Marcos 4

Marcos 4

Morgan - Mark 4:18-19 Today's New York Post has an article titled "Stress Mess in U.S." about a study by the American Psychological Association finding that 48 percent of Americans can't sleep at night because of stress. Seventy-five percent of Americans worry constantly about two things—money and work. Half of us are also stressed about paying our rent or mortgage. According to the report, stress and worry are taking a toll, leading us to fight with family members, drink, smoke, and gulp junk food like starving fools. It's leading to obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer. In His parable of the sower, Jesus warned that too much stress can also damage us spiritually. When we're overwhelmed by all our tasks and desires, the stress strangles the Word in our hearts and hinders the crop. The biblical antidote is a simpler lifestyle, a deeper trust, and a daily walk with Christ. As the psalmist said, "As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in Your commands" (Ps. 119:143 NLT). For starters, here's an old prayer that may help: Drop Thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of Thy peace. —John Greenleaf Whittier, 1872 Mark 4:19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. NET Mark 4:19 but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing. GNT Mark 4:19 καὶ αἱ μέριμναι τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου καὶ αἱ περὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἐπιθυμίαι εἰσπορευόμεναι συμπνίγουσιν τὸν λόγον καὶ ἄκαρπος γίνεται. NLT Mark 4:19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. KJV Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. ESV Mark 4:19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. NIV Mark 4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. ASV Mark 4:19 and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. CSB Mark 4:19 but the worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. NKJ Mark 4:19 "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. NRS Mark 4:19 but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. YLT Mark 4:19 and the anxieties of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, and the desires concerning the other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. NAB Mark 4:19 but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. NJB Mark 4:19 but the worries of the world, the lure of riches and all the other passions come in to choke the word, and so it produces nothing. GWN Mark 4:19 but the worries of life, the deceitful pleasures of riches, and the desires for other things take over. They choke the word so that it can't produce anything. BBE Mark 4:19 And the cares of this life, and the deceits of wealth, and the desire for other things coming in, put a stop to the growth of the word, and it gives no fruit. the worries of the world - Lu 10:41 12:17-21,29,30 14:18-20 21:34 Php 4:6 2Ti 4:10 the worries of the world - Pr 23:5 Ec 4:8 5:10-16 1Ti 6:9,10,17 the desires for other things - 1Pe 4:2,3 1Jn 2:15-17 Unfruitful- Isa 5:2,4 Mt 3:10 Joh 15:2 Heb 6:7,8 2Pe 1:8 Jude 1:12 Mark 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Parallel Passages: Matthew 13:22+ “ yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. Luke 8:14+ “Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. Mr "Worldly Wise" in Pilgrim's Progress THREE "WEEDS" THAT NEED TO BE PULLED! But the worries (merimna) of the world (aion) - Worries by their very nature (and the definition of the Greek word) divide one in different directions. The worries of the world draw this person's heart away from the Word of the Gospel. Jesus gave a clear warning in Mt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." World in this context refers "the course of life as it is lived currently on this earth by those who do not know God. Our Lord is referring to the worries of the people of this age who live apart from God." (Wuest) How can there be room for Christ in the inn when it is crowded with other guests? -- C H Spurgeon Phillips on worries of the world - A thousand cares exist to occupy the mind of the poor. Worry is a daily ingredient of their lives. The Devil uses worry to focus our attention on this world. The gospel, which focuses attention on the next world, is often crowded out, despite its "exceeding great and precious promises," (2 Pe 1:4+) by preoccupation with the pressures of life. (See Exploring the Gospel of Mark: An Expository Commentary - Page 101) And the deceitfulness (apate) of riches (ploutos) - The seduction which comes from the temptress named "Weath!" What does wealth do? It deceives. Mark this down as an axiomatic truth. Be careful when you begin to seek to possess wealth (aka idolatry!), for it won't be long before wealth possesses you! And it is a harsh "taskmaster." And remember that when a person is deceived, by definition they do not even know they are deceived! Watch out for wealth! Solomon was right that "When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens." (Pr 23:5, cf Pr 27:24, Pr 11:28, James 5:1-2+, Eccl 5:13+, the antidote = Mt 6:19+) As discussed more below note that Choke is in the present tense indicating the choking effect of worry and wealth is continual.