Sign in
MARK 4:29 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Mark 4:28Mark 4:30
“But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”
As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come — the harvest is the kingdom's final culmination, drawing on the harvest imagery of Joel 3:13 and the Son of Man's harvest in Revelation 14:15. The farmer's action at harvest time is decisive and immediate — as soon as the grain is ripe, the sickle goes in. The harvest is not premature (before ripeness) or delayed (past ripeness) but precisely timed by the grain's own readiness. The kingdom will reach its final harvest in God's perfectly calibrated timing, and the sickle of judgment will gather the crop that the sowing and the growing have produced.

Church Fathers on Mark 4:29

The kingdom of God is the Church, which is ruled by God, and herself rules over men, and treads down the powers which are contrary to her, and all wickedness.

Pseudo-Jerome · 5th century

Or else Christ sleeps, that is, ascends into heaven, where, though He seem to sleep, yet He rises by night, when through temptations He raises us up to the knowledge of Himself; and in the day time, when on account of our prayers, He sets in order our salvation.

Theophylact · 11th century

Or else, Man casts seed into the ground, when he places a good intention in his heart; and he sleeps, when he already rests in the hope which attends on a good work. But he rises night and day, because he advances amidst prosperity and adversity, though he knows it not, for he is as yet unable to measure his increase, and yet virtue, once conceived, goes on increasing.

Gregory the Great · 6th century · in Ezech, 2, Hom. 3
Read all 8 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!
Mark 4:29 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy