TEXT: MARCOS 4:26-34 (TCB)

26
Sinabi pa ni Jesus, “Ang paghahari ng Dios ay maitutulad sa kwentong
ito: May isang taong naghasik ng binhi sa kanyang bukid. 27 Habang
nagtatrabaho siya sa araw at natutulog sa gabi, ang mga binhing inihasik
niya ay tumutubo at lumalago kahit na hindi niya alam kung paano. 28 Ang
lupa ang nagpapatubo at nagpapabunga sa tanim. Sisibol muna ang mga
dahon, saka ang uhay, at pagkatapos ay ang mga butil. 29 At kapag hinog
na, inaani ito ng may-ari, dahil panahon na para anihin.” 30 Sinabi pa ni
Jesus, “Sa ano kaya maitutulad ang paghahari ng Dios? Sa ano ko kaya ito
maihahambing? 31 Katulad ito ng isang buto ng mustasa na siyang
pinakamaliit sa lahat ng buto. 32 Ngunit kapag naitanim na at tumubo,
nagiging mas mataas ito kaysa sa ibang mga halaman, at kahit ang mga
ibon ay nakakapamugad sa lilim ng mga sanga nito.” 33 Marami pang mga
talinghaga o mga paghahalintulad na gaya ng mga ito ang ginamit ni Jesus
sa pagtuturo sa mga tao ayon sa makakaya ng kanilang pang-
unawa. 34 Hindi siya nangangaral sa mga tao nang hindi gumagamit ng
talinghaga, pero ipinapaliwanag naman niya sa mga tagasunod niya kapag
sila-sila na lang.

THEME: THE PARABLES OF THE SECRETLY GROWING SEED

AND MUSTARD SEED
QUESTION: WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THESE TWO
PARABLES?

Mark 4:11-12 (NASB) And He was saying to them, “To you has been given
the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get
everything in parables, 12 so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT
PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND,
OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.”

I. LESSONS FROM THE SECRETLY GROWING SEED – VV. 26-29

26
And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed
upon the soil; 27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the
seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. 28 The soil
produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature
grain in the head. 29 But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in
the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
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A. The seed is cast upon the soil by the planter – v. 26

26
And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts
seed upon the soil…

1. We must sow the seed (word of God) by proclaiming it to all

men.

Mark 16:15 (NASB) And He said to them, “Go into all the world and
preach the gospel to all creation.

II Tim. 4:1-2 (NASB) I solemnly charge you in the presence of God

and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by
His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in
season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort,
with great patience and instruction.

B. The seed sprouts and grows independently of the farmer’s

ability – vv. 27-28
27
and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed
sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. 28 The soil
produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the
mature grain in the head.

1. It is exclusively God’s work to make the seed (word of God)

grows.
a. man has no part in the growth of the word of God
b. it yields crops all by itself successively

I Cor. 3:6-7 (NASB) I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing
the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who
waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

John 1:12-13 (NASB) But as many as received Him, to them He

gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe
in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh
nor of the will of man, but of God.

C. The crop is now ready for the farmer to be harvested – v. 29

29
But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle,
because the harvest has come.”
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1. We can only reap the product of God’s salvation.

II. LESSONS FROM THE MUSTARD SEED – VV. 30-32

30
And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what
parable shall we present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown
upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the
soil, 32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the
garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF
THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE.”

A. The kingdom of God being likened to a mustard seed is not

appealing to human reason and experience – vv. 30-31
30
And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what
parable shall we present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when
sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are
upon the soil.

1. Jesus’ audience or hearers (disciples and crowd) would have

found the story illogical.
2. In terms of size and worth, it is so small and insignificant
a. Christians are treated to small in number, weak and of no
value.

B. The kingdom of God like the mustard seed grows beyond its
small beginning – v. 32
32a
yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the
garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF
THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE.”

1. God’s kingdom though it may appear insignificant and weak, it will

someday become great and powerful.
a. it bestows blessings to those who believe

TEXT TO PONDER
Mark 4:33-34 With many such parables He was speaking the word to
them, so far as they were able to hear it; 34 and He did not speak to
them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His
own disciples.
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APPEAL

THE PARABLES OF THE SECRETLY GROWING SEED AND MUSTARD

SEED RESPECTIVELY TEACH US HOW THE KINGDOM OF GOD
GROWS GRADUALLY YET POWERFULLY WITHOUT THE AID OF
HUMAN EFFORTS AND ABILITY AND NO MATTER HOW SMALL IT
STARTED, ITS FINAL MANIFESTATION IS SO GREAT, THUS IT
REACHES EXTENSIVELY. THE KINGDOM OF GOD MEANS GOD
REIGNING IN THE HEARTS OF MEN WHO TRULY BELIEVE THE GOOD
NEWS OF THE KINGDOM. THEREFORE, WE WHO HAVE BEEN
ENTRUSTED OF THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM, IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROCLAIM IT FAITHFULLY, CLEARLY AND
DILIGENTLY FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS POWERFULLY IN EVERY
INDIVIDUAL’S LIFE. GOD BLESS US ALL!