Mark 4:33-34

Mark 4:33-34

[33] And  with many  such  parables  spake he  the word  unto them,  as  they were able  to hear  [34] But  without  a parable  spake  he not  unto them:  and  when they were alone,  he expounded  all things  to his  disciples. 

What does Mark 4:33-34 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Some of the other parables Jesus taught included the following that Matthew recorded. He taught the parable of the weeds ( Matthew 13:24-30; Matthew 13:36-43), and the parable of the yeast hidden in the meal ( Matthew 13:33) to the multitudes. He also taught the parables of the hidden treasure ( Matthew 13:44), the pearl ( Matthew 13:45-46), the dragnet ( Matthew 13:47-50), and the householder ( Matthew 13:52) to the disciples.
Mark concluded his account of Jesus" kingdom parables by explaining Jesus" purpose and approach in teaching this way. These were only a few of the parables Jesus used to correct popular erroneous ideas about the kingdom. The parables were similar to bait for the multitudes. They kept them seeking what Jesus had to offer, which included revelation of Himself as the God-man. When seekers came to follow Jesus as disciples, He explained the true characteristics of His kingdom more clearly to prepare them for it.
The three parables Mark chose to record reveal three important facts about the kingdom. The parable of the soils shows that there will be a variety of responses to the good news about the kingdom. The parable of the seed growing by itself teaches that the good news will bring forth fruit by itself. The parable of the mustard seed reveals that though the word is small it will eventually produce something very large and beneficial.
When we proclaim the gospel today, we are announcing good news about the kingdom. I do not mean that the gospel of the kingdom that John the Baptist, Jesus, and Jesus" first disciples preached is the same as the gospel of God"s grace that we preach. They focused specifically on the Messiah"s kingdom as imminent. We focus on trusting in the Messiah. Nevertheless, just as their gospel included the importance of trusting in the Messiah so ours includes the importance of preparing for the messianic kingdom. At least it should. The coming messianic kingdom should be an important factor in the thinking, motivation, and proclamation of modern disciples of Jesus (cf. Matthew 6:10).