The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 208

one of these maxims, viz. "If any man have ears to ear, let him hear," ae B eareguard against possible error, and to prevent a not unlikely misconception, he proceeds to state another principle of his teaching, and another purpose to be accomplished. '!'his principle was that the measure of attention given by the disciple to his Master would be rewarded with a proportionate measure of improvement; that in proportion to the desire of instruction and the use made of it by the disciple would be the benefit bestowed by the teacher. Again, the purpose was that the instructions thus received should be utilized for the advantage of others. so that the more the disciples profited as learners, so much the more they themselves would be able to impart to others, as pr~chers of the gosp_el and ~ teachers of th~ truth. Further, ulterior and higher attarnments are promised to him who makes a right use of present attainments • while he" who ha.snot," that is to say, who has not for ready use, a,nd who does not make available his present or previous attainments, shall forfeit even what he has, or fancies he has. We thus learn that spiritual attainments and spiritual knowledge are never exactly at a standstill. They are either increasing by proper application and improve- ment, or decreasing by misuse and diminishing by neglect,-J. J. G. Vers. 26-29.-Spiritual, 'Vegetation or secret growth. I. RELATION TO THE IMMEDI- ATELY PRECEDING PARABLE. This parable, which may very appropriately be called" the secret growth," is recorded by St. Mark alone. It is peculiar to his Gospel. Its relation to the parable of the sower, which precedes it, is somewhat of the following kind :-The former parable describes the soil, this one, the seed; the former the quality of the soil, and this the vitality of the seed. IL THE E:I!sGDOM OF HEAVEN. "The kingdom of heaven" is an expression of frequent occurrence in Scripture. Thus we read, " The kingdom of heaven cometh not with observation," that is," outward show," as the margin expresses it; also, "The kingdom of heaven is within you," or "among yon," as the margin again has it. The meaning of this important expression is sufficie1:1tly plain to every reader of the New Testament, and does not, at least in its present connection, require any lengthened explanation. It denotes the reign of Heaven's principles in the heart of man, the spread of Heaven's principles among the families of man, and the glory of Heaven's principles as exhibited in all their plenitude and in all their power in that new heaven and new earth in which d welleth righteousness. It may be more briefly summed up as the kingdom of grace in the heart, of peace in the family, and of glory through all the world. In Luther's 'Smaller Catechism,' on that petition of the Lord's Prayer, "Thy kingdom come," it is asked, " How does this take place?" and the answer is, "When our heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, that through his grace we believe his Holy Word, and live a godly life, here in time and yonder in eternity." IIL QuALITY OF THE SEED. The seed here, as in the former parable, is the Word of God; thus we read, at the fourteenth ven,e of this chapter, "The sower soweth the Word:" so also in that other Scripture," Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incor- ruptible, by the Word of Goo, which liveth and abideth for ever." Husbandmen are par• ticularly careful about the quality of the seed which they cast into the furrows of the field, and very properly so, for the prospect of the harvest depends so much thereon. They reject the seed that is mixed, or unhealthy, or dead; otherwise the result would be most disastrous. Exactly so should it be with the Word of God. Here is a duty incumbent both on those that speak and on those that hear that Word; it behoves them both to see well to it that it is in truth the Word of God which they speak and hear. It must be the Word of God-nothing less, and nothing else; the Word of God in its purity, the Word of God without any mixture, whether of human error or human passion, or doubtful disputation, or unsettling speculation, or tradition of men, or doctrines of men, or philosophy and vain deceit. 'l'bat Word, too, must be faithfully spoken, not handled deceitfully; for we are not to speak as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts; the whole counsel of God must be declared, and no part kept back; its force, too, must not be weakened, or its meaning explained away. Thus," the truth as it ie in Jesus" must be exhibited faithfully and fully, plainly and openly, just as the apostle says," But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ." 'l'he danger of the contrary couri;e is very forcibly pointed out in a remarkable Scripture (1 Cor. iii 12), where the apostle, after stating the true and onl1 foundation to be Jesus CB, xv. 1-41.] 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MAP.K. 206