Mark 4:29
Verse
Context
Sermons
Watchman NeeSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
He putteth in the sickle - ΑποϚελλει, he sendeth out the sickle, i.e. the reapers; the instrument, by a metonomy, being put for the persons who use it. This is a common figure. It has been supposed that our Lord intimates here that, as soon as a soul is made completely holy, it is taken into the kingdom of God. But certainly the parable does not say so. When the corn is ripe, it is reaped for the benefit of him who sowed it; for it can be of little or no use till it be ripe: so when a soul is saved from all sin, it is capable of being fully employed in the work of the Lord: it is then, and not till then, fully fitted for the Master's use. God saves men to the uttermost, that they may here perfectly love him, and worthily magnify his name. To take them away the moment they are capable of doing this, would be, so far, to deprive the world and the Church of the manifestation of the glory of his grace. "But the text says, he immediately sendeth out the sickle; and this means that the person dies, and is taken into glory, as soon as he is fit for it." No, for there may be millions of cases, where, though to die would be gain, yet to live may be far better for the Church, and for an increase of the life of Christ to the soul. See Phi 1:21, Phi 1:24. Besides, if we attempt to make the parable speak here what seems to be implied in the letter, then we may say, with equal propriety, that Christ sleeps and wakes alternately; and that his own grace grows, he knows not how, in the heart in which he has planted it. On these two parables we may remark: - 1. That a preacher is a person employed by God, and sent out to sow the good seed of his kingdom in the souls of men. 2. That it is a sin against God to stay in the field and not sow. 3. That it is a sin to pretend to sow, when a man is not furnished by the keeper of the granary with any more seed. 4. That it is a high offense against God to change the Master's seed, to mix it, or to sow bad seed in the place of it. 5. That he is not a seeds-man of God who desires to sow by the way side, etc., and not on the proper ground, i.e. he who loves to preach only to genteel congregations, to people of sense and fashion, and feels it a pain and a cross to labor among the poor and the ignorant. 6. That he who sows with a simple, upright heart, the seed of his Master, shall (though some may be unfruitful) see the seed take deep root; and, notwithstanding the unfaithfulness and sloth of many of his hearers, he shall doubtless come with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. See Quesnel.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
But when the fruit is brought forth--to maturity immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come--This charmingly points to the transition from the earthly to the heavenly condition of the Christian and the Church. Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mar 4:30-32). For the exposition of this portion, see on Mat 13:31-32.
John Gill Bible Commentary
But without a parable spake he not unto them,.... For the above reason, as well as for the accomplishment of Scripture; See Gill on Mat 13:34, Mat 13:35. And when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples: after they returned with him from the sea side, to the house in Capernaum, where he usually was when there; see Mat 13:36. The multitude being dismissed, he unfolded and explained all these parables to his disciples, and led them into a large knowledge of himself, and the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; whereby they were furnished for the work he had called them to, and designed them for.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
4:29 Harvest time is analogous to the final inauguration of God’s Kingdom. A sickle is a frequent symbol of the final judgment (Jer 50:16; Joel 3:13; Rev 14:14-19).
Mark 4:29
The Seed Growing Secretly
28All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within. 29And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come. ”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
He putteth in the sickle - ΑποϚελλει, he sendeth out the sickle, i.e. the reapers; the instrument, by a metonomy, being put for the persons who use it. This is a common figure. It has been supposed that our Lord intimates here that, as soon as a soul is made completely holy, it is taken into the kingdom of God. But certainly the parable does not say so. When the corn is ripe, it is reaped for the benefit of him who sowed it; for it can be of little or no use till it be ripe: so when a soul is saved from all sin, it is capable of being fully employed in the work of the Lord: it is then, and not till then, fully fitted for the Master's use. God saves men to the uttermost, that they may here perfectly love him, and worthily magnify his name. To take them away the moment they are capable of doing this, would be, so far, to deprive the world and the Church of the manifestation of the glory of his grace. "But the text says, he immediately sendeth out the sickle; and this means that the person dies, and is taken into glory, as soon as he is fit for it." No, for there may be millions of cases, where, though to die would be gain, yet to live may be far better for the Church, and for an increase of the life of Christ to the soul. See Phi 1:21, Phi 1:24. Besides, if we attempt to make the parable speak here what seems to be implied in the letter, then we may say, with equal propriety, that Christ sleeps and wakes alternately; and that his own grace grows, he knows not how, in the heart in which he has planted it. On these two parables we may remark: - 1. That a preacher is a person employed by God, and sent out to sow the good seed of his kingdom in the souls of men. 2. That it is a sin against God to stay in the field and not sow. 3. That it is a sin to pretend to sow, when a man is not furnished by the keeper of the granary with any more seed. 4. That it is a high offense against God to change the Master's seed, to mix it, or to sow bad seed in the place of it. 5. That he is not a seeds-man of God who desires to sow by the way side, etc., and not on the proper ground, i.e. he who loves to preach only to genteel congregations, to people of sense and fashion, and feels it a pain and a cross to labor among the poor and the ignorant. 6. That he who sows with a simple, upright heart, the seed of his Master, shall (though some may be unfruitful) see the seed take deep root; and, notwithstanding the unfaithfulness and sloth of many of his hearers, he shall doubtless come with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. See Quesnel.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
But when the fruit is brought forth--to maturity immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come--This charmingly points to the transition from the earthly to the heavenly condition of the Christian and the Church. Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mar 4:30-32). For the exposition of this portion, see on Mat 13:31-32.
John Gill Bible Commentary
But without a parable spake he not unto them,.... For the above reason, as well as for the accomplishment of Scripture; See Gill on Mat 13:34, Mat 13:35. And when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples: after they returned with him from the sea side, to the house in Capernaum, where he usually was when there; see Mat 13:36. The multitude being dismissed, he unfolded and explained all these parables to his disciples, and led them into a large knowledge of himself, and the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; whereby they were furnished for the work he had called them to, and designed them for.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
4:29 Harvest time is analogous to the final inauguration of God’s Kingdom. A sickle is a frequent symbol of the final judgment (Jer 50:16; Joel 3:13; Rev 14:14-19).