As we look at Mark 4:10-20 these days, consider these questions:

1. In verses 10-13, Jesus explains his use of parables, suggesting that he intentionally veils the message. How does this revelation challenge common assumptions about parables being straightforward teaching tools? What purpose does Jesus have in obscuring the message for some?

2. The passage emphasizes the role of the Spirit in enabling understanding of the Word. How does the Spirit's work in believers impact their ability to grasp and apply the teachings of Jesus? How can individuals cultivate receptivity to the Spirit's work in their lives?

3. The content underscores the significance of hearing and engaging with the Word of God for spiritual growth and understanding. How can believers actively pursue a deeper understanding of Scripture? What role does diligent study play in this process, and how does faith interact with this endeavor?

Transcript:

As you have seen, as we read here, this is a continuation of what we read on Wednesday. This is an explanation of the parable. Now, I thought about grouping all of this together into one big group of texts. It's not that terrible long, but when I thought about it, I wanted to spend some time on the beginning part of this. We've already talked about what the parable means and this is great because this parable is explained to us by Jesus, so we know exactly what it means.

But I think it's important that we look at verses ten, maybe verses ten through 13 or so or ten through twelve. Because for us, when we think about parables, we think about a story that tells a point and we naturally assume that this is to help us understand something more easily. But what is Jesus saying here? Now before we move on to that, I want to get to what verse ten says. It says when he was alone.

Now so what this teaching time is, is this is not Jesus when he's out with the masses. This is when they went away from the parable that was told in the masses. And now the twelve. And it looks like there's some others with Him and they are being taught more deeply. This is where the teaching ministry of Jesus to the apostles is occurring.

And so, what does Jesus say about this? To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything is in parables. Now, like I said, we assume that a parable is to make this easier to understand. But what is Jesus saying? Jesus says that he is trying to veil his message by teaching in parables.

Look at verse twelve so that they may indeed see but not perceived, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven. Jesus is actually trying to keep the message from being too clear in the parables. And why is that? Because he has a mission that he is on. We've seen that in the Gospel of Mark so far.

He doesn't want things to be too clear just yet. Well, why can the apostles understand it? Now it says here that they struggle to understand, but Jesus explains it to them. Now this is being taught in parables because Jesus is saying that they might listen, but these people who don't believe aren't going to understand. In other words, they are the ones that the seed is being sown upon the ground that the seed is being sown upon and nothing is truly springing up.

Either the weeds are taking it or the heat gets to it. There's nothing growing there. Why? Because the Spirit of God is not at work in them. And so they don't understand.

They can hear the story, but they're not going to understand the beauty of the story that Jesus is telling about the kingdom of god. And so for us, as we read the parables, we're going to see a lot of parables in the Gospel of Mark. It's important that we remember that we are blessed to be able to understand these, because that means that God is at work in us, that we're going to hear these stories and believe them and understand how they apply to the Kingdom of God. This is important and this is such a blessing for us. But it's also important that we remember that we need to hear the Word that we need to constantly be hearing the word of God so that we can know what his kingdom is all about.

So that that spirit that is at work in us can grow us in faith that can be used in us to share the faith with others, that we might sow the word and that it might grow in people. And so as we think about how to apply this parable, the first thing we need to do is just truly feel the blessing that we can understand God's Word, that the Spirit comes to us, and that we have people who can teach us and explain it to us when we struggle. The Spirit working at us isn't magic, but it does give us faith to understand that the Word of God is true and living and active within us. And so even though we may need to study, it's not going to be poofed into us. Even though we need to study, we have the faith that it takes to be diligent in study. 

We have the trust that this is the Word of God and it will work in us to make us holy and to continue to give us faith. And it's the same word that we can proclaim to others that God, the Holy Spirit, will work in and give them faith in that Word. And so may we continue to develop a trust and a hope that the Word of God is at work. And may we proclaim it to those who have ears to hear.