So the kingdom of God is, as if a man caste seede in to the erthe,
Update Bible Version
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed on the earth;
Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
New English Translation
He also said, "The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground.
New King James Version
And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,
New Living Translation
Jesus also said, "The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.
New Life Bible
He said, "The holy nation of God is like a man who plants seed in the ground.
New Revised Standard
He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he was saying - Thus, is the kingdom of God: As a man may cast seed upon the earth,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the earth,
Revised Standard Version
And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he sayde: so is the kyngdome of God even as yf a man shuld sowe seed in ye groude
Young's Literal Translation
And he said, `Thus is the reign of God: as if a man may cast the seed on the earth,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he sayde: The kyngdome of God is after this maner, as when a man casteth sede vpon the londe,
Mace New Testament (1729)
Again, he said, the state of the gospel is like that of the grain, which a man sows in his land:
Simplified Cowboy Version
Jesus also told them, "God's Green Pasture is like a farmer that plants seeds in a field.

Contextual Overview

21Jesus went on: "Does anyone bring a lamp home and put it under a washtub or beneath the bed? Don't you put it up on a table or on the mantel? We're not keeping secrets, we're telling them; we're not hiding things, we're bringing them out into the open. 23 "Are you listening to this? Really listening? 24"Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes." 26Then Jesus said, "God's kingdom is like seed thrown on a field by a man who then goes to bed and forgets about it. The seed sprouts and grows—he has no idea how it happens. The earth does it all without his help: first a green stem of grass, then a bud, then the ripened grain. When the grain is fully formed, he reaps—harvest time! 30"How can we picture God's kingdom? What kind of story can we use? It's like a pine nut. When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go, yet once it is planted it grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches. Eagles nest in it." 33With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

So: Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Matthew 13:11, Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:18

as: Mark 4:3, Mark 4:4, Mark 4:14-20, Proverbs 11:18, Ecclesiastes 11:4, Ecclesiastes 11:6, Isaiah 28:24-26, Isaiah 32:20, Matthew 13:3, Matthew 13:24, Luke 8:5, Luke 8:11, John 4:36-38, John 12:24, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, James 3:18, 1 Peter 1:23-25

Reciprocal: Isaiah 61:11 - as the earth Matthew 13:26 - General John 3:8 - so 1 Corinthians 3:9 - ye are God's 1 Corinthians 15:38 - General Colossians 1:6 - bringeth

Cross-References

Genesis 4:15
God told him, "No. Anyone who kills Cain will pay for it seven times over." God put a mark on Cain to protect him so that no one who met him would kill him.
Genesis 4:17
Cain slept with his wife. She conceived and had Enoch. He then built a city and named it after his son, Enoch. Enoch had Irad, Irad had Mehujael, Mehujael had Methushael, Methushael had Lamech.
Genesis 12:8
He moved on from there to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent between Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. He built an altar there and prayed to God .
Genesis 26:25
Isaac built an altar there and prayed, calling on God by name. He pitched his tent and his servants started digging another well.
Isaiah 48:1
"And now listen to this, family of Jacob, you who are called by the name Israel: Who got you started in the loins of Judah, you who use God 's name to back up your promises and pray to the God of Israel? But do you mean it? Do you live like it? You claim to be citizens of the Holy City; you act as though you lean on the God of Israel, named God -of-the-Angel-Armies. For a long time now, I've let you in on the way I work: I told you what I was going to do beforehand, then I did it and it was done, and that's that. I know you're a bunch of hardheads, obstinate and flint-faced, So I got a running start and began telling you what was going on before it even happened. That is why you can't say, ‘My god-idol did this.' ‘My favorite god-carving commanded this.' You have all this evidence confirmed by your own eyes and ears. Shouldn't you be talking about it? And that was just the beginning. I have a lot more to tell you, things you never knew existed. This isn't a variation on the same old thing. This is new, brand-new, something you'd never guess or dream up. When you hear this you won't be able to say, ‘I knew that all along.' You've never been good listeners to me. You have a history of ignoring me, A sorry track record of fickle attachments— rebels from the womb. But out of the sheer goodness of my heart, because of who I am, I keep a tight rein on my anger and hold my temper. I don't wash my hands of you. Do you see what I've done? I've refined you, but not without fire. I've tested you like silver in the furnace of affliction. Out of myself, simply because of who I am, I do what I do. I have my reputation to keep up. I'm not playing second fiddle to either gods or people.
Isaiah 63:19
Who Goes There? The watchmen call out, "Who goes there, marching out of Edom, out of Bozrah in clothes dyed red? Name yourself, so splendidly dressed, advancing, bristling with power!" "It is I: I speak what is right, I, mighty to save!" "And why are your robes so red, your clothes dyed red like those who tread grapes?" "I've been treading the winepress alone. No one was there to help me. Angrily, I stomped the grapes; raging, I trampled the people. Their blood spurted all over me— all my clothes were soaked with blood. I was set on vengeance. The time for redemption had arrived. I looked around for someone to help —no one. I couldn't believe it —not one volunteer. So I went ahead and did it myself, fed and fueled by my rage. I trampled the people in my anger, crushed them under foot in my wrath, soaked the earth with their lifeblood." I'll make a list of God 's gracious dealings, all the things God has done that need praising, All the generous bounties of God , his great goodness to the family of Israel— Compassion lavished, love extravagant. He said, "Without question these are my people, children who would never betray me." So he became their Savior. In all their troubles, he was troubled, too. He didn't send someone else to help them. He did it himself, in person. Out of his own love and pity he redeemed them. He rescued them and carried them along for a long, long time. But they turned on him; they grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned on them, became their enemy and fought them. Then they remembered the old days, the days of Moses, God's servant: "Where is he who brought the shepherds of his flock up and out of the sea? And what happened to the One who set his Holy Spirit within them? Who linked his arm with Moses' right arm, divided the waters before them, Making him famous ever after, and led them through the muddy abyss as surefooted as horses on hard, level ground? Like a herd of cattle led to pasture, the Spirit of God gave them rest." That's how you led your people! That's how you became so famous! Look down from heaven, look at us! Look out the window of your holy and magnificent house! Whatever happened to your passion, your famous mighty acts, Your heartfelt pity, your compassion? Why are you holding back? You are our Father. Abraham and Israel are long dead. They wouldn't know us from Adam. But you're our living Father, our Redeemer, famous from eternity! Why, God , did you make us wander from your ways? Why did you make us cold and stubborn so that we no longer worshiped you in awe? Turn back for the sake of your servants. You own us! We belong to you! For a while your holy people had it good, but now our enemies have wrecked your holy place. For a long time now, you've paid no attention to us. It's like you never knew us.
Zephaniah 3:9
"In the end I will turn things around for the people. I'll give them a language undistorted, unpolluted, Words to address God in worship and, united, to serve me with their shoulders to the wheel. They'll come from beyond the Ethiopian rivers, they'll come praying— All my scattered, exiled people will come home with offerings for worship. You'll no longer have to be ashamed of all those acts of rebellion. I'll have gotten rid of your arrogant leaders. No more pious strutting on my holy hill! I'll leave a core of people among you who are poor in spirit— What's left of Israel that's really Israel. They'll make their home in God . This core holy people will not do wrong. They won't lie, won't use words to flatter or seduce. Content with who they are and where they are, unanxious, they'll live at peace."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he said,.... He went on saying the following parable, which was delivered at the same time that the parable of the sower was, though omitted by Matthew; and is here placed between that, and the other concerning the grain of mustard seed; which shows the time when it was spoken. The design of it is to set forth the nature of the word, and the ministration of it; the conduct of the ministers of the Gospel, when they have dispensed it; the imperceptibleness of its springing and growth; the fruitfulness of it, when it has taken root, without the help of man; the gradual increase of grace under the instrumentality of the word; and the gathering of gracious souls, when grace is brought to maturity:

so is the kingdom of God; such is the nature of the Gospel dispensation; and such are the things that are done in it, as may fitly be represented by the following;

as if a man should cast seed into the ground: by "the man", is not meant Christ, for he sleeps not; and besides, he knows how the seed springs and grows; but any Gospel minister, who is sent forth by Christ, bearing precious seed: and by seed is intended, not gracious persons, the children of the kingdom, as in the parable of the tares; nor the grace of God in them, though that is an incorruptible and an abiding seed; but the word of God, or Gospel of Christ, so called for its smallness, the diminutive character it bears, and contempt it is had in by some; and for its choiceness and excellency in itself, and in the account of others; and for its generative virtue under a divine influence: for the Gospel is like the manna, which was a small round thing, as a coriander seed; and as that was contemptible in the eyes of the Israelites, so the preaching of the Gospel is, to them that perish, foolishness; and yet it is choice and precious seed in itself, and to those who know the value of it, by whom it is preferred to thousands of gold and silver; and, as worthless and unpromising as it may seem to be, it has a divine virtue put into it; and, under the influence of powerful and efficacious grace, it is the means of regenerating souls, and produces fruit in them, which will remain unto everlasting life: though, as the seed is of no use this way, unless it is sown in the earth, and covered there; so is the Gospel of no use for regeneration, unless it is by the power of God let into the heart, and received there, where, through that power, it works effectually. By "casting" it into the earth, the preaching of the word is designed; which, like casting seed into the earth, is done with the same sort of seed only, and not with different sorts, with plenty of it, and at the proper time, whatever discouragements there may be, and with great skill and judgment, committing it to God to raise it up again: for the faithful dispensers of the word do not spread divers and strange doctrines; their ministry is all of apiece; they always sow the same like precious seed, without any mixture of the tares of error and heresy; and they do not deal it out in a narrow and niggardly way; they do not restrain and conceal any part of truth, but plentifully distribute it, and declare the whole counsel of God; and though there may be many discouragements attend them, many temptations arise to put off from sowing the word; the weather bad, storms and tempests arise, reproaches and persecutions come thick and fast, still they go on; using all that heavenly skill, prudence, and discretion God has given them, preaching the word in season, and out of season; and when they have done, they leave their work with the Lord, knowing that Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but it is God only that gives the increase: and by the "ground", into which it is cast, As meant the hearers of the word, who are of different sorts; some like the way side, others like the stony ground, and others like the thorny earth, and some like good ground, as here; whose hearts are broke up by the Spirit of God, the stoniness of them taken away, and they made susceptive of the good word.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

So is the kingdom of God - The gospel, or religion in the soul, may be compared to this. See the notes at Matthew 3:2. This parable is recorded only by Mark.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 26. So is the kingdom of God — This parable is mentioned only by Mark, a proof that Mark did not abridge Matthew. Whitby supposes it to refer to the good ground spoken of before, and paraphrases is thus: - "What I have said of the seed sown upon good ground, may be illustrated by this parable. The doctrine of the kingdom, received in a good and honest heart, is like seed sown by a man in his ground, properly prepared to receive it; for when he hath sown it, he sleeps and wakes day after day, and, looking on it, he sees it spring and grow up through the virtue of the earth in which it is sown, though he knows not how it doth so; and when he finds it ripe, he reaps it, and so receives the benefit of the sown seed. So is it here: the seed sown in the good and honest heart brings forth fruit with patience; and this fruit daily increaseth, though we know not how the Word and Spirit work that increase; and then Christ the husbandman, at the time of the harvest, gathers in this good seed into the kingdom of heaven." I see no necessity of inquiring how Christ may be said to sleep and rise night and day; Christ being like to this husbandman only in sowing and reaping the seed.


 
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