Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 4:2
And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
2. by parables ] (i) The Greek word thus rendered denotes ( a) a placing beside, ( b) a comparing, a comparison. In Hellenistic Greek it became coextensive with the Hebrew mshl = similitude. (ii) In this sense it is applied
(1) In the Old Testament, to
( a) The shortest proverbs: as 1Sa 10:12, “Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?” 1Sa 24:13, “As saith the proverb of the ancients;” 2Ch 7:20, “I will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.”
( b) Dark prophetic utterances: as Num 23:7, “And he took up his parable and said;” Eze 20:49, “Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables? ”
( c) Enigmatic maxims: as Psa 78:2, “I will open my mouth in a parable; ” Pro 1:6, “the words of the wise and their dark sayings.”
(2) In the Gospels, to
( a) Short sayings: as Luk 4:23, “Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself.”
( b) A comparison without a narrative: as Mar 13:28, “Now learn its parable of the fig tree” (see note in loc.).
( c) Comparisons with narratives of earthly things with heavenly, as the Parables of our Lord.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
2. And he taught them many things byparables, and said unto them in his doctrineor “teaching.”
Parable of the Sower(Mar 4:3-9; Mar 4:13-20).
Mar 4:3;Mar 4:14. THESOWER, THE SEED,AND THE SOIL.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he taught them many things by parables,…. As he sat in the ship, and they stood on shore;
and said unto them in his doctrine; as he was teaching them, and delivering unto them the doctrine he had received from his Father: though the Jews say c, that
“the Israelites will have no need , “of the doctrine of the king Messiah, in the time to come”; because it is said, “unto him shall the Gentiles seek”, and not the Israelites.”
But it appears from hence, and many other places, that the Israelites both stood in need of his doctrine, and sought after it; and very excellent it was; the doctrine of God, and of the grace of God; and was spoken with authority, and in such a manner as never man spake, and which he delivered to his apostles; and which, if ministers bring not with them, should not be bid God speed.
c Bereshit Rabba, sect 98. fol. 85. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He taught them ( ). Imperfect tense describing it as going on.
In parables ( ). As in 3:23, only here more extended parables. See on Mt 13 for discussion concerning Christ’s use of parables. Eight are given there, one (the Lamp both in Mr 4:21 and Lu 8:16 (both Sower and the Lamp in Luke), one alone in Mr 4:26-29 (seed growing of itself) not in Matthew or Luke, ten on this occasion. Only four are mentioned in Mr 4:1-34 (The Sower, the Lamp, the Seed Growing of Itself, the Mustard Seed). But Mark adds (4:34) “without a parable spake he not unto them,” clearly meaning that Jesus spoke many others on this occasion and Matt. after mentioning eight (Mt 13:34) makes the same statement. Manifestly, therefore, Jesus spoke many parables on this day and all theories of exegesis or dispensations on the basis of the number of these kingdom parables are quite beside the mark. In beginning Jesus said:
Hearken (). It is significant that even Jesus had to ask people to listen when he spoke. See also verse 9.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) ”And He taught them many things by parables,” (kai edidasken autous en parabalais polla) “And many things He taught (to them) in parables,” using stories of comparisons of well known things, to give understanding to His hearers of less known things. In the synagogues, and in homes, and on the mountainsides He had done much healing and teaching, with little seeming results, except the following of a curious, clamoring crowd, and deriding religious leaders.
2) “And said unto them in His doctrine,” (kai elegen autois en te dedache autou) “And He said to them (the seashore crowd) in His doctrine,” in His teaching that day, of and relating to, His New Covenant company of church fellowship and service, that He had established with His disciples, Joh 15:16; Joh 15:27; Act 10:3.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(2) In his doctrine.Better, in His teaching.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. In his doctrine That is, in his teaching.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
Ver. 2. He taught them many things by parables ] Ministers must likewise fetch comparisons from things most familiar and best known to their hearers, as the prophets from fishes when they have to deal with the Egyptians; from flocks and herds, when with the Arabians; from merchandise and navigation, when with the Tyrians and Sidonians, &c.; and as our Saviour from fishing, when he dealeth with fishers; from sowing, when with seedsmen, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2. ] Out from among the , the great mass of His teaching, one parable is selected, which He spoke during it . .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 4:2 . : a vague expression, but implying that the staple of that day’s teaching consisted of parables, probably all more or less of the same drift as the parable of the Sower , indicating that in spite of the ever-growing crowds Jesus was dissatisfied with the results of His popular ministry in street and synagogue = much seed-sowing, little fruit. The formation of the disciple-circle had revealed that dissatisfaction in another way. Probably some of the parables spoken in the boat have not been preserved, the Sower serving as a sample. . In the teaching of that day He said inter alia what follows.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
taught = was teaching.
by = in. Greek. en. App-104. Not the same word as in verses: Mar 4:31, Mar 4:38.
doctrine = teaching.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2.] Out from among the , the great mass of His teaching, one parable is selected, which He spoke during it- . .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
by parables: Mar 4:11, Mar 4:34, Mar 3:23, Psa 49:4, Psa 78:2, Mat 13:3, Mat 13:10, Mat 13:34, Mat 13:35
in his: Mar 12:38, Mat 7:28, Joh 7:16, Joh 7:17, Joh 18:19
Reciprocal: 2Ch 17:7 – to teach Mar 2:2 – straightway Mar 12:1 – he began Luk 5:3 – he sat Luk 8:5 – sower
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
A parable is the placing of one thing beside another for the purpose of an illustration. The reader should see the precautionary comments offered at Mat 13:3 as to the right use to make of the parables.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 4:2. And he taught them. The reference is to His habit of teaching.
Many things. Out of these Mark selects what follows.
In his teaching, perhaps, with a reference to this particular kind of teaching. Christs teaching was authoritative, and in this as in most cases, doctrinal. He presents new truth here, not mere exhortation (see Mar 4:11).