NOTES for Mar 4:10-23
10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. |
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, all these things are done in parables: |
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. |
13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? |
14 The sower soweth the word. |
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. |
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; |
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. |
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, |
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. |
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. |
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? |
22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. |
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. |
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The parable of the sower, one of the best-known among the parables of the Lord Jesus Christ, has been handed down to us by three evangelists, and therefore we encounter it many times in the cycle of church readings. First of all, this parable is important for us because of its direct content. The Lord speaks about the reasons why we do not respond to God's call, to His word addressed to us. And these reasons are such that there is room for them in the life of almost every person. It is striking how clearly the Lord sees human nature... For the Creator, of course, this is natural. But it is noteworthy that He gives the explanation of these reasons to the apostles, who are to preach, and whose word will be received with all the difficulties about which the Lord warns them. It is important for the apostles to understand this so that they do not fall into temptation. To all the listeners, however, the Lord offers the parable without commentary, giving them the opportunity to apply it to themselves. This spiritual work is not always simple for people, but if it is done, a great deal becomes visible. And this applies not only to neophytes, but to all Christians. That is why the evangelists included in their narratives not only the parable, but also its explanation.
Also very important is the image of the seed and the sowing, which Christ uses repeatedly and which serves as a symbol of His ministry. The characteristic feature of this image is that the seed does not sprout at once, grows slowly, and requires care. This frees us from the tempting desire to observe the process of its growth in us, giving us the opportunity to focus on God Himself rather than on what He will give us. At the end of today's passage, the Lord Himself specifically emphasizes for the disciples that the seed will certainly sprout, because there is nothing hidden that will not become manifest. This remark of His, spoken to the apostles, is directed especially against a "technological" approach to spiritual growth.
Readings for 8 September 2025
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