Clarke's Bible Commentary - Mark 4:27
Verse 27. And should sleep and rise night and day] That is, he should sleep by night, and rise by day; for so the words are obviously to be understood. He knoweth not how.] How a plant grows is a mystery in nature, which the wisest philosopher in the universe cannot fully explain.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 27. And should sleep , etc..] That is, the man that casts in the seed, who represents the ministers of the Gospel: and, as applied to them, is not to be understood of natural sleep, and indulging themselves in that; much less of spiritual sloth and indolence, as if they cared not what became of the seed sown, whether it sprung up, and came to any thing, or not; for neither of these belong to the characters of the true ministers of the word: for though bodily sleep in them, as in other men, is necessary for the support of nature, and to put them in a capacity of discharging their work; yet perhaps none have less of it than studious and laborious preachers of the Gospel; and much less do they indulge a spiritual sleep and slothfulness; though this may sometimes attend them, as well as others: but then, whilst they sleep, in this sense, tares are sown, and they spring up, and not the good seed of the word, as in this parable; besides, as they labour in the word and doctrine, by studying and preaching it, so they follow their ministrations with incessant prayers that they be succeeded to the conversion of sinners, and comfort of saints; nor can they be easy, unless they have some seals of their ministry: but rather, this may be understood of the sleep of death; for so it often is, that the seed sown by them does not appear in the fruits of it to the churches of Christ, among whom they have ministered, until after they are fallen asleep in Jesus: though it seems best to understand it of their holy security, confidence, and satisfaction in their own minds, that it will turn to profit and advantage, both to the good of souls, and glory of God, not despairing of success; but having left their work with their Lord, they sit down easy and satisfied, believing that the word shall prosper to the thing whereunto it is sent: and rise night and day ; which shows their diligence and laboriousness, and their constant attendance to other parts of their work, rising up early, and sitting up late, to prepare for, and discharge their ministerial work; and their continued expectation of the springing-up of the seed sown, which accordingly does in proper time: and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how ; it is a mystery in nature, how the seed under the clods, where it dies before it is quickened, should spring and grow up, and bring forth fruit; and so it is in grace, how the word of God first operates on a sinner's heart, and becomes the ingrafted word there; the time when, and much less the manner how, grace, by this means, is implanted in the heart, are not known to a soul itself, and still less to the ministers of the word, who sometimes never know any thing of it; and when they do, not till some time after: this work is done secretly, and powerfully, under the influence of divine grace, without their knowledge, though by them as instruments; so that though the sowing and planting are theirs, all the increase is God's: this may encourage attendance on the ministry of the word, and teach us to ascribe the work of conversion entirely to the power and grace of God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 21-34 - These declarations were intended to call the attention of the disciple to the word of Christ. By his thus instructing them, they were mad able to instruct others; as candles are lighted, not to be covered, but to be placed on a candlestick, that they may give light to a room. Thi parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress in the world. Let but the word of Christ have the plac it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself in a goo conversation. It grows gradually: first the blade; then the ear; afte that the full corn in the ear. When it is sprung up, it will go forward. The work of grace in the soul is, at first, but the day of small things; yet it has mighty products even now, while it is in it growth; but what will there be when it is perfected in heaven!
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ καθευδη 2518 5725 V-PAS-3S και 2532 CONJ εγειρηται 1453 5747 V-PPS-3S νυκτα 3571 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ ημεραν 2250 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM σπορος 4703 N-NSM βλαστανη 985 5725 V-PAS-3S και 2532 CONJ μηκυνηται 3373 5747 V-PPS-3S ως 5613 ADV ουκ 3756 PRT-N οιδεν 1492 5758 V-RAI-3S αυτος 846 P-NSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
27. Grow (mhkunhtai). Lit., lengthen; be extended by the seed lengthening out into blade and stalk.He knoweth not how (wJv oujk oiden aujtov). The Greek order is very lively: how knoweth not he.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:27 {Should sleep and rise} (kaqeudei kai egeiretai). Present subjunctive for continued action. So also {spring up and grow} (blastai kai mekunetai) two late verbs. The process of growth goes on all night and all day (nukta kai hemeran, accusative of time). {He knoweth not how} (hws ouk oiden autos). Note position of hws (beginning) and autos (end) of clause: {How knows not he}. The mystery of growth still puzzles farmers and scientists of today with all our modern knowledge. But nature's secret processes do not fail to operate because we are ignorant. this secret and mysterious growth of the kingdom in the heart and life is the point of this beautiful parable given only by Mark. "When man has done his part, the actual process of growth is beyond his reach or comprehension" (Swete).
