Nov 15, Parable of the Seed Growing Secretly, Mark 4:26-29

Nov 15, Parable of the Seed Growing Secretly, Mark 4:26-29

I am not a Bible student who spends all my time noting the similarity and differences between the synoptic Gospels (synoptic means same view) of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but in this case, the context of this parable requires us to do so.

Notice, Mark puts the Seed Growing Secretly immediately after the explanation of why Jesus teaches in parables and the explanation of the Parable of the Sower. In Mark, the Mustard Seed Parable follows. Mark does not mention the Wheat and Tares. Let us keep in mind the growing parables of Matthew as we understand this parable in Mark. This is a good plan, but we must allow Mark to speak distinctly as well. Thus we would want to note similarities and differences from this parable.

There is a mystery to the growth of seeds in the Kingdom of God. In the Sower, the seed is the Word of God. We all sow Kingdom seeds: a word of witness, a kind deed, an invitation, and even a prayer. We do not know what God accomplishes through the seed. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 says that Paul plants, Apollos waters, but God makes it grow. Many times in my ministry, the seeds were growing and I thought not. Years later, someone will come along and give testimony about how something that happened in their life 3 or 4 years earlier caused them to turn to the Lord, today.

The Lord promises that His Word will not return to him without accomplishing His purpose (Isaiah 55:11). So take heart and heed what God tells us to do. If God is prompting us to do or say something, we can be certain He has a purpose, and that seed will grow night and day whether we see it or not.

One difference from Matthew’s Gospel just hit me. Matthew unlike Mark and Luke does not include the Lamp on a Stand teaching (Mark 4:21-25). If we have a word to say from God or a witness to share, let is shine. It might just be the seed God intents to plant, grow, and bring to harvest.

For those of you who have sown seeds and are still waiting any sign of growth, reread this passage and trust the Lord. It’s growing. God will accomplish His will. Keep trusting and praying.

 ²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”—Mark 4:26-29