Mark Lesson #06

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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
MARK 4:1-34
LESSON #06
MARK’S KINGDOM PARABLES OF ACTION

• MEMORY VERSE: MARK 4:9
• READ MAR 4:1-2
• THE MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE FOLLOWING JESUS HAVE BECOME SO GREAT THAT HE DOES NOT TEACH IN A HOUSE BUT ENTERS A BOAT AND PREACHES FROM THE BOAT TO THE PEOPLE ON SHORE. THIS IS ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH HIS 3 ½ YEAR MINISTRY.
• THERE IS AN IMPORTANT SYMBOLISM TO THIS ACTION. A HOUSE IS THE SYMBOL FOR THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL OR THE NATION OF ISRAEL, WHILE THE SEA IS A SYMBOL FOR THE GENTILE NATIONS.
• IN OTHER WORDS, JESUS’ MINISTRY HAS GROWN BEYOND THE HEARING OF THE JEWS. THEREFORE, THE FOLLOWING FOUR PARABLES HAVE A WORLD-WIDE SIGNIFICANCE AND RELATE ONE TO ANOTHER.
• WHY DID JESUS TEACH IN PARABLES WHEN MANY PEOPLE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THEM AND STILL DON’T TODAY?
• READ MAT 13:10-17,35
• THEY WITHDRAW THE LIGHT FROM THOSE WHO LOVE DARKNESS, SUCH AS HIS ENEMIES AND THOSE ONLY SEEKING MIRACLES.
• THEY REVEAL THE SEEKERS AFTER TRUTH WHO ARE HUNGRY FOR SPIRITUAL TRUTH. (1COR 2:9-10, 13-14)
• THEY ATTRACT THOSE WHO ARE DETERMINED TO KNOW TRUTH.
• THEY ARE EASILY REMEMBERED.
• THEY PROMOTE REASONING FOR THEIR MEANINGS MUST BE STUDIED.
• THEY STIR UP AND INCITE AFFECTION.
• THEY AWAKEN THE CONSCIENCE.
• THEY HOLD ATTENTION.
• THEY PRESERVE TRUTH.
• WHAT MEN THINK OUT FOR THEMSELVES, THEY NEVER FORGET
• THEY FULFILL PROPHECY.
• WHAT IS A PARABLE?
• THE WORD, PARABLE, HAS A BROAD MEANING OF USES THAT COVERS MANY PHASES OF FIGURATIVE SPEECH SUCH AS SIMILITUDES, COMPARISONS, SAYINGS, AND PROVERBS.
• THE ROOT WORD “PARABLE” MEANS = “TO BE LIKE”; TO REPRESENT OR STAND FOR SOMETHING; A LIKENESS OR RESEMBLANCE.
• THE GREEK WORD IMPLIES “BESIDE” OR “TO THROW OR CAST ALONG SIDE”. THIS SUGGESTS A NEARNESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPARISON EITHER FOR LIKENESS OR FOR DIFFERENCE.
• A PARABLE IS PUT IN WORDS OF A NATURAL STORY WITH A FORCEFUL APPLICATION; OR AN OUTWARD SYMBOL OF AN INWARD REALITY. IT IS BRINGING TWO THINGS TOGETHER SO THAT THE ONE HELPS TO EXPLAIN AND EMPHASIZE THE OTHER.
• READ MAR 4:3-20 THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER (MAT 13:1-23 AND LUK 8:4-15)
• THERE ARE THREE BASIC ELEMENTS IN THIS PARABLE: THE SOWER, THE SEED AND THE VARIOUS SOILS.
• THE SOWER:
• THE SOWER IS A GENERIC TERM, MEANING NOT A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL, BUT A CLASS OF PEOPLE.
• IT’S GOD IN JER 31:27
• IT’S CHRIST IN MAT 13:37
• IT’S EVERY CHRISTIAN IN 1COR 9:11
• THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SOWER IS TO SOW THE SEED. HE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE AS TO WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT. HE CANNOT MAKE IT GROW.
• THE SEED:
• THE SEED IS THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM (MAT 13:19)
• ALL THE SEED MUST BE SOWN, THE WHOLE GOSPEL OF GOD MUST BE PRESENTED.
• THE NATURE OF THE SEED:
• IT IS LIVING AND INCORRUPTIBLE (1PET 1:22-25),
• POWERFUL AND SOUL SAVING (ROM 1:16; 10:17),
• HEAVENLY AND DIVINE (ISA 55:10-11),
• IMMUTABLE AND EVERLASTING (ISA 40:8),
• ABLE TO SAVE (JAM 1:17,18,21)
• JESUS IS THE WORD IN JOH 1:1, SO HE IS ALSO THE SEED.
• JESUS IS THE SOWER AND THE SEED (LUK 4:16-22)
• THE VARIOUS SOILS:
• THE ATTENTION IS ON THE SOILS AND THEIR REACTION TO THE SEED.
• THE SOILS ARE THEREFORE THE HUMAN HEART AND THEIR REACTION TO THE WORD OF GOD..
• GROUND #1, THE WAYSIDE
• THE WAYSIDE REPRESENTS THE HEARER WITH THE CLOSED MIND, DESTITUTE OF SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION (PSA 14:1)
• THE SEED IS ON THE SURFACE BUT NOT IN THE SOIL.
• FOULS:
• THE FOULS REPRESENT SATAN AND HIS DEMONS.
• GROUND #2, THE STONY PLACES
• THIS IS THE EMOTIONAL HEARER, DEVOID OF DEPTH. HE IS SUPERFICIAL.
• THE SEED IS ON AND IN BUT NOT DOWN INTO THE SOIL. THE HEART IS HARD ROCK UNDERNEATH.
• SUN:
• THE SUN REPRESENTS TEMPTATIONS OR HARD TIMES IN THE LIFE OF THE PERSON.
• GROUND #3, AMONG THORNS
• THIS IS THE HEARER WITH A WANDERING MIND.
• THE SEED TAKES ROOT BUT BEARS NO FRUIT.
• THE SEED IS ON, IN, AND DOWN BUT DOES NOT COME UP BECAUSE IT IS CHOKED.
• THORNS:
• THE THORNS REPRESENT DAILY CARES, DESIRES OF THE WORLD, OR WORLDLY PLEASURES, RICHES. OR FORCES IN OPPOSITION TO THE NATURE OF THE SEED THAT ARE ALLOWED TO EXIST.
• WHY DOES YOUR GARDEN HAVE WEEDS?
• BECAUSE OF NEGLECT.
• WHAT ARE THESE THORNS THAT WE NEGLECT TO PULL?
• PETTY TRIFLING DISTRACTIONS OR EVENTS, FAMILY, DESIRES, WORK, ETC. ANYTHING THAT GETS IN THE WAY OF YOUR TOP PRIORITY, WHICH IS GOD. SOME OF THESE THORNS MAY BE LEGITIMATE WITHIN THEMSELVES, BUT THERE’S A LACK OF GOD AS TOP PRIORITY.
• NOTICE THEY ARE NOT JUST WEEDS, BUT THORNS. WE GET CAUGHT ON THEM!
• GROUND #4, GOOD GROUND (8)
• THIS IS THE SPIRITUALLY PERCEPTIVE HEARER.
• THE SEED IS ON, IN, DOWN, AND UP.
• THE SEED TOOK FULL HOLD, FILLING THE SOUL, MIND, HEART, CONSCIENCE, AND WILL.
• FRUIT:
• THE FRUIT IS PRODUCED FOR THE SOWER, CHRIST, AND BENEFITS OTHERS AROUND.
• THE SEED BEARS FRUIT IN PROPORTION AS IT IS ALLOWED TO POSSES THE HEART (LUK 8:15)
• WHAT DOES THE 30, 60, 100-FOLD MEAN (MAR 4:8)?
• THERE ARE UNEQUAL REWARDS TO THE CHRISTIAN ACCORDING TO WHAT HE PRODUCES IN HIS LIFE IN CONFORMITY TO GOD’S WILL.
• WHAT IS THE OVERALL CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER?
• HUMAN HEARTS ARE NOT EQUALLY RECEPTIVE TO CHRIST AND THE WORD OF GOD THOUGH THE GRACE OF GOD IS AVAILABLE TO ALL, BUT SOME PEOPLE ALLOW OTHER THINGS TO TAKE PRIORITY. GOD WANTS US TO BE SPIRITUALLY PERCEPTIVE AND PRODUCE FRUIT FOR HIS KINGDOM.
• NOTICE THAT THE ENEMY IN THE FIRST 3 SOWINGS IS:
• THE FOWLS = THE DEVIL
• THE SUN = THE FLESH NATURE
• THE THORNS = THE WORLD SYSTEM
• A QUESTION TO PONDER:
• WHICH OF THE FOUR HEARTS REPRESENTED BY THE FOUR SOILS WOULD YOU SAY IS SAVED?
• #1 SINCE THE DEVIL STOLE THE WORD BEFORE IT GOT DOWN INSIDE, THE PERSON IS NOT SAVED.
• LUK 8:12 SAYS “LEST THEY SHOULD BELIEVE AND BE SAVED”
• #2 SINCE THE WORD DID GET DOWN INSIDE, THE PERSON IS SAVED BUT LIVING A CARNAL LIFE
• LUK 8:13 SAYS “FOR AWHILE BELIEVE”
• THE WORD “BELIEVE” IS SAVING FAITH.
• THE ORIGINAL GREEK INDICATES THEY HAVE NO “FIRM” ROOT, IT DOES NOT INDICATE “NO ROOT”.
• ANYTIME THERE IS GERMINATION AND GROWTH, THERE IS SOME ROOT IN A PLANT.
• #3 SINCE THE WORD DID GET DOWN INSIDE, THE PERSON IS SAVED BUT WILL HAVE NO REWARDS
• LUK 8:14 SAYS THERE IS NO FRUIT, BUT IT DOES NOT SAY THERE IS NO BELIEF.
• #4 SINCE THE WORD DID GET DOWN INSIDE, THE PERSON IS SAVED AND SINCE HE PRODUCES FRUIT, HE WILL BE REWARDED.
• READ MAR 4:21-23 THE PARABLE OF THE LAMP AND LIGHT (MAT 5:15 AND LUK 8:16-17)
• THIS PARABLE IS RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS ONE IN THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE WORD OF GOD.
• THE CANDLE:
• THE PARABLE WHICH BEARS THE LIGHT.
• THE LIGHT:
• LIGHT REPRESENTS GOD’S TRUTH THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE. .
• THE BUSHEL:
• ONE’S COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO OBSCURE THE LIGHT OF THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD.
• UNDER THE BED:
• ONE’S DOMESTIC AFFAIRS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO OBSCURE THE LIGHT OF THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD.
• WHAT IS THE OVERALL CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE OF THE LAMP AND LIGHT?
• THOSE WHO SEARCH OUT THE MEANING OF THE PARABLES WILL UNDERSTAND THE LIGHT OF TRUTH IN THEM. TRUTH WILL NOT BE HIDDEN FROM THOSE WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL EARS TO HEAR IT. ONCE THAT TRUTH IS UNDERSTOOD, MAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT TO SHARE IT ABROAD.
• READ MAR 4:24-29 THE PARABLE OF THE GROWING SEED AND HARVEST
• THIS PARABLE IS UNIQUE TO MARK AND NOT FOUND IN THE OTHER GOSPELS.
• THE OBJECTS IN THE PARABLE:
• THE MAN (SOWER) = A BELIEVING DISCIPLE OF CHRIST.
• THE MAN CANNOT REPRESENT CHRIST BECAUSE CHRIST DOES NOT SLEEP.
• THE SEED = THE WORD OF GOD.
• THE GROUND = THE HUMAN HEART.
• THE BLADE, THE EAR, THE FULL CORN = THE GROWTH PROCESS OF THE WORD THAT OCCURS BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
• THE BLADE =
• THE TRUTH OF GOD IN THE PENTATEUCH (FIRST 5 BOOKS OF THE BIBLE), OR
• THE KINGDOM OF GOD GROWING IN THE CHURCH AGE.
• THE EAR =
• THE TRUTH OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, OR
• THE KINGDOM OF GOD GROWING IN THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST.
• THE FULL CORN =
• THE TRUTH OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, OR
• THE KINGDOM OF GOD FULLY MANIFEST IN THE FUTURE ETERNITY IN A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH.
• THE HARVEST =
• THE HARVESTED FRUIT PRODUCED IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER, OR
• THE END OF A BELIEVER’S LIFE WHEN HIS WORKS ARE JUDGED FOR REWARD, OR
• THE END OF THE AGE AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST WHEN BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS ARE SEPARATED.
• WHAT IS THE OVERALL CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE OF THE GROWING SEED AND HARVEST?
• ONCE THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD IS IN THE HEART, IT MYSTERIOUSLY GROWS BY GOD’S GRACE, AND BY THE ACTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BECAUSE THE WORD IS ALIVE. THE SPREAD OF THE WORD OF GOD IN THE HEARTS OF MEN WILL PRODUCE A KINGDOM OVER WHICH CHRIST WILL REIGN.
• READ MAR 4:30-34 THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED
• BACKGROUND:
• THE MUSTARD SEED:
• THE MUSTARD WE KNOW DOES NOT GROW TO THE SIZE OF A TREE. BOTANISTS SUGGEST THAT THE SPECIES SPOKEN OF IN THE PARABLE IS THE KHARDAH, ARABIC FOR MUSTARD. BECAUSE OF THE TINY SIZE OF THE SEED, IT CAME TO SYMBOLIZE SMALL BEGINNINGS, AND WAS THE SMALLEST WEIGHT OF MEASURE. IT IS FIERY HOT WHEN BRUISED AND ATTRACTIVE TO BIRDS FOR FOOD AND SHELTER. HERBS DON’T USUALLY GROW INTO TREES BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT BOTANICAL STRUCTURE FROM TREES. THE GROWTH OF TREES IS SLOW BUT THE GROWTH OF HERBS IS RAPID. WHILE THIS PARTICULAR MUSTARD MIGHT GROW BIG TO APPEAR TO BE A TREE (10-20 FT. HIGH), IT IS NOT A TREE. HERBS DO NOT DEVELOP WOODY TISSUE AS A TRUNK. ALSO THEY ONLY LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO DEVELOP FLOWERS AND SEEDS. THEREFORE, WHEN JESUS SAYS THIS MUSTARD GREW INTO A BIG TREE, HE IS TALKING ABOUT AN EXPANSION COMPLETELY FOREIGN TO THE VERY NATURE OF AN HERB.
• THE POPULAR MIS-INTERPRETATION OF THE PARABLE:
• THAT THE CHURCH, WHICH STARTED SMALL WITH THE DISCIPLES, WOULD GROW LARGE TO FILL THE EARTH WITH ITS GOOD INFLUENCE AND ANYONE COULD TAKE REFUGE IN IT.
• WHY THIS IS A MIS-INTERPRETATION:
• THE BIBLE NEVER TEACHES THAT CHRISTIANS WILL BE A MAJORITY IN THIS WORLD. INSTEAD, TRUE BELIEVERS ARE ALWAYS SPOKEN OF AS BEING A REMNANT.
• THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND THE TARES SPOKE ABOUT THE TRUE AND FALSE GROWING TOGETHER IN THE WORLD. THE CHURCH WILL NEVER CONVERT THE WORLD.
• THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUE CHRISTIANITY AND CHRISTENDOM:
• TRUE CHRISTIANITY IS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST–A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOD OF CREATION WHICH MAKES US PART OF “THE BODY OF CHRIST”, A BODY OF BELIEVERS.
• CHRISTENDOM IS THE ORGANIZED CHURCH RELIGION EN TOTAL THAT MAY OR MAY NOT LEAD ONE TO A FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
• WHAT IS THE GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED?
• THE WORD OF GOD IMPLANTED IN BELIEVERS SO THAT THEY ARE A GENUINE GROUP OF CHRISTIANS–THE APOSTLES
• WHAT IS THE FIELD?
• MATTHEW SAYS “FIELD”, MARK SAYS “EARTH”, AND LUKE SAYS “GARDEN”.
• THE FIELD IS THE WORLD.
• WHO IS THE MAN WHO PLANTED IT?
• NO HINT IS GIVEN TO THE IDENTITY OF THE SOWER, BUT IT IS ASSUMED TO BE CHRIST.
• WHAT ARE THE BIRDS?
• IN THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER, THE BIRDS WERE EVIL BECAUSE THEY ATE THE SEED. THE BIRDS REPRESENTED SATAN AND HIS DEMONS. SYMBOLS IN THE BIBLE ARE USUALLY CONSISTENT IN MEANING. SATAN AND HIS DEMONS ARE REPRESENTED BY THE BIRDS WHO NEST IN THE TREE.
• WHAT DOES IT MEAN THEY COME TO NEST IN THE TREE?
• SATAN AND HIS FORCES ARE IN THE CHURCH TO EAT UP THE TRUE SEED OF THE GOSPEL.
• WHAT IS THE TREE?
• THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY THAT STARTED SMALL AND GROWS TO LOFTY PROMINENCE.
• LARGE DENOMINATIONS THAT HAVE BECOME CONCERNED WITH NUMBERS AND BUILDINGS: THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH TREE GROWING THAN SEED PLANTING.
• WHAT IS THE OVERALL CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED?
• THE TRUE CHURCH STARTED SMALL AND GREW RAPIDLY INTO A LARGE SOCIAL INSTITUTION THAT BECAME MORE CONCERNED WITH BUILDING A POWERFUL INSTITUTION TO WHICH SATAN IS PRESENT AND WORKING IN ORDER TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE TRUE GOSPEL.
• SUMMARY:
• THESE FOUR PARABLES RELATE:
• =1= THE DISPERSION OF THE WORD OF GOD, AND THE RESPONSE THE WORD RECEIVES IN THE HEARTS OF MEN.
• =2= THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT MAN HAS TO THE TRUTH OF THAT WORD TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.
• =3= HOW THAT WORD GROWS AND MATURES BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND ACTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PRODUCE A HARVEST OF BORN AGAIN SOULS. (1COR 2:10-12)
• =4= AND FINALLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD-WIDE INSTITUTIONALIZED CHURCH THAT HOUSES BOTH THE TRUE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE FALSE CHURCH OF THOSE WHO PROFESS TO BE BELIEVERS BUT ARE NOT BORN AGAIN.

HOMEWORK
MARK 4:35-41 AND MARK 5:1-20
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF MAR 4:1-34
• WHICH OF THE FOUR PARABLES IN MAR 4 DO YOU MOST RELATE TO IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE? WHY?
• WHAT DO THESE PARABLES TEACH YOU THAT WILL HELP MAKE YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK MORE SUCCESSFUL FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
• PREPARATION FOR MAR 4:35-41 AND MAR 5:1-20
• READ MAR 4:35-41 STILLING THE STORM
• WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT JESUS FROM THIS PASSAGE?
• READ MAR 5:1-20 THE GADARENE DEMONIAC
• WHY DO YOU THINK JESUS PERMITTED THE DEMONS TO INHABIT THE HOGS ONLY TO HAVE THEM DROWN IN THE LAKE?
• WHY DID JESUS NOT PERMIT THE HEALED MAN TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH HIM?
• MEMORY VERSE: ROMANS 2:11