Mark 4:26-29

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.  But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Because this kingdom of God would not come by an armed Israeli uprising to throw out the Roman invaders, what kind of a kingdom is it? one whose steady growth at first is underground and unseen, but finally produces a harvest?

As this kingdom is like a growing crop, who are its people and how do they grow up? who is their king and does he care for them?

Mark 4:24,25

And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

To hear wholeheartedly, and share generously, is like financial investment.  The more money that is invested the more interest it brings back; indeed it is like compound interest. But he who is unwilling to hear is like the man who hides his money under the floor. He gains no interest at all; and it will be worse still when he is finally robbed of all.

Mark 4:21-23

And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Why is a lamp lit? It is not for hiding its light. Just so, the purpose of a parable is not so as to permanently hide the truth. So listen with the ears of your understanding.

The secrets of Yeshu’s teaching are not hidden for certain ‘treasure-seekers’ only to find. He urged anyone to use his ears.