And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
This parable can be seen as related to the parable of the Sower,[1] although it does not follow that parable immediately. Seventh-day Adventist writer George Knight suggests that it serves as a "correction provided for any ancient or modern disciples who might be feeling discouraged with the amount of fruitless labor they had extended toward those" who failed to hear the message of which the parable of the Sower spoke.[1] Even when the farmer sleeps, the Kingdom of God is still growing. Its growth is due to God, not man,[2] and follows its own timetable.[3]
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.[4]
Illustration together with the preceding parable of the lamp under a bushel.
Unlike the parable of the Sower, the seed here seems to represent the Kingdom of God itself.[5] Differences in interpretation result from emphasizing different aspects of the parable, such as the seed, the sower, or the earth.[6]
Leonard Goffiné answers the question of "why the word of God is compared to seed," writing, "Because as good fruits spring from good seed, so do good works from the word of God; and as it is impossible for any soil not sown to produce good fruits, so neither can men produce the fruits of the Spirit without the seed of the divine Word."[7]
Roger Baxter in his Meditations writes, "Christ our Lord is both the sower and the seed itself. He intrusts the soil of our souls with His own precious body and blood. He wishes this divine grain to yield a harvest, not of temporal and corruptible, but of eternal and incorruptible, increase. For " he who soweth in the spirit shall reap life everlasting." (Gal. 3:8)[8]
^Klyne Snodgrass, Stories with Intent: A comprehensive guide to the parables of Jesus, Eerdmans, 2008, ISBN0-8028-4241-0, pp. 184-190.
^Goffine, Leonard (1896). Goffine's Devout instructions on the Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays and holydays. Benzinger Brothers.
^Baxter, Roger (1823). "Christ the Seed of Eternal Life." . Meditations For Every Day In The Year. New York: Benziger Brothers.
January 01, 1970
parable, growing, seed, also, called, seed, growing, secretly, parable, jesus, which, appears, only, mark, parable, about, growth, kingdom, follows, parable, sower, lamp, under, bushel, precedes, parable, mustard, seed, christ, cornfield, frank, dicksee, conte. The Parable of the Growing Seed also called the Seed Growing Secretly is a parable of Jesus which appears only in Mark 4 26 29 It is a parable about growth in the Kingdom of God It follows the Parable of the Sower and the Lamp under a bushel and precedes the Parable of the Mustard Seed Christ of the Cornfield Frank Dicksee Contents 1 Narrative 2 Interpretation 3 See also 4 ReferencesNarrative edit nbsp The sower as illustrated in Hortus deliciarum compiled by Herrad of Landsberg at the Hohenburg Abbey in Alsace 12th century The parable is as follows And he said The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground He sleeps and rises night and day and the seed sprouts and grows he knows not how The earth produces by itself first the blade then the ear then the full grain in the ear But when the grain is ripe at once he puts in the sickle because the harvest has come Mark 4 26 29 English Standard VersionInterpretation editThis parable can be seen as related to the parable of the Sower 1 although it does not follow that parable immediately Seventh day Adventist writer George Knight suggests that it serves as a correction provided for any ancient or modern disciples who might be feeling discouraged with the amount of fruitless labor they had extended toward those who failed to hear the message of which the parable of the Sower spoke 1 Even when the farmer sleeps the Kingdom of God is still growing Its growth is due to God not man 2 and follows its own timetable 3 Paul the Apostle describes the growth of the church in Corinth in a similar way I planted the seed Apollos watered it but God has been making it grow 4 nbsp Illustration together with the preceding parable of the lamp under a bushel Unlike the parable of the Sower the seed here seems to represent the Kingdom of God itself 5 Differences in interpretation result from emphasizing different aspects of the parable such as the seed the sower or the earth 6 Leonard Goffine answers the question of why the word of God is compared to seed writing Because as good fruits spring from good seed so do good works from the word of God and as it is impossible for any soil not sown to produce good fruits so neither can men produce the fruits of the Spirit without the seed of the divine Word 7 Roger Baxter in his Meditations writes Christ our Lord is both the sower and the seed itself He intrusts the soil of our souls with His own precious body and blood He wishes this divine grain to yield a harvest not of temporal and corruptible but of eternal and incorruptible increase For he who soweth in the spirit shall reap life everlasting Gal 3 8 8 See also editLife of Jesus in the New Testament Ministry of Jesus Parable of the SowerReferences edit a b George R Knight Exploring Mark A Devotional Commentary Review and Herald Pub Assoc 2004 ISBN 0 8280 1837 5 pp 107 108 Richard N Longenecker The Challenge of Jesus Parables Eerdmans 2000 ISBN 0 8028 4638 6 p 97 James R Edwards The Gospel According to Mark Eerdmans 2002 ISBN 0 85111 778 3 pp 142 144 1 Corinthians 3 6 New International Version Klyne Snodgrass Stories with Intent A comprehensive guide to the parables of Jesus Eerdmans 2008 ISBN 0 8028 4241 0 p 213 Klyne Snodgrass Stories with Intent A comprehensive guide to the parables of Jesus Eerdmans 2008 ISBN 0 8028 4241 0 pp 184 190 Goffine Leonard 1896 Goffine s Devout instructions on the Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays and holydays Benzinger Brothers Baxter Roger 1823 Christ the Seed of Eternal Life Meditations For Every Day In The Year New York Benziger Brothers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Parable of the Growing Seed amp oldid 1208498141, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
