Mark 4 11

Mark 4:11 kjv

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Mark 4:11 nkjv

And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

Mark 4:11 niv

He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables

Mark 4:11 esv

And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,

Mark 4:11 nlt

He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,

Mark 4 verses

Mark 4 11 Meaning

Mark 4:11 reveals the purpose behind Jesus' use of parables: to selectively unveil the truth concerning the "mystery of the kingdom of God." For those called into His inner circle, primarily His disciples, it is granted by divine grace to grasp the profound, previously hidden truths of God's sovereign reign and saving purposes. However, for those "outside" – individuals who lack spiritual receptivity or who are unwilling to follow Him – these same teachings delivered in parables serve to obscure, rather than illuminate, the truth. Thus, parables act as both vehicles of revelation for the receptive and instruments of concealment for the unresponsive.

Mark 4 11 Context

Mark chapter 4 opens with Jesus teaching a large crowd by the sea. To address their varying levels of spiritual comprehension and commitment, Jesus employs parables, beginning with the Parable of the Sower (Mk 4:1-9). Verse 10 describes the disciples, away from the multitude, questioning Jesus privately about the parables. In response, verse 11 provides a crucial interpretive key for understanding His teaching method and the very nature of His kingdom message. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Sower and further parables (e.g., the Lamp, Growing Seed, Mustard Seed) which are presented without the same level of private elucidation for the broader audience. The chapter highlights a pivotal distinction: an inner circle receives clearer understanding while others, lacking spiritual responsiveness, remain uncomprehending, though they hear the words.

Mark 4 11 Word analysis

• And he said (Greek: Kai elegen): The imperfect tense "he was saying" suggests an ongoing or characteristic action of Jesus speaking to them, indicating this revelation was a core aspect of His teaching for the disciples.

• unto them (autois): Specifically refers to His disciples and inner circle (those who had gathered with Him after the crowd dispersed, mentioned in Mk 4:10). This indicates a restricted audience for this profound explanation.

• Unto you (Hymin): The Greek pronoun is emphatic "you" (plural), distinguishing this group from "them that are without." This highlights a privileged, unique position granted to the disciples.

• it is given (dedotai): A perfect passive indicative verb, emphasizing a divine act completed in the past with ongoing results. It is not something the disciples achieved or earned, but a gracious endowment from God. It underscores divine sovereignty in revealing truth.

• to know (gnōnai): This isn't mere intellectual assent but denotes a deep, experiential, and transformative understanding, often leading to personal relationship and allegiance.

• the mystery (to mystērion): In the biblical sense, a "mystery" is not an unsolvable puzzle but a truth previously hidden or partially revealed in the Old Testament, but now fully unveiled through Christ. It is a divine secret previously kept but now revealed to God's chosen.

• of the kingdom of God (tēs basileias tou theou): The core subject of Jesus' preaching and ministry. The kingdom refers to God's dynamic, sovereign reign breaking into human history through Christ's redemptive work, bringing both present spiritual reality and future consummation.

• but unto them that are without (de tois exō): The conjunction "but" (de) strongly contrasts the two groups. "Those without" signifies individuals outside the circle of genuine disciples, lacking commitment or spiritual receptivity. This separation isn't purely physical, but spiritual—those not aligning themselves with God's reign and revelation through Jesus.

• all these things are done (panta ginētai): "All things" refers to Jesus' teaching, particularly His parables. "Are done" or "happen" emphasizes that this method of speaking in parables serves a specific divine purpose.

• in parables (en parabolais): Literally, "by means of parables." The parable serves as a veiled presentation, a "figure of speech" that can be understood on one level but conceals deeper truths to those without divine enlightenment or a desire for deeper understanding.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Unto you it is given to know" vs. "but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables": This striking contrast illuminates the dual purpose of Jesus' parabolic teaching: it is simultaneously revelatory and judgmental. For the spiritually hungry, it unveils truth; for the unresponsive, it conceals truth, thus exposing their lack of spiritual sight and hardening their hearts further, fulfilling prophecy (Isa 6:9-10).
  • "the mystery of the kingdom of God": This phrase identifies the central, previously veiled truth that Jesus came to inaugurate and explain. It encompasses God's plan for redemption, His reign, and His people, now accessible in a new way through Christ.

Mark 4 11 Bonus section

The concept of a "mystery" (Greek: mystērion) in the New Testament refers to a truth that was previously concealed but is now, by God's unfolding purpose, being unveiled. It's not about being unintelligible but being progressively revealed. Here, the "mystery of the kingdom" highlights that its inaugurated nature, its present reality, and its demands are truths being progressively made clear through Jesus' teaching and work. This selective revelation is not arbitrary but tied to one's willingness to "hear" and "see" with spiritual understanding, a readiness that is itself often enabled by God's grace. The parables served to separate true disciples, those desiring and able to comprehend the kingdom's present reality, from those content with a superficial understanding or outright rejection. This also links to the concept of the two ways: the narrow way of discerning truth leading to life, and the broad way of remaining in ignorance, leading away from spiritual understanding.

Mark 4 11 Commentary

Mark 4:11 serves as a profound explanation of God's sovereign dispensing of truth, directly contrasting the experiences of the "insiders" and "outsiders." The "mystery of the kingdom of God" is not an unsolvable enigma, but the redemptive plan of God, hidden for ages but now revealed in Jesus Christ. This revelation is a gracious gift, "given" by God to His chosen ones—those who, by divine enabling, have aligned themselves with Jesus' mission and teaching. Their spiritual receptivity allows them to penetrate the deeper meanings veiled within the parables. Conversely, for "them that are without," who possess hardened hearts or closed minds, parables act as an enigma. They hear the words but fail to grasp their spiritual significance, resulting in an intended lack of understanding that serves as a divine judgment upon their unbelief and lack of responsiveness. This verse thus clarifies that Jesus’ use of parables was not merely an illustrative teaching technique, but a purposeful method to both unveil and conceal divine truth according to God's eternal plan and humanity's spiritual state.