The Meaning of Mark 4:24 Explained

Mark 4:24

KJV: And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

YLT: And he said to them, 'Take heed what ye hear; in what measure ye measure, it shall be measured to you; and to you who hear it shall be added;

Darby: And he said to them, Take heed what ye hear; with what measure ye mete, it shall be meted to you; and there shall be more added to you.

ASV: And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you; and more shall be given unto you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  he said  unto them,  Take heed  what  ye hear:  with  what  measure  ye mete,  it shall be measured  to you:  and  unto you  that hear  shall more be given. 

What does Mark 4:24 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The disciples needed to consider carefully what Jesus was telling them. The degree to which they gave heed to what He said would be the degree to which they would profit from it. God would graciously bless attentive disciples with even greater benefit than the effort they expended in heeding His words. Their blessing would be disproportionately large.

Context Summary

Mark 4:10-41 - Growth In God's Kingdom
How quick the Master was to observe the meaning of natural symbols! To Him all things were unfoldings of eternal mystery, and the ways of men unconsciously mirrored the unseen. Are there bushels in your life? Use them as lamp stands, not as coverings. All secrets come out; beware of what you say. All measures come back to us; take care how you mete. The mysterious co-operation of God in nature, and the gradual process of growth, are analogous to the co-working of the Holy Spirit with all faithful sowers of the Word, and the imperceptible stages through which the soul reaches maturity.
The stilling of the storm, Mark 4:35-41. They that bear Christ's company must prepare for squalls. Yet, why should we fear, when the Master is on board, who can impress His commands on wind and sea-to the wind, Peace; to the sea, Be still! "The Lord on high is mightier than the waves of the sea." A moment ago he was so weary as to sleep amid the storm, but at a word of appeal from those He loves, He shows Himself able to save to the uttermost. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 4

1  The parable of the sower,
14  and the meaning thereof
21  We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others
26  The parable of the seed growing secretly;
30  and of the mustard seed
35  Jesus stills the storm on the sea

Greek Commentary for Mark 4:24

What ye hear [τι ακουετε]
Luke 8:18 has it “how ye hear” Both are important. Some things should not be heard at all for they besmirch the mind and heart. What is worth hearing should be heard rightly and heeded. [source]
With what measure [εν ωι μετρωι]
See already in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:2; see note on Luke 6:38). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 4:24

Luke 8:18 How ye hear [πως ακουετε]
The manner of hearing. Mark 4:24 has “what ye hear” (τι ακουετε — ti akouete), the matter that is heard. Both are supremely important. Some things should not be heard at all. Some that are heard should be forgotten. Others should be treasured and practised. [source]
Philippians 3:2 Beware [βλέπετε]
Lit., look to. Compare Mark 4:24; Mark 8:15; Luke 21:8. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 4:24 mean?

And He was saying to them Take heed what you hear With what measure you measure it will be measured to you more will be added
Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς Βλέπετε τί ἀκούετε ἐν μέτρῳ μετρεῖτε μετρηθήσεται ὑμῖν προστεθήσεται

ἔλεγεν  He  was  saying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Βλέπετε  Take  heed 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: βλέπω  
Sense: to see, discern, of the bodily eye.
ἀκούετε  you  hear 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
μέτρῳ  measure 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: μέτρον  
Sense: measure, an instrument for measuring.
μετρεῖτε  you  measure 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: μετρέω  
Sense: to measure, to measure out or off.
μετρηθήσεται  it  will  be  measured 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: μετρέω  
Sense: to measure, to measure out or off.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
προστεθήσεται  more  will  be  added 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: προστίθημι  
Sense: to put to.