Mark - Lesson 5...Continued from page 2

AY THREE:  Perceiving Hearts

Please carefully read Mark 4:10-13 and answer the following questions.

1.  Evidently most of the multitude had departed.  What did those with Him want to know (v. 10)?

2.  How did Jesus respond to their request (v. 11)?

3.  The word mystery in Greek isn’t the “who done it” kind of mystery we think of.  In the Gospels this word is only used in Mark and Luke; Paul used it 21 times in his epistles, and it is found four times in Revelation.[v]  It comes from the Greek word mustes (one indicated), which is based on the word mueo (to close or shut); it means a hidden counsel or purpose of God which was previously hidden but now revealed to the godly, but remains hidden to the ungodly.  In verse 12, Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 as a reason for speaking in parables to the people, sadly reflecting many of their reaction to His teachings. Read Isaiah 6:1-10 to understand the context that Jesus referred to, and also 1 Corinthians 1:18-29, 2:12-14, and record some reasons why everyone can’t see the truth of the Gospel and turn to Him.

4.  What mild rebuke do we see from Jesus to His followers in verse 13?

Scripture Memory:  Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today.

Then He said to them, “Take _____________ what you ______________. With the same measure you use, it will be ______________________ to you; and to you who hear, more will be ________________.  For whoever has, to him _________________ will be given; but whoever does not ______________, even what he has will be _________________ away from him.”   Mark 4:24, 25 (nkjv)

DAY FOUR:  Parable of the Soils Explained

Please carefully read Mark 4:14-20 and answer the following questions.

1.  We see that by giving this example, Jesus was speaking of four possible reactions to the Gospel; also we who are already believers may want to think of this in terms of something that God is telling us through His Word about something.  Jesus didn’t tell us who the sower is.  What are some possibilities you can think of?

2.  What is true about the impact of the seed (the Gospel and God’s Word in general) being implanted in any of the four soils (Isaiah 55:10, 11; Hebrews 4:12, 13)?

3.  On Day Two we made a chart of the four soils, what happened to the seed sown, and why.  Let’s make another chart today to accompany the other one.  Re-read verses 14-20 and fill in the chart below.

Scripture Memory:  Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today.

Then He said to them, “Take _____________ what you ______________. With the same ______________________ you use, it will be ______________________ to you; and to you who ______________, more will be ________________.  For whoever has, to him _________________ will be given; but whoever does not ______________, even what he has will be _________________ away from him.”   Mark 4:24, 25 (nkjv)