COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 44
“ Mark 4:26 And He said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” (Mark 4:26-29)
SO IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD
INTRODUCTION
Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14). This was the “glad tidings of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1). Philip preached things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 8:12), and Paul did as well (Acts 20:25; 28:31). This was not the word of a new Law, or a secret procedure that was guaranteed to produce successful living. This news did not concern the kingdoms of men, but the kingdom of God. It was not a message focusing upon human requirements or achievements, but upon the accomplishments of God Himself, who works all things according to the counsel of His own will. In this parable, Jesus briefly expounds an aspect of God’s kingdom. He will clarify how God works to accomplish His purpose, and how that working appears to men. In speaking of the kingdom of God, we ought to expect certainty and productivity to be associated with whatever is done, for God cannot work in any other way.
HE KNOWETH NOT HOW
“ 4:26 And He said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27 should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.”
This parable is only recorded by Mark. It is a sort of overview of the entirety of God’s kingdom – from its initial revelation among men until its full revelation. In a nutshell, God’s kingdom is likened to the deliberate and expectant sowing of a seed into the ground. The Kingdom grows and advances according to Divine purpose, and finally yields a God-glorifying crop – one of the fundamental purposes for which it was placed among men.
SO IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD. The ability of the Lord to liken the Kingdom of God to certain things in this world, confirms that the world was made with the working of God’s kingdom in mind. This is precisely why the Scriptures start with the words, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen 1:1). This was not a Divine experiment, for God purposed what He would do in the earth “before the world began” (2 Tim 1:9). He determined to have a people for Himself, the work of His own hands, “before the foundation of the world” (Eph 1:4). The centerpiece of redemption, the Lamb of God, was “foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Pet 1:20). The working out of His “eternal purpose” (Eph 3:11), which is nothing less than the revelation of His Kingdom, was “ordained before the world” (1 Cor 2:7). “Eternal life,” which is our ultimate participation in God’s Kingdom, was “promised before the world began” (Tit 1:2).
Thus, when God “created the heavens and the earth,” that creation reflected the purpose He conceived before the creation. Likenesses of the outworking of His purpose were woven into the fabric of creation, as well as into the various activities of men within that creation. Man was made, and the various employments required by life in this world, were all intended to reflect various aspects of the Kingdom of God. That is precisely why it is likened to a mustard seed (Mk 4:30), leaven (Mk 13:20), sowing seed (Matt 13:24), a king taking account of his servants (Matt 18:23), and a marriage supper (Matt 25:1). It is why it is likened to a treasure in a field (Matt 13:33), a merchant seeking goodly pearls (Matt 13:45), a fishing net cast into the sea (Matt 13:47), and a man who is a householder, or head of a household (Matt 13:52). Properly seen, this world and the legitimate activities within it reflect a higher order and an “eternal purpose.” Those parallels are not mere coincidence, but are the result of Divine purpose and order. This is also why “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork” (Psa 19:1). They do not merely testify to the existence of God, but to the fact that He is a purposing, working God.
All of this suggests that God desires His will and purpose to be known, else He would not have structured the world, man, and his activities to reflect that purpose. In God’s Kingdom, all likenesses and parallels are intentional.
HE KNOWETH NOT HOW. From the perspective of men, even while they are not working, God is working. Man sleeps and rises, day after day, and it does not appear as though the seed is growing – but it is! Men sleep and rise because they know this is what will take place. Beneath the surface, where human eyes cannot see, the mighty God of heaven is working out His purpose in the most precise and effective way. His purpose is advancing, not being dependent upon men. The Kingdom of God moves on though man “himself does not know how.” NKJV
The purpose of God, and the Kingdom through which it is being carried out, is not theoretical. Just as surely as seeds grow, so the Kingdom of God advances, fulfilling its design. It grows even when men are not aware of it. Nor, indeed, when they are aware of it can they explain it. It is this precise point that the Psalmist accents when he writes, “Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters, and Thy footsteps are not known” (Psa 77:19). Paul also refers to this nature of Divine working: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Rom 11:33). God is doing “according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth,” although that working, until it is revealed by God, is hidden from men (Dan 4:35). Those who attempt to trace the working of the Lord by human wisdom are like fools who set about to chart the path of a ship in the water the day after it has passed their way.
The bane of human systemization. Right here we ought to note the bane, or scourge, of man’s propensity to systematize the working of the Lord. By this, I mean that they develop patterns and methodologies of their own that are used to explain what God has done. When you consider the poverty of human wisdom, this will be seen as a very dangerous practice. Yet, it is the foundation of all denominationalism and sectarianism.
GROWTH AND FRUIT WITHOUT HUMAN INTERVENTION
“ 28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.”
Here Jesus will speak of the effectiveness of Divine working – the “Kingdom of God.” As with seed sown in the earth, the advancement of the Kingdom is not by happenstance. It moves forward in an orderly manner, and according to Divine objective.
OF HERSELF. Here, “fruit” is equivalent to a crop, or harvest. That harvest is in consistent and progressive stages. Another version reads, “The soil produces crops by itself.” NASB The point here is that the Kingdom advances without the power of man. Man, being himself created, cannot “cause” anything of an eternal nature – and this is an eternal kingdom (Matt 6:13). Ponder the vast and magnificent forests and fields of the world that have neither been planted nor tilled by men, to say nothing of the extensive plant life on the bottom of the ocean. The earth brought it forth without man – “of herself.”
So it is with the Kingdom of God. The things resident within it – like righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17) were produced by the Kingdom itself. This is also true of all kingdom “fruit” – appropriately called “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal 5:22-23). We are pointedly told that “the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” (1 Cor 4:20). In this case, “word” refers to what comes from man, while “power” refers to what comes from God. It is another way of saying the Kingdom of God produces fruit by itself.
FIRST THE BLADE. Another version reads, “first, the stalk.” NIV The “blade” is the first appearance of plant life above the ground, when life breaks through the crusty soil, though it is most tender at the first. The very appearance of a tender shoot above hard ground is evidence of a working with which men have nothing whatsoever to do. This first life is fragile from one point of view, yet robust from another. From the human point of view, it does not appear as though anything can come from it. From the Divine viewpoint, it is the beginning of a most remarkable project – one that will be brought to completion.
From the overall view, this “blade” can be seen as the period of time from Adam to Moses – a time when the world was introduced to Divine workings. At that time the purpose itself was very vague, and the intended result of this initial work unknown. Just as surely as a tender green sprout bears no resemblance to a heart stalk of grain, so the Kingdom of God was not apparent during the 2,500 years spanning from Adam to Moses.
From the personal standpoint, the “blade” is like the “newborn babe,” who first is translated “into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son” (1 Pet 2:2; Col 1:13). From the standpoint of the church, it is like the bursting forth of collective life in the book of Acts – a time of spiritual tenderness and seeming weakness.
THEN THE EAR. Other versions read, “the head.” NKJV This is the formation of the head on a stalk of grain. It is separate from the stalk, yet has no grain in it. As the stalk moves upward, it begins to mature, so that the purpose for which the seed was sown may be fulfilled. This is the time when a natural capacity to contain fruit is developed.
From the overall view, “the ear,” or “head,” was fulfilled during the time of the First Covenant – from Moses to Christ. During this period, an environment was Divinely produced by God in Israel. They were the “head” in which the Lord’s Christ would be revealed (Rom 9:5). The rich promises that announced the coming Savior and the great salvation He would accomplish were given to this people (Rom 9:4). Those promises were like containers in which precious fruit would be found.
From the personal standpoint, “the ear” speaks of the development of spiritual capacities – i.e. faith, the love of God, and hope. It is the development of the “new creation,” which is to be fully conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18).
THE FULL CORN IN THE EAR. Other versions read, “full grain in the head,” NKJV “mature grain in the head,” NASB and “full kernel in the head.” NIV This is what is harvested, fulfilling the purpose for which the seed was sown.
From the overall view, this is the church presented to Christ “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Eph 5:27). This is the people of God becoming a suitable “habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph 2:22). It is the church being an appropriate means through which God’s manifold wisdom is made known to angelic hosts (Eph 3:10).
From the personal standpoint, this is the believer “conformed” to the image of God’s Son (Rom 8:29). It depicts the time when the reason for being joined to the Lord begins to take place – “that we should bring forth fruit to God” (Rom 7:4). It is the time when believers are brought to “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7).
THE HARVEST IS REAPED
“ 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”
THE FRUIT IS BROUGHT FORTH. The ultimate purpose for the seed being sown is the time when “the harvest is come.” The field is not sown only so passers-by can pluck a few grains here and there when they are hungry – like Jesus’ disciples once did (Matt 12:1). The sower does not sow his seed with the expectation of nibbling on the produce from day to day – even though some of that might be done. Rather, the purpose is a bountiful harvest, when a plentitude of fruit is reaped at one time and gathered into the barn to serve his purposes.
So it is with the Kingdom of God. Its ultimate purpose is not to serve an occasional demonstration of the presence and blessing of the Lord before men. While we are to let our “light shine before men,” that is not the ultimate purpose for which we have been re-created in Christ Jesus. Collectively, the people of God are “the bride of Christ,” and they are being cultured in order to be presented to Him (Eph 5:27). While they conduct themselves honorably before men, and for the glory of God, what they are really doing is making themselves “ready” for their grand presentation to Christ (Rev 19:7).
From the personal point of view, the believer is preparing to be “present with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8), and to be among those who are “gathered” to Him (2 Thess 2:1). The “fruit is brought forth” when we “grow up into Him in all things” (Eph 4:15). It is realized when we come to the point where we can be presented “perfect in Christ” (Col 1:28) – spiritually mature. Fruit is “brought forth” when God is “working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ” (Heb 13:21).
THE SICKLE AND THE HARVEST. The earth itself is going to be reaped. It is a great field in which the children of God have been sown, cultured, and matured. This harvest is portrayed in the Revelation, and it is marvelous to consider. “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped” (Rev 14:15-16). Elsewhere this reaping is described in other words. “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself” (John 14:3). The actual reapers of the harvest will be the angels, sent forth by the Son of God Himself. They are like the “sickle.” As it is written, “the reapers are the angels” (Matt 13:39) . . . And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Mat 24:31). Jesus also reminded us, “the harvest is the end of the world” (Matt 13:39).
Here is the reason for the creation of the world in general, and man in particular – “the harvest.” This is why God called Abraham and developed and cultured a nation through him. Here is why He sent His Son into the world, commissioning Him to lay down His life and take it up again (John 10:17-18). This is the purpose for which Jesus, once He had been exalted, sent forth the Holy Spirit to inhabit and direct His people. This is the ultimate reason for all spiritual gifts, and the church itself. It is the reason for the remission of sins, the “new man,” faith, and the “hope of glory.” It is the harvest! The harvest! If this was not the case, the heavens and the earth would not be appointed to “pass away” (Matt 24:35). They will be terminated because God has appointed a “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Pet 3:13).
In a grand view of the Kingdom, God revealed to Daniel His ultimate intentions for the earth. In the days of worldly monarchs – when earthly glory and power had reached its apex – He would “set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed.” That kingdom would have no successors – i.e. it would not be “left to other people.” Instead, it would “break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Dan 2:44). After 4,000 years of preparation, the announcement of the setting up of that kingdom was delivered by John the Baptist (John 3:2). Jesus also announced the revelation of that kingdom was close at hand (Matt 4:17; Lk 21:31). That is, the fuller revelation of it was about to take place – a time when the corn would be formed in the ear. Now, believers are put into that kingdom (Col 1:13). Yet, the fulness of it will not be realized until “the harvest,” when we will “inherit the kingdom” prepared for us from the foundation of the world (Matt 25:34).
At this present time, everything is moving toward the harvest in an orderly manner. The grain is being formed in the ear, and it is being formed in anticipation of the appointed harvest. The only issue is whether or not that work is being done in us.