Can someone please help me understand mark 4:24-25?

[CanIHunt]

Thanks!

 

[chapmic]

It means the more you read the Bible and the more you try to learn and develop a close relationship with God the more you will understand his ways. The more you distance yourself from him the little understanding you had about him will be lost.

 

[JLR1300]

It means the more you read the Bible and the more you try to learn and develop a close relationship with God the more you will understand his ways. The more you distance yourself from him the little understanding you had about him will be lost.

That is the same basic meaning that I get from it as well. It means that we need to be careful that when we hear the truth that we really listen to it. If we listen closely and take it to heart we will be given more. If we don't really listen... if we ignore what we hear... even what little we know about God will fade and vanish and we will become more confused.

 

[Job8]

That is the same basic meaning that I get from it as well. It means that we need to be careful that when we hear the truth that we really listen to it. If we listen closely and take it to heart we will be given more. If we don't really listen... if we ignore what we hear... even what little we know about God will fade and vanish and we will become more confused.

This is the correct interpretation.

If you use the analogy of light, the more light you receive from God and act on it, the more you will receive. Conversely, the less you respond to the light and act upon it, the less you will receive, and even that which you had received earlier will be taken away.

Those who ignore plain Scripture and instead adhere to the doctrines of men, receive less and less light. Those who adhere strictly to Scripture, and apply it both in doctrine and practice, receive more and more understanding of Bible Truth.

Those who hear the Gospel and do not obey it receive no further light after God gives them many opportunities to repent (Jn 3:19-21).

 

[CanIHunt]

Thanks

 

[hmw]

Hi CanIhunt,

We need to consider the context of those verses you asked about.

Consider Mark 4:11-25 to help in understanding.

Mark 4:11-25
And He said to them, “To you (Christians) it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside (non believers), all things come in parables, so that

‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’”

And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word (the gospel). And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown.

When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 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. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”


Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

We can see from the context that it speaks of the gospel of Christ. Believe on Jesus and you will be saved. Christians are saved by grace.

And as Christians we are to let our light (Christ in us) shine, preaching the gospel of Christ to the lost.

And note Matt 5:15, 16 which also speaks of the light on the lamp-stand.

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light (Christ in us) so shine before men, that they may see your good works (our works are to believe on Jesus, John 6:29) and glorify your Father in heaven.

And note Mark 4:24
Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you;

Note 7:1-3
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

If we measure one's righteousness by works of the law ( as the Pharisees did) then that's the same measure by which we will be judged.
But if we use the measure of grace/love (as Jesus commanded us to love one anther) then we will be measured by that same measure of grace/love.

Therefore we are to take heed to what we hear.
We are to avoid any false doctrine that preach righteousness by works of the law.

As Christians we're saved by grace. Therefore we should not mix works of the law, with grace.

Rom 11:6
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work

Or as Jesus put it in Matt 16:6

Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

What is the leaven?

Matt 16:12
Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees was righteousness by works of the law. This is what we need to take heed of in what we hear. Always remember that it's by grace that we're saved. Believe on Jesus and thus our faith is counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5.

 

[7angel]

Mark 4

24 They also said, Take heed what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured, and even more will be given you. 25For whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

If we share what we have, we should give everything without meanness - similarly receive, be generous, not hiding anything, because when more we have more we can give

 

[Shadow316]

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

adding to what has been posted - the more of His word you hear or read, the more understanding you will have of it. If one doesn't listen to more or read more, they won't get the full understanding of what they have already heard or read.

Scripture will explain scripture. Just as in these 2 verses, reading the verses before and after add to the meaning. Often you'll find that without knowledge of other parts of His word you won't or will have trouble understanding a different part of it. Such as - the Revelation. It's not easy to understand w/o some knowledge of other parts of OT and NT - like Daniel, Matthew and Thessalonians.

When Jesus or the apostles quote from the OT, look it up in the OT and read it (and around it) to see why it was said then and what it meant then.

 

[pescador]

This is the correct interpretation.

If you use the analogy of light, the more light you receive from God and act on it, the more you will receive. Conversely, the less you respond to the light and act upon it, the less you will receive, and even that which you had received earlier will be taken away.

Those who ignore plain Scripture and instead adhere to the doctrines of men, receive less and less light. Those who adhere strictly to Scripture, and apply it both in doctrine and practice, receive more and more understanding of Bible Truth.

Those who hear the Gospel and do not obey it receive no further light after God gives them many opportunities to repent (Jn 3:19-21).

This is interpreting the passage too harshly. The connotation is if you put forth effort to understand God's word you will be rewarded; if you don't you will lose its meaning in your life. You imply that there is only one way of understanding "plain Scripture". Scripture is often difficult to understand and so can be interpreted in different ways. (Otherwise how would this forum exist?) There is no "my way or the highway" implied here.

 

[Bramwell]

The Bible says faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. And Jesus says it's not those who just HEAR His words who are wise; rather, it's those who hear and PRACTICE His words who are wise. (Matthew 7:24)

Just opening ourselves up to hear from God - be it through reading the Bible, or just being still to listen to God - is a positive step in the right direction. After hearing, however, the onus is on us to act on what we hear. If we don't do that, then like Jesus says, "even the little we have will be taken away".

 

[CanIHunt]

Thanks! I will stop monitoring now