Mark 4:32
But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade."
Yet after it is planted
This phrase emphasizes the initial act of planting, which is a metaphor for the beginning of faith or the Kingdom of God. The Greek word for "planted" is "σπαρείς" (spareis), which implies an intentional act of sowing. In the context of Jesus' parables, this planting represents the introduction of the Kingdom of God into the world, starting small but with the potential for significant growth. Historically, planting is an act of faith, trusting that the seed will grow, much like the faith required to believe in the unseen workings of God's Kingdom.

it grows to become
The growth described here is a natural and expected result of the planting. The Greek word "αὐξάνεται" (auxanetai) means to increase or grow. This growth is not just physical but also spiritual, symbolizing the expansion of God's Kingdom and the deepening of faith. The process of growth is gradual and requires time, patience, and nurturing, reflecting the Christian journey of sanctification and the spread of the Gospel.

the largest of all garden plants
This phrase highlights the surprising and impressive nature of the mustard seed's growth. The Greek word "μεῖζον" (meizon) means greater or larger. In the context of first-century Palestine, the mustard plant was known for its rapid and expansive growth, often reaching heights that overshadowed other garden plants. This imagery serves to illustrate the unexpected and overwhelming nature of God's Kingdom, which starts small but becomes mighty and influential.

and puts forth great branches
The "great branches" signify the strength and reach of the mature plant. The Greek word "κλάδους" (kladous) refers to branches or limbs. These branches provide structure and support, symbolizing the stability and far-reaching impact of the Kingdom of God. In a spiritual sense, the branches represent the various ways the Kingdom extends into the world, offering refuge and support to those who seek it.

so that the birds of the air
The "birds of the air" are often seen as symbols of the nations or people who find refuge in the Kingdom. The Greek word "πετεινὰ" (peteina) refers to birds, and in biblical literature, birds often symbolize various groups of people. This imagery suggests inclusivity and the universal reach of God's Kingdom, where all are welcome to find rest and shelter.

nest in its shade
The act of nesting implies safety, security, and a place to call home. The Greek word "κατασκηνοῦν" (kataskenoun) means to dwell or settle. The shade provided by the mustard plant represents the protection and peace found within the Kingdom of God. This imagery is comforting and reassuring, emphasizing God's provision and care for His people. The shade is a metaphor for the spiritual rest and refuge offered to believers, echoing the biblical theme of God as a shelter and protector.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The speaker of the parable, teaching His disciples and the crowd about the Kingdom of God through parables.

2. Disciples
The primary audience of Jesus' teachings, who are learning about the nature of God's Kingdom.

3. Mustard Seed
A small seed used by Jesus in the parable to illustrate the growth of the Kingdom of God.

4. Garden
The setting in which the mustard seed is planted, representing the world or the environment where the Kingdom grows.

5. Birds of the Air
Symbolic of those who find refuge and sustenance in the Kingdom of God.
Teaching Points
The Power of Small Beginnings
The mustard seed, though small, grows into a large plant. This teaches us that God's work often starts in seemingly insignificant ways but results in great outcomes.

The Growth of God's Kingdom
The parable illustrates the Kingdom of God's expansive nature. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's plan, even when progress seems slow or small.

Providing Refuge and Shelter
Just as the mustard plant provides shelter for birds, the Kingdom of God offers refuge and rest for all who seek it. Christians are called to be part of this refuge, offering support and love to others.

Faith in God's Timing
The growth of the mustard seed into a large plant reminds us to have patience and faith in God's timing and processes.

Inclusivity of the Kingdom
The imagery of birds from various places finding shelter in the mustard plant highlights the inclusivity of God's Kingdom, welcoming all who come to it.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the parable of the mustard seed challenge our understanding of what is significant or powerful in God's Kingdom?

2. In what ways can we contribute to the growth of God's Kingdom in our daily lives, even if our actions seem small?

3. How does the imagery of the mustard plant providing shelter inspire us to create a welcoming and supportive community within our church?

4. Reflect on a time when you saw something small in your life or community grow into something significant. How did this experience shape your faith?

5. How can we apply the lesson of patience and trust in God's timing from this parable to current challenges we face?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 13:31-32
This parallel passage also describes the mustard seed parable, emphasizing the Kingdom's growth from small beginnings.

Daniel 4:12
The imagery of a tree providing shelter for birds is reminiscent of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, symbolizing a kingdom's expansive reach and provision.

Ezekiel 17:23
This prophecy speaks of a tree where birds of every kind will nest, symbolizing the inclusive and expansive nature of God's Kingdom.

Psalm 104:12
Birds nesting in trees is a recurring biblical image of provision and safety, reflecting God's care for His creation.
The Kingdom of God Further Illustrated by ParablesR. Green Mark 4:26-34
All Great Movements have Had Trivial CommencementsBp. Temple.Mark 4:30-32
An Encouraging ParableH. M. Luckock, D. D.Mark 4:30-32
Building and GrowingMarcus Dods.Mark 4:30-32
Christ's Religion a Refuge for AllJ. Wells.Mark 4:30-32
Fiery EnergyD'Herbelot.Mark 4:30-32
Great Issues from Small BeginningsA. Rowland Mark 4:30-32
Little Seeds Soul SavingH. Melvill.Mark 4:30-32
Small BeginningsS. Baring Gould, M. A.Mark 4:30-32
Spiritual GrowthAnon.Mark 4:30-32
The Church as an OrganizationM. F. Sadler.Mark 4:30-32
The Church Giving Rest and ShelterM. F. Sadler.Mark 4:30-32
The Gospel Originally Small and Ultimately GreatH. Melvill.Mark 4:30-32
The Grain of Mustard SeedA.F. Muir Mark 4:30-32
The Growth of the KingdomExpository Discourses., James Hamilton, D. D.Mark 4:30-32
The Growth of the Little SeedJames Hamilton, D. D.Mark 4:30-32
The Maxims of Human Philosophy not So Productive as Divine TruthH. Melvill.Mark 4:30-32
The Mustard PlantH. B. Hackett, D. D.Mark 4:30-32
The Mustard Seed and LeavenArchdeacon Farrar.Mark 4:30-32
The Parable of the Mustard SeedDr. Calderwood.Mark 4:30-32
The Parable of the Mustard SeedR. Green Mark 4:30-32
The Seedling of IonaJames Hamilton, D. D.Mark 4:30-32
The Small Germ ExpandedJames Hamilton, D. D.Mark 4:30-32
The Visible Growth of the GospelJ. Wells.Mark 4:30-32
The Mustard SeedJ.J. Given Mark 4:30-34
The Power of IdeasE. Johnson Mark 4:30-34
People
Jesus
Places
Galilee, Sea of Galilee
Topics
Able, Air, Becomes, Becometh, Big, Birds, Branches, Build, Forms, Forth, Fowls, Garden, Greater, Greatest, Groweth, Grows, Heaven, Herbs, Large, Larger, Largest, Lodge, Mounts, Nest, Nests, Perch, Planted, Plants, Produces, Puts, Putteth, Rest, Roost, Shade, Shadow, Shooteth, Shrubs, Sky, Sown, Springs, Taller, Thereof, Throws, Whenever, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Mark 4:32

     4846   shadow

Mark 4:1-34

     2345   Christ, kingdom of

Mark 4:26-32

     4506   seed
     8443   growth

Mark 4:26-34

     2357   Christ, parables
     5438   parables

Mark 4:30-32

     2376   kingdom of God, coming

Mark 4:31-32

     4468   horticulture

Library
October 1 Evening
Grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.--EPH. 4:15. First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.--Till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. They measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved,
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

December 21 Evening
Master, carest thou not that we perish?--MARK 4:38. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.--While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease. The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.--God heard the voice of the lad: and the angel of
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Lamps and Bushels
'And Jesus said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?'--Mark iv. 21. The furniture of a very humble Eastern home is brought before us in this saying. In the original, each of the nouns has the definite article attached to it, and so suggests that in the house there was but one of each article; one lamp, a flat saucer with a wick swimming in oil; one measure for corn and the like; one bed, raised slightly, but sufficiently to admit
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Four Soils for one Seed
'And when He was alone, they that were about Him with the twelve asked of Him the parable. 11. And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12. That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. 13. And He said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Storm Stilled
'And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships. 37. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38. And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish? 39. And He arose,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Toiling Christ
'They took Him even as He was in the ship.... And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.'--Mark iv. 36, 38. Among the many loftier characteristics belonging to Christ's life and work, there is a very homely one which is often lost sight of; and that is, the amount of hard physical exertion, prolonged even to fatigue and exhaustion, which He endured. Christ is our pattern in a great many other things more impressive and more striking; and He is our pattern in this, that 'in the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The First Great Group of Parables.
(Beside the Sea of Galilee.) Subdivision C. Parable of the Seed Growing Itself. ^B Mark IV. 26-29. ^b 26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; 27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how. [In the kingdom of grace, as well as in the kingdom of nature, we are laborers together with God. As preachers, teachers, or friends we sow the seed of the kingdom and God brings it to perfection (I. Cor. iii.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Seed Growing Secretly.
"And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."--MARK iv. 26-29. This is the only parable that is peculiar to Mark. The subjects contained in
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

Ancient Versions of the Old Testament.
In the present chapter only those versions of the Old Testament are noticed which were made independently of the New. Versions of the whole Bible, made in the interest of Christianity, are considered in the following part. I. THE GREEK VERSION CALLED THE SEPTUAGINT. 1. This is worthy of special notice as the oldest existing version of the holy Scriptures, or any part of them, in any language; and also as the version which exerted a very large influence on the language and style of the New Testament;
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Harvest.
Harvest. See! the corn again in ear! How the fields and valleys smile! Harvest now is drawing near To repay the farmer's toil: Gracious LORD, secure the crop, Satisfy the poor with food; In thy mercy is our hope, We have sinned but thou art good. While I view the plenteous grain As it ripens on the stalk; May I not instruction gain, Helpful, to my daily walk? All this plenty of the field Was produced from foreign seeds; For the earth itself would yield Only crops of useless weeds. Though, when
John Newton—Olney Hymns

Of Avoiding Heresies and Superstitions, and what is the Only True Catholic Church.
But since many heresies have existed, and the people of God have been rent into divisions at the instigation of demons, the truth must be briefly marked out by us, and placed in its own peculiar dwelling-place, that if any one shall desire to draw the water of life, he may not be borne to broken cisterns [898] which hold no water, but may know the abundant fountain of God, watered by which he may enjoy perpetual light. Before all things, it is befitting that we should know both that He Himself and
Lactantius—The divine institutes

On Earthly Things
The earth is man himself; in the gospel: another has fallen into the good earth. The same in a bad part about the sinner: you devour the earth all the days of your life. [Mark 4:18; Genesis 3:14] The dry lands are the flesh of a fruitless man; in Ecclesiastes, to work in a dry land with evil and sorrow. [Ecclesiastes 37:3] The dust is a sinner or the vanity of the flesh; in the psalm: like the dust, which the wind blows about. [Ps. 1:4 Vulgate] The mud is the gluttony of sinners; in the psalm: tear
St. Eucherius of Lyons—The Formulae of St. Eucherius of Lyons

On the Animals
The birds are the saints, because they fly to the higher heart; in the gospel: and he made great branches that the birds of the air might live in their shade. [Mark 4:32] Flying is the death of the saints in God or the knowledge of the Scriptures; in the psalm: I shall fly and I shall be at rest. [Ps. 54(55):7 Vulgate] The wings are the two testaments; in Ezekiel: your body will fly with two wings of its own. [Ez. 1:23] The feathers are the Scriptures; in the psalm: the wings of the silver dove.
St. Eucherius of Lyons—The Formulae of St. Eucherius of Lyons

Four Miracles
"And there was a great calm." MARK 4:39 (R.V.) "Behold, him that was possessed with devils, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion." v. 15 (R.V.) "Who touched Me?" v. 31 (R.V.) "Talitha cumi." v. 41 (R.V.) THERE are two ways, equally useful, of studying Scripture, as there are of regarding the other book of God, the face of Nature. We may bend over a wild flower, or gaze across a landscape; and it will happen that a naturalist, pursuing a moth, loses sight of a mountain
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

The Parables
"And again He began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto Him a very great multitude, so that He entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land. And He taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in His teaching. . . . "And when He was alone, they that were about Him with the twelve asked of Him the parables. And He said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

Chapter: 4:21-25 Lamp and Stand
"And He said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed? and not to be put on the stand? For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. And He said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you: and more shall be given unto you. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

The Seed Growing Secretly
"And He said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how. The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come." MARK 4:26-29 (R.V.) ST. Mark alone records this parable of a sower who sleeps by night, and rises for other business by
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

The Sower
"Hearken: Behold the sower went forth to sow: and it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured it. And other fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And others fell into the good ground,
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

The Mustard Seed
"And He said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth, yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof. And with many such parables spake He the word unto them, as they were able to hear it: and without
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

The Two Storms (Jesus Walking on the Water)
"And on that day, when even was come, He saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side. And leaving the multitude, they take Him with them, even as He was, in the boat. And other boats were with Him. And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling. And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish? And He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

Sovereignty of God in Administration
"The LORD hath prepared His Throne In the heavens; and His Kingdom ruleth over all" (Psa. 103:19). First, a word concerning the need for God to govern the material world. Suppose the opposite for a moment. For the sake of argument, let us say that God created the world, designed and fixed certain laws (which men term "the laws of Nature"), and that He then withdrew, leaving the world to its fortune and the out-working of these laws. In such a case, we should have a world over which there was no intelligent,
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

The First Great Group of Parables.
(Beside the Sea of Galilee.) Subdivision A. Introduction. ^A Matt. XIII. 1-3; ^B Mark IV. 1, 2; ^C Luke VIII. 4. ^a 1 On that day went Jesus out of the house [It is possible that Matthew here refers to the house mentioned at Mark iii. 19. If so, the events in Sections XLVIII.-LVI. all occurred on the same day. There are several indications in the gospel narratives that this is so], and sat by the sea side. ^b 1 And again he began again to teach by the sea side. [By the Sea of Galilee.] And there
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Stills the Storm.
(Sea of Galilee; Same Day as Last Section) ^A Matt. VIII. 18-27; ^B Mark IV. 35-41; ^C Luke VIII. 22-25. ^b 35 And that day, { ^c one of those days,} ^b when the even was come [about sunset], ^a when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. { ^b he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side.} [Wearied with a day of strenuous toil, Jesus sought rest from the multitude by passing to the thinly settled on the east side of Galilee.] ^a 19 And there
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

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