Jesus' Doctrine Through Parables - Mark 4:2

Mark wrote how Jesus, “began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land”, and in chapter four and verse two of his book, Mark shares how Jesus,“taught them many things by parables” where we read:

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

The verse reads, “And he taught them many things by parables.” Mark began with the words, “and he taught them” or “and Jesus gave didactic discourses, instructed and imparted doctrine to the people” “many things” which means “large amounts of instructions and principles” “by parables” which means “through the means of earthly stories that have heavenly meanings”. Mark shared how Jesus continued to “instruct” the people who were assembled upon the seashore as He sat in the boat offshore, and He employed “parables” to impart to them spiritual doctrine.

The verse goes on to say, “and said unto them in his doctrine,” Mark continued with the words “and said unto them” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to the people surrounding Him” “in his doctrine” or “in Jesus' teaching and instruction”. Mark shared how Jesus declared His “instruction” to the people who were gathered together upon seashore.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we discover the method by which Jesus imparted His “doctrine” to the people. Jesus imparted “spiritual principles” by using “earthly stories that have heavenly meanings” to teach the people. God desires that people know His ways, and He wants them to know the “heart” of He and His Son Jesus. These people “desired” to hear from Jesus, and in order for a person to begin to understand God's principles, they must first “want” to hear them. They may then respond by submitting themselves to Him and yielding their lives to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Let all who read these words “believe and trust” in the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus began His parable with these words, “there went out a sower to sow:”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".