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 e 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."
26 And He was saying , "The kingdom of God is like e a man who casts seed upon the soil ; 27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day , and the seed sprouts and grows -how , he himself does not know . 28 "The soil produces crops by itself ; first the blade , then the head , then the mature grain in the head . 29 "But when the crop permits , he immediately puts in the sickle , because the harvest has come ."
30 And He said , "How shall we picture the kingdom of God , or by what parable shall we present it? 31 "It is like a mustard seed , which , when sown upon the soil , though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil , 32 yet when it is sown , it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches ; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE ."
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 e to His own disciples .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 4:21-34
Commentary on Mark 4:21-34
(Read Mark 4:21-34)
These declarations were intended to call the attention of the disciples to the word of Christ. By his thus instructing them, they were made able to instruct others; as candles are lighted, not to be covered, but to be placed on a candlestick, that they may give light to a room. This parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress in the world. Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself in a good conversation. It grows gradually: first the blade; then the ear; after that the full corn in the ear. When it is sprung up, it will go forward. The work of grace in the soul is, at first, but the day of small things; yet it has mighty products even now, while it is in its growth; but what will there be when it is perfected in heaven!