Mark 4: Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge.

Mark 4: He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Mark 4: Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

Mark 4: Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

Mark 4: Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.

Mark 4: He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,

Mark 4:1-12 and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

Weed It And Weep Mark 4:1-25 Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church of Christ – 9/28/2014

12 times Jesus talks about hearing Mark 4: And He said to them, Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? 14 "The sower sows the word.

15 These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 16 In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky [places], who,

when they hear the word immediately receive it with joy 17 and they have no [firm] root in themselves, but are [only] temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns;

these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it

and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 21 And He was saying to them, "A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not [brought] to be put on the lampstand? 22 For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has [anything] been secret, but that it would come to light. 23 If anyone

has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. 25 For whoever has, to him [more] shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

Jesus changes His teaching style in chapter 4 33 With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; 34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples. (Mark 4:33 & 34 )

What are parables?

Why parables (stories)? 1.They attract interest 2.They awaken the mind 3.To avoid controversy 4.To ascertain sincerity

Mark 4:11  And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables.”  What is “the mystery (secret) of the Kingdom”?

What was it?  That the reign of God was coming through Jesus of Nazareth.  The parables & Kingdom are going to be obscure to people who’s minds are biased about Jesus.

Understanding God’s will is not a matter of the intellect, it has nothing to do with your GPA or IQ. It has to do with your will. "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or [whether] I speak from Myself.” (John 7:17 )

So that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN. (Mark 4:12 )

Why is coming to church so dangerous?

One of the most dangerous things you could ever do is continue week after week to expose yourself to the word of God not accompanied by a genuine surrender to Jesus.

“Oh no sir, you know it by memory, but you surely don’t know it by heart.”

When the word is in the heart there is a harvest. How do we make sure that harvest comes in our lives?  Read the word.  Heed the call.  See the field.  Weed your heart.