21 And he said to them, 'Doth the lamp come that under the measure it may be put, or under the couch—not that it may be put on the lamp-stand? 22 for there is not anything hid that may not be manifested, nor was anything kept hid but that it may come to light. 23 If any hath ears to hear—let him hear.' 24 And he said to them, 'Take heed what ye hear; in what measure ye measure, it shall be measured to you; and to you who hear it shall be added; 25 for whoever may have, there shall be given to him, and whoever hath not, also that which he hath shall be taken from him.'
26 And he said, 'Thus is the reign of God: as if a man may cast the seed on the earth, 27 and may sleep, and may rise night and day, and the seed spring up and grow, he hath not known how; 28 for of itself doth the earth bear fruit, first a blade, afterwards an ear, afterwards full corn in the ear; 29 and whenever the fruit may yield itself, immediately he doth send forth the sickle, because the harvest hath come.'
30 And he said, 'To what may we liken the reign of God, or in what simile may we compare it? 31 As a grain of mustard, which, whenever it may be sown on the earth, is less than any of the seeds that are on the earth; 32 and whenever it may be sown, it cometh up, and doth become greater than any of the herbs, and doth make great branches, so that under its shade the fowls of the heaven are able to rest.'
33 And with many such similes he was speaking to them the word, as they were able to hear, 34 and without a simile he was not speaking to them, and by themselves, to his disciples he was expounding all.
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!