Mark 4:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

NIV: But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

NASB: And when the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

CSB: When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

NLT: But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died.

KJV: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

NKJV: But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.

Jesus' parable about the sower describes various types of people and their reactions to hearing the gospel. The seed thrown on the rocky ground means very shallow soil which cannot nurture the young plant enough to withstand scorching heat. Shallow soil doesn't allow the roots to dive deep for water, which leaves the young sprout vulnerable to the elements.

The seeds sown in rocky ground have no "root in themselves" (Mark 4:17). They are incapable of allowing Jesus' words to absorb deep into their selves because their character is so shallow. They like the idea of Jesus, but their eyes are still on their own comfort. As soon as hardship comes, they seek out another quick fix, and their young faith dies.

This hardship is persecution against those who believe in Christ (Mark 4:17). The Bible tells us that we should expect opposition because of our faith. Paul says, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). James 1:2–4 says that it is these very hardships that lead to a deeper faith. But faith can only grow if we are willing to be deeply rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:7).

The world loves to keep us shallow. "Fear of missing out" draws us in a hundred different directions at once. We are expected to be well-informed in politics, science, culture, entertainment, and all of our online "friends." We are considered shallow if we don't have a good grasp on all the ways people are suffering around the world and how to properly interact with each and every special interest group.

Jesus' alternative is much simpler. Submit to God. Be rooted in God's love. Understand and embody Christ's love. And be "filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:14–19).

Mark 4:1–9 is this Gospel's first major account of Jesus' teaching. In the previous chapter, Jesus encountered varied reactions to His ministry. This passage opens with a parable describing why people react in these ways. Ironically, the very act of using parables reveals what kind of a student someone is. Those intrigued by the story and trusting of the teacher want to know more. Those who are hardened, shallow, or distracted don't allow Jesus' message to change their hearts. These events are also found in Matthew 13:1–9 and Luke 8:4–8.

Jesus speaks in parables to the assembled crowd, giving them an opportunity to decide how much spiritual truth they want to absorb. The disciples, wanting to learn more, ask Jesus to explain the meaning of the parables He has taught. As Jesus explains these ideas, He demonstrates that a person's spiritual knowledge is based on their willingness to pursue truth. After describing Jesus' teaching in some detail, the Gospel of Mark describes how Jesus calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee.

Mark 3 explores the different ways people react to Jesus' teaching and miracles. They either follow Him, use Him, hide Him, or destroy Him. In Mark 4, Jesus explains why people react the way they do. He uses parables to explain who is serious about learning from Him. The softer a person's heart is, the more truth God will reveal. Soon, the twelve will also spread Jesus' message, although they will not be responsible for the spiritual growth of those who believe. The following chapter returns to depicting Jesus' miracles, including two of His most famous.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.