Parable of the Growing Seed – Mark 4:26-29

Gospel Essay: Mark 4:26-29 Parable of the Growing Seed
The Gospel of Mark- Historical Content:
Mark – One of the first gospels written and full of signs, sayings, temptations, sufferings, and miracles.
The gospel itself is anonymous, but as early as Papias in the early 2nd century, a text was attributed to Mark, cousin of Barnabas. Written between 50 and 60 AD, the book of Mark was probably written in Italy, and perhaps even Rome. Audience – written primarily for an audience of Greek-speaking residents of the Roman Empire. This book has 16 chapters and is the shortest book of the four gospels. In Mark, Jesus commands secrecy regarding his identity and certain actions. There are 13 parables in the gospel of Mark. At times the disciples have trouble understanding the parables, but Jesus explains what they mean in secret.
Literary Context:
The parable of the growing seed only appears in the Gospel of Mark. 26) This is what the kingdom of God is like. This parable is a teaching on the kingdom of God. Here Mark is trying to explain how the kingdom of God is all knowing. 27) Night and day, whether he sleeps of gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. We do not know exactly how it works and it does not matter. 28) All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head then the full kernel in the head. If we plant seed (love) we will be doing as the word instructs and God will do the rest. 29) As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it because the harvest has come.” The harvest will come and the seed will have grown to full potential. Trust the Father.
Grammar Content:
NIV Parable 4: 26-29
The Parable of the growing seed;
26) He also said, “This is what the kingdom Greek (basileia) (“kingly rule,” “reign” or “sovereignty”) of God is like. A man scatters seed (That from which anything springs; first principle, original, source) on the ground. 27) Night and day, whether he sleeps of gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28) All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head (Ear) Greek (stachule) (a head of grain standing out from the stalk), then the full kernel in the head. 29) As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it because the harvest Greek (therismos) (from reaping i.e. the crop) has come.”
Note: The words highlighted in red are word studies, as you can see the original word in parenthesis does not always translate as we would think.
Hermeneutical Interpretation: I believe the original meaning is when we scatter seed or help others that the seed will grow no matter how big or how little the deed. I believe that our sharing of the spirit and love will produce a harvest. I think it is that simple. It is a passage about spiritual growth. The parable tells us that we cannot understand the process of a seed growing, that is Gods department. We only know we are growing as the word grows in us.
References: NIV Study Bible, Strong’s Concordance, Nelson’s Compact Bible Handbook, Crosswalk commentaries. http://biblestudy.crosswalk.com/references/DescriptionRead.aspx?refid=1321&l=3&section=Commentaries&type=Commentary&title http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/gospel-of-mark.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Mark http://biblestudy.crosswalk.com/mybst/default.aspx?type=library&contentid=46285&categoREF

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