Mark 4:26-30
Mark 4:26 (KJB)
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the
ground;
This is the second parable which Jesus spoke to the crowd and it follows on the
heels of the parable of the Sower. There are three basic aspects to the growth
of the natural seed. First the seed is planted or sown, then there comes a
period of growth, and then when the plant is fully grown or tree is ripe, then
comes the time of harvest. In the same manner is the Kingdom of God. First
someone sows the seed of the word of God among the people. Then secondly those
who become saved continue to mature in the word or we can say that they continue
to grow in the word which could be a period of years. Then thirdly when they
have completed their full ministry, then they are harvested, that is, brought to
Heaven by means of physical death. This could also mean that when the last day
comes, then all the church will be harvested. The key is that the seed must fall
on the good ground, ground which has been tilled and cleared of rocks which
prepares it for planting and growth. Just as God prepares His Elect to hear the
word on their appointed day.
Mark 4:27 (KJB)
And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow
up, he knoweth not how.
Of the three different aspects of growth of a seed, probably the most mysterious
is the aspect of growth. It is a great mystery how a very small seed can go into
the ground and then germinate and grow into a very large plant hundreds of times
bigger than the seed. We can think of a watermelon which is hundreds of times
bigger than the small seed which goes into the ground. We plant the seed and
then we sleep. This is not some kind of natural or soul sleep, in other words,
we plant the seed and do nothing more to facilitate its growth. We may pull a
weed here or there and maybe water it, but the actual way the seed turns into a
plant and then grows is a process which human hands has nothing to do with. In
the spiritual realm, we plant the seed of the word of God in people and if there
are the Elect of God in the crowd, then it is God who brings about the growth
from seed to maturity. (1 Cor 3:6 KJV) I have planted, Apollos watered; but
God gave the increase. Paul gives that principle very well in 1 Cor. 3:6.
Mark 4:28 (KJB)
For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear,
after that the full corn in the ear.
God has placed in the soil of the earth the ability to turn seed into a full
plant. The Greek word behind “of herself” is where we derive our English word
“automatic from.” So from the time the seed is planted, the earth begins to work
on the seed automatically. After a while, there will be a small blade or a very
young plant which tells us everything is going along fine and that the seed
germinated properly. Then a few weeks later, we will begin to see the ear of the
corn start forming on the stalk. Then a few weeks after that, we will see the
full corn in the ear and then we will know it will be ready to harvest.
Mark 4:29 (KJB)
But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle,
because the harvest is come.
As soon as the laborers in the field see the fruit in its maturity stage, then
they know that the fruit is ready to be harvested. This third aspect is the
completion of the mystery of the Kingdom of God and that is the harvest.
(Mat 13:39 KJV) The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end
of the world; and the reapers are the angels. The harvest will come on the
last day when the last one has become saved. (Rev 14:16 KJV) And he that sat
on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
The harvest is going to be a very quick action on the last day. The role of the
one who sowed the word of God is limited to the sowing of the word for the
growth and the harvest are both in the hands of God.
Mark 4:30 (KJB)
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what
comparison shall we compare it?
Jesus then asks what shall we liken the kingdom of God to? Then He asks a second
question, to what shall we compare it to? Jesus uses these two questions for the
purpose of introducing the next parable. These questions are designed for the
people to think about what aspect of this earth will Jesus compare the kingdom
of God to while teaching the heavenly meaning. The parables normally have one
main point to them and within that truth reveals a characteristic about the
kingdom God.