Jesus spoke to the crowd of people from a boat, launched just off the shore. Jesus told his disciples that they have been given the mystery of the kingdom but those outside get everything in parables, less they return and be forgiven. Jesus explained the parable of the sower of seed and the soils to his disciples but did not explain the meaning to those outside the kingdom. Jesus told his disciples take care, listen and more shall be given you, but for those on the outside, even what they have shall be taken away. Jesus related the kingdom of God to that of a farmer sowing and harvesting his crop. Jesus related the kingdom of God to a very small mustard seed that grows larger than all the other garden plants. Jesus publicly spoke in parables but privately explained the meaning to his disciples. Jesus commanded the wind and sea.
The main point of this chapter is not the parables but who is in the kingdom and who is not. Jesus chose his disciples and they left all to follow him. He explained the kingdom of God to them, but spoke about the kingdom to the crowds in parables without explaining the meaning. The Gospel of Mark was written for believers. Therefore, we are given the meaning of the parables. Put yourself on the shore of that sea and listen to these parables as if you did not already know the meaning. Would you not ask, “Why is this man talking about farming?”
There are two kingdoms. There is the kingdom of God and the kingdom of man. The citizens of the kingdom of God are called the elect. (Mt. 24:31) There names were written in the Lambs book of life before the foundation of the earth. (Rev. 13:8)
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” ~John 10:27-30
The main point of this chapter is that God gives revelation to the citizens of the kingdom of God but not to the citizens of the kingdom of man. God became flesh in the person of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, revealed to the disciples.
