The theological significance of the Isaiah citation in Mark 4 : 12

The well-known passage Mark 4:1–34 is no stranger to New Testament scientific scrutiny, not to even mention the hotly debated phrases in Mark 4:10–12. To avoid repetition, the aim with this article is to determine the extent of the impact the Isaiah 6:9–10 citation in Mark 4:12 might have had on the interpretation and understanding of Mark 4:1–34 and the Gospel as a whole. The theory is that the citation in Mark 4:12, especially within Mark 4:1–34, is foundational for understanding the Markan gospel as a ‘parable’. Moreover, the redactional inclusion of the concept of ‘the Twelve’ will prove to be a vital contribution in understanding the Markan gospel as a ‘parable’. Arguing this theory will include evaluating the parable theory in Mark 4:10–12, followed by determining the interpretative effect the explicit citation in Mark 4:12 had on Mark 4:10–12 and its larger literary context (Mk. 4:1–34). This will be followed by concluding remarks and suggestions. Keywords: Parable theory; Mark 4:12; Isaiah 6:9-10; The Twelve; Mark 4:1-34;

2.A parable defined as being ambiguous in nature; a method of communication that requires a certain amount of confusion is adopted as a workable definition.
4.These insights are brought to literature in virtually every phrase of Mark 4:10-12.
The well-known passage Mark 4:1-34 is no stranger to New Testament scientific scrutiny, not to even mention the hotly debated phrases in Mark 4:10-12.To avoid repetition, the aim with this article is to determine the extent of the impact the Isaiah 6:9-10 citation in Mark 4:12 might have had on the interpretation and understanding of Mark 4:1-34 and the Gospel as a whole.
The theory is that the citation in Mark 4:12, especially within Mark 4:1-34, is foundational for understanding the Markan gospel as a 'parable'.Moreover, the redactional inclusion of the concept of 'the Twelve' will prove to be a vital contribution in understanding the Markan gospel as a 'parable'.Arguing this theory will include evaluating the parable theory in Mark 4:10-12, followed by determining the interpretative effect the explicit citation in Mark 4:12 had on Mark 4:10-12 and its larger literary context (Mk.4:1-34).This will be followed by concluding remarks and suggestions.
The central issue in Mark 4:10 is to whom οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν σὺν τοῖς δώδεκα refers 9 and what is implied with τὰς παραβολάς.Noteworthy is the fact that the events that follow occurred when they were alone (ἐγένετο κατὰ μόνας).For this redactional composition to be effective, it was deemed necessary to change from a public to a more private setting.The question is, who precisely is this exclusive group of people?The redactor clearly regarded 'the Twelve' as forming part of this exclusive group, but are they the ones posing the question?Did 'those around him' that accompanied 'the Twelve' pose the question?Or did 'those around him' including 'the Twelve' raise the question?France (2002:186) argues that 7.Cf.(Haufe 1972:413-421) and (Räisänen 1973).For Scott (1990:22) Mark 4:11-12 introduces the so-called 'hardening theory.' 8.A few text critical alternatives are suggested pertaining to Mk 4:10.First, μαθηται αυτου is suggested as a replacement for περὶ αὐτὸν σὺν τοῖς δώδεκα (Mk. 4:10b).
The same group of manuscripts supports both alternatives.These alternatives, however, do not pose any threat to the integrity of the verse, nor does it alter the meaning or theological significance in any way.9. (Turner 1993:3-146) comments that we have in Mark four elements, the 'Lord', the Twelve, the disciples outside the Twelve, and lastly the multitude.Mark used the term ὄχλος as denoting the larger group that followed Jesus, and that ὄχλος should be identified with οἱ περὶ αὐτόν.Pesch (1976:237) views 'the Twelve' as indicating the Hauptvermittler in the Jesus tradition and that οἱ περὶ αὐτόν are not to be identified with 'the Twelve' in Mark 4:10. 10 The shift from a public (Mk.4:3-8) to a private (Mk.4:10) audience probably set the stage in the pre-Markan tradition for the interpretation in Mark 4:14-20. 11The phrase 'those around Him with the Twelve' most likely began simply as 'those around Him' (οἰ περὶ αὐτόν).Reformulated, the 'tradition' began with those in close proximity to Jesus asking about the parable were given the interpretation (Mk.4:14-20). 12Gnilka (1978:162) argues that Mark inserted δώδεκα 13 into the text, while Marcus (2000:302) and Hultgren (2000:454) identify 'those around him' with the community of believers.Hultgren (2000:454), in addition, notes that the community of believers should be divided into two groups, those that followed Jesus in his earthly ministry, and those that followed him in the time of Mark.
France (2002:194-195) offers a 'simple' solution, and rightfully so: that οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν refers to the people immediately surrounding Jesus (cf.Acts 13:13).They are the ones who are 'doing the will of God', and who enquire about the parables.From a semantic point of view, it is indeed possible to assume that any follower of Jesus at any given point could have been identified as οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν posing a question.One could argue that the redactor intended to transform the question into a more theological loaded inquiry with the insertion of σὺν τοῖς δώδεκα.The argument is that the redactor composed Mk 4:10-12, while drawing from pre-Markan material for the most part, especially Isaiah 6:9-10.The aim with the insertion was to place emphasis on 'the Twelve' not just as the 'official' disciples, but as representative of the 'chosen' people.If the gospel of Mark projects a negative stance towards the disciples of Jesus and a positive attitude towards 'the Twelve', a logical inference with the insertion of σὺν τοῖς δώδεκα will be that the redactor regarded 'the Twelve' as opposing the 'disciples'.This notion appeals positively towards a possible parable theory in Mark 4:10-12.It seems as if the disciples are the ones who do not understand the mission and teachings of Jesus, but 'the Twelve' are the chosen ones that would complete the mission (cf.Mk 3:13-14; 6:7).What follows is a short excursion into the concept of 'the Twelve'.

'[T]the Twelve'
The interpolation of Mark 3:13-16 not only establishes the backdrop against which 'the Twelve' in Mark 4:10 is to be 10.Pesch (1976:237) further comments that κατὰ μόνας is a Hapax Legomenon and should be understood as a pre-Markan tradition.
11. Guelich 1989:203. Scott (1990:234)  understood, but it also gives one insight into the intent of the redactor.Again, the public space (Mark 3:7-11) will soon be replaced by a more private and exclusive space .
A need for a more private space is required to avoid being trampled upon by the crowd of people (Mk. 3:9).The names of 'the Twelve' are not considered important, but rather the concept of 'the Twelve.' Koch (2008:130-132) argues that the only conclusion to be drawn from the concept of 'the Twelve' is that the list itself is the only pre-Markan tradition in Mark 3:13-16.This did not stop the redactor from using the concept of 'the Twelve' for his own benefit, even though the writer might not have been familiar with the 'original' meaning of 'the Twelve.'It is fair to infer that the concept of 'the Twelve' signals theological significance, being exclusive and inclusive simultaneously, while opposing the followers of Jesus.In Koch's own words: 'That Jesus was abandoned by his disciples is part of the pre-Markan narration of the Passion, but the emphasis on 'the Twelve' is part of the comprehensive literary activity of Mark.'The function of 'the Twelve' is not only to be with Jesus and to cast out demons (cf.Mk. 3:14-15), but they are responsible to reaffirm Jesus' spiritual identity, not as someone that is possessed by , but the one with the authority to send out 'the Twelve' as people with authority over unclean spirits (Mk.6:7).'The Twelve' not only grasped Jesus' mission, but had insight into his identity.They shared in his private space (cf.Mk. 9:35); they were the ones with the responsibility to make known the mystery of God's kingdom, illustrated so well in Mark 10:32ff: … He took 'the twelve' aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, 33 See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; 34 they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after 3 days he will rise again. 14(Mk.10:32ff)   One could argue that having Judas Iscariot in your midst does not paint a positive picture of the significant 'Twelve.'A counter-argument is that if it was not for Judas Iscariot, the death, hence the resurrection, would not have taken place (cf. Mk,11:11;14:10).A leading figure during the Passover meal (Mk 14:17, 20); the one responsible for the capturing of Jesus (Mk, 14:47), Judas is the significant other reflecting the essential identity and function of 'the Twelve' as the bringers of 'good' news with 'bad' consequences.The message enlightens and confuses simultaneously; that makes sense and is in itself senseless.Having the concept of the 'Twelve' (Mk, 4:10) and the citation taken from Isiah 6:9-10 (Mk.4:12) as part of a theological significant composition, within the context of the parables Mk 4:1-34 does call for extraordinary literary effects.'The Twelve' were re-convened by Peter, were re-installed by the appearance of the risen Lord and so their function was to form the nucleus of the new people of God; 15 they represented the new eschatological people of God. 16Not only did they set the benchmark for the new eschatological people of God and with that defined the character of such people, but the message they proclaimed became the benchmark; in fact for the redactor, the Markan gospel was the benchmark.They received the mystery of God (Mk 4:11) in the form of a parable and because their function was to proclaim, the message about Jesus (the Markan gospel) became the mystery of God's kingdom, a parable.
The most likely candidates posing the question to Jesus would have been αὐτὸν οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν, which conceptually refers to the followers or disciples of Jesus.They are also the ones who received the mystery of God's kingdom (Mk. 4:11).
19. Guelich (1989:208); cf.France (2002:198); Haufe (1972:417).Ambrozic (1967:220) concludes that Mark offers two opposing views regarding parables.On the one hand, they are riddles which keep the 'outsiders' in darkness.On the other hand, the outsiders do not understand the parables.Maier (1995:160-162) does not agree with Ambrozic's view (1967:220), upheld by a number of scholars, 22 that 'in parables' should be interpreted as 'riddles'.He suggests that ἐν παραβολαῖς should rather be viewed as a 'pädagogisches Mittel, das Nachdenken nötigt.' 23 France (2002:198), in agreement with Maier, argues that ἐν παραβολαῖς should be interpreted in the context of Jesus' parabolic teaching (particularly Mk 4:1-34), and within the Synoptic gospels in general. 24  The author's intention was not to introduce multiple secrets concerning God and his kingdom with the notion of τὸ μυστήριον.Neither was his aim to suggest 'exclusive' knowledge concerning God's kingdom. 25He wanted to emphasise the position of judgement in correlation with the immediate experience. 26For Gottschalk (1971:122) the concept τὸ μυστήριον is thus apocalyptic in nature, which has not been used by Jesus himself, but the early Church has applied it in that manner.The 'mystery of God's kingdom' is 20.Suhl (1965:146) states that Mark 4:11 is a typical Palestinian anaesthetic parallelism.
22. Cf. Suhl (1965:147); Pesch (1976:239); Gnilka (1978:163) among others.Brown (1973:62) is of the opinion that the 'mystery of God's kingdom' (Mark 4:11) is not the same as Jesus' identity.For Brown, if one is to deny a connection between Mark 4:11a and the allegorical interpretation of the parable of the sower (Mk 4:14-20), then it is possible to deny his conclusion that the 'mystery of God's kingdom' is indicated by the parables, 63.
25. Brown (1973:62) argues that the 'mystery of God's kingdom' (Mk 4:11) is not the same as Jesus' identity.For Brown, if one is to deny a connection between Mark 4:11a and the allegorical interpretation of the parable of the sower (Mk.4:14-20), then it is possible to deny his conclusion that the 'mystery of God's kingdom' is indicated by the parables, 63.Bolkenstein (1973:102) suggests that the declared mystery is that Jesus is the Messiah, the parables are thus concerned with the eschatological process, which is realised in Jesus; also see Kirkland's explanation on the relationship between parables and mystery, Novum Testamentum, 19:3.
revealed by the proclamation of Jesus.Such a revelation, so to speak, reveals God's reign as an eschatological mystery.Pesch (1976:239) formulates it as follows: Wahrscheinlich versteht er τὸ μυστήριον δέδοται τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ im Blick auf vv.26-29.30-32als die verborgene Gottesherrschaft.Marcus (2000:68) pleas for a reasonable inference that the 'mystery of God's kingdom' for the author of the Markan gospel would be 'equal' to the parable of the sower.If one would further consider the Semitic backdrop (cf.Dn. 2) of this concept, then it is clear that the mystery is indeed revealed (cf.Mk. 4:3-8), but it is not yet understood.Marcus (2000:70) argues that the allegorical interpretation (Mk.4:14-20) is a further revelation of the 'mystery of God's kingdom'.
Due to the redaction process the parable of the sower implies that the 'mystery of God's kingdom' should be viewed in terms of the eschatology.The glory of the 'mystery of God's kingdom' is already visible to those who have faith in Jesus Christ, which will be revealed in its entire splendour with the parousia. 27The great wonders and signs, with the many healings, are shown to the world as the 'mystery of God's kingdom'. 28All things in riddles stand antithetically to the 'mystery of God's kingdom'. 29It is a specific understanding, disclosed to certain people (the disciples) through the words and deeds of Jesus. 30Those who know Jesus only as a worker of wonders does not understand Him at all, for the secret of the kingdom of God is that Jesus must die as the crucified Messiah. 31France (2002:198) understands the 'mystery of God's kingdom' as that which is revealed through the parables.With γίνεται governing, 32 Mk 4:11b, τὰ πάντα should be interpreted as referring to that which is currently happening (the teaching, the parable, the question, and that which is given (Mk 4:11a), on the one hand.And on the other hand, τὰ πάντα should also be viewed as referring to Jesus' proclamation in general.In summary, 33 the mystery of God's kingdom refers to the parables in particular; it includes the words and deeds of Jesus as well as the identity of Jesus and his mission.The μυστήριον δέδοται τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ suggests the following: 5. Finally, it encapsulates the identity of Jesus as the Χριστός and κύριος.
Given the evidence and their underlying arguments, it is reasonable to infer that αὐτοῖς (Mk.4:11a) and ὑμῖν (Mk.4:11b) refer to both οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν and τοῖς δώδεκα (Mk.4:10).Secondly, the mystery of God's kingdom is revealed and concealed through parables.The mystery of God's kingdom is at best a parable, but a parable which holds at its core the intent to reveal what it in fact conceals.If the mystery of God's kingdom remains a parable, it means that the revelation method has not been penetrated as to get to what it aims to communicate.The ability to do this is to qualitatively and quantitatively form part of God's new people through the message of Jesus as the risen 'Lord.'It has been suggested, and logically so, that ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω (Mk.4:11b) refers to the followers of Jesus, his so-called disciples, who do not fully grasp the mission of Jesus and therefore almost everything thought by Him would remain parables.Syntactically speaking τοῖς δώδεκα should also be included, but theologically speaking they are excluded based on the redactional reworking of the material.Secondly, it refers to those that did not accompany Jesus in the boat, or rather, those not considered to be part of the inner circle.With the addition of 'the Twelve' in Mark 4:10 a third possibility becomes available.Everyone that does not form part of the new eschatological people of God represented by 'the Twelve', does not have the capacity to go beyond the parable as a method to unravel the parable, whilst the mystery of God's kingdom is revealed.Just as much as the parables would want to reveal the mystery of God's kingdom, so too does the Markan gospel want to declare who Jesus is and what He has done and by doing so, the mystery of God's kingdom becomes a parable. 34The 'revelation' of God's kingdom does not necessarily imply understanding so as to label anyone at any given time as 'outsider' or 'insider'.In fact, just as the mystery of God's kingdom reveals while concealing, so too does 'outsider' become 'insider' and vice versa.If ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω is accepted as being parallel to ἐν παραβολαῖς τὰ πάντα γίνεται (Mk 4:11b), then τὰ πάντα refers to 'the mystery of God's kingdom' and 'everything' it encapsulates.Everything that symbolises or refers to the kingdom of God remains ἐν παραβολαῖς. 35The phrase ἐν παραβολαῖς is also a technical term inserted and rendered by the redactor to introduce the parables (cf.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32] in particular, but to also call the essence of the content matter mentioned above into mind.The conclusion is that those people who are not (1) participating in the 'hearing and questioning of the parables' and ( 2) listening to the teachings and forming part of the eschatological people of God; will also not recognise the identity of Jesus, which will result in rejecting the message of the Markan gospel.At first glance, and the most obvious assumption it seems, is that ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω had to refer to the remaining crowd left behind on the shores of the sea of Galilee.It could not have been referring to those surrounding Jesus, not to even mention 'the Twelve'.A closer reading of the 34.Kirkland (1977:19) concurs that the earliest traditions support the view that Jesus used the parables to hide and to reveal simultaneously.
35.The phrase ἐν παραβολαῖς should therefore be interpreted as much more than mere 'riddles'.
text, however, suggests that ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω not only includes those who accompanied Jesus on the boat, but they seem to be made out to be the guilty ones.The allusion to Isaiah 6:9-10 in Mark 4:12 sheds some light and gives some insight into whom the ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω refers. 36

Mark 4:12
The aim here will not be to determine the 'original' meaning behind Isaiah 6:9-10, neither is the intent to understand the literary backdrop of this citation.The focus, rather, will fall on the concepts introduced in Mark 4:12 in the light of Mark 4:10 and Mark 4:11.The structure of the verse presents itself as follows: ἵνα so that βλέποντες βλέπωσιν καὶ μὴ ἴδωσιν, those who are looking see, but perceive not, καὶ ἀκούοντες ἀκούωσιν καὶ μὴ συνιῶσιν, and those who are listening hear, but understand not, μήποτε ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἀφεθῇ αὐτοῖς.lest they turn around not to be healed.
Past and very recent discussions dealing with Isaiah 6:9-10 in Mark 4:12 have been dominated by the search for the meaning and function of the two conjunctions ἵνα and μήποτε.These discussions produced three possible outcomes: 1. Final clause (evident of Targumim dependence) 2. Purpose clause (evident of LXX dependence) 3. Result clause (if Mark 4:12 is interpreted as a later interpolation, somewhat distinct from Mark 4:11).
These two conjunctions are indeed crucial elements to be considered when interpreting Mark 4:12, 37 but the discussion should be extended to other facets of this verse as well.With the redactional 'insertion' and allusion to Isaiah 6:9, 10, the redactor achieved its theological aim.That is to connect the parables of Jesus with the concept of 'the Twelve', the mystery of God's kingdom and the 'stubbornness' concept communicated in Isaiah 6:9-10.The opinion here is that, with 36.Also see the study of Goulder (1991:289-304).
According to Räisänen, the use of μήποτε introducing a final clause confirms the final use of ἵνα.The latter use establishes, by means of Jesus' proclamation, a separation between 'believers' and 'unbelievers'.It also refers to the temporary Verstockung of Israel, (Bolkenstein 1973:102-103); cf.Haufe (1972:418).Gnilka (1978:170-172) argues that Mark has both the 'unbelievers' and Israel in mind.He sees it as a reference-fulfilment scheme, introduced by ἵνα connected to ἔξω (Mk. 4:11b).According to Gottschalk (1971:123) the final and causal use of ἵνα roots the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy and clarifies the goal of Jesus' parables.The reality that there are some people not believing in Jesus, are theologically interpreted by Isaiah 6:9-10, and it is introduced by ἵνα, which also connects to τὰ πάντα (Mk. 4:11b;Pesch 1976:239).Whoever composed this periphrastic translation has given it a telic or final meaning, and has applied it to the purpose of Jesus' parables (Evans 1982:132).According to Guelich (1989:211), ἵνα would express the purpose of the 'riddles ' (v. 11b) and μήποτε would provide the purpose for the blindness and deafness (v.12a).Guelich interprets ἵνα as functioning epexegetically with reference to the scriptures (Guelich 1989).Suhl (1965:151) has championed the targumic influence of μήποτε, whilst referring to Marxen, who suggests that Mark reveals a typical Jewish time fever and therefore Mark could have taken the Targum paraphrase as reference to the believers.Marcus (2000:307), Hultgren (2000:458) and France (2002:199) argue that ἵνα could not introduce anything other than a purpose clause.Marcus is of the view that with the purpose clause taken up in Mark 4:21-22, it becomes evident that the truth should be concealed and in turn be revealed.
http://www.hts.org.zaOpen Access establishing this connection, the redactor opened up the possibility to interpret Mark 4:10-12 as fundamental for Mark 4:1-34 and the Gospel as a whole. 38According to Guelich (1989:213-214), Isaiah 6:9-10 indicates an epexegetic, and not the purpose for the enigmatic character of Jesus' teachings and that the text underscores that the 'outsiders' fail to perceive the real moment in Jesus' ministry, and therefore Mark understands his whole gospel as a parable.
Those following Jesus understand God's salvation plan and Kingdom, but for the 'outsiders' Jesus is using the pedagogical method of the parables. 39The allusion to Isaiah 6:9-10 could well be viewed as irony, 40 and therefore God's message will be met with differences or hostility.It does not necessarily refer to divine intention, thus the first mentioned would fit well into Mark 4:10-11. 41The mystery theory is not just a literary phenomenon, but it is the very origin of Jesus' words and deeds.Jesus is among the Christian community and through faith and within the religious cult, He is viewed as the Messiah and Lord. 42  Another aspect of Mark 4:12 deserves attention, that is the meaning and underlying concept of the Greek verbs for 'seeing', 'hearing', 'perceiving' and 'understanding'.The predominant meaning of βλέψω is see, look at; as of sense perception; in contrast to being blind be able to see; figuratively, of spiritual perception see, understand, be aware of. 43  Marcus (1986:157) suggests that βλέπειν would, semantically speaking, feel at home when designated as an empirical phenomenon as distinct from religious certainty.In Mark 4:12a, ἴδωσιν indicates true comprehension, and βλέποντες βλέπωσιν are perceptions that fall short of that. 44The same is true for ἀκούοντες ἀκούωσιν in relation to συνιῶσιν (Mk.4:12b).The meanings proposed for the root verb συνίημι is 'set together 'to understand' 45 or to be intelligent. 46Marcus 38.Evans (1981:235) argues that if Mark viewed the allusion to Isaiah 6:9-10 as an analogy to the rejected ministry of Jesus, then it is indeed comprehendible that Mark would have related the words of the prophetic judgement to the experience of his Lord.He also suggests that the Isaiah text provides theological basis for the purpose of Jesus' parables and possibly for his ministry as a whole (Evans 1982:126-127).He further argues that Isaiah 6:9-10 and Isaiah 55:10-11 linked by the catchword 'seed' provide the basis for a skillfully developed Midrash in Mark 4:1-20 (Evans 1985:466).Guelich (1989:213) concedes that it can well be that Isaiah 6:9-10 could explain why 'all things' are in 'riddles' in terms of divine judgement, because the allusion to Isaiah 6:9-10 is closer to the Targum, and Mark 4:11b and Mark 4:12 describes those who had not responded positively to Jesus' ministry about the kingdom; they found all things in 'riddles'.
41. France (2002:201).According to Räisänen (1973:121), the logion has a didactical goal, with the parables as communication method, while Gottschalk (1971:125) suggests that the so-called parable theory presents Jesus' logion and parables as eschatological, and the parable logion reveals Jesus as the Son of Man; according to him Jesus' identity and life is parabolic in nature, concealing and revealing.For Pesch (1976:240) the parables would have stayed hidden if one does not think about it, and asking questions to enable one to understand.The parables will stay hidden to the 'outsiders', and it will also be difficult to grasp for Mark and his community.The reason for the latter is due to the Hellenistic-Jewish influence.Gnilka (1978:170-172), in turn, argues that for Mark the parables are 'riddles' logions, representative of the negative aspect of the 'mystery of God's kingdom', and even more related to the negative aspect surrounding Israel.
42. Gnilka 1978:168-169. 43.Friberg, Friberg & Miller 2000:92;cf. Louw & Nida 1996:277 But what has the redactor achieved with the allusion to Isaiah 6:9-10 in Mark 4:12?For one, the acts of seeing, hearing, perceiving and understanding, in the negative, would encompass parables, the mystery of God's kingdom, the words and deeds of Jesus, including the Markan gospel.Secondly, the verbal third person plurals do not merely refer to the crowds left behind on the shores, it includes 'those around Jesus' as well as 'the Twelve', whilst addressing the receptors of the gospel message.Thirdly, the ἵνα clause does not necessarily suggest a grammatical connection with Mark 4:10-11, but in collaboration with μήποτε it succeeds in extending the impact of Verstockung beyond the parameters of Mark 4:10-12 and Mark 4:1-34 to the gospel as a whole.Finally, the phrase μήποτε ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἀφεθῇ αὐτοῖς strengthens the plausibility to consider the 'gospel' message of Mark as parabolic-dualistic and apocalyptic-eschatological in nature.It is as if Isaiah 6:9, 10 was written for Mark 4:1-34, not that it was, but just to emphasise how flawless it suits the literary context of Mark 4:10-12 in particular and Mark 4:1-34 in general.In fact, the Verstockung idea as presented in Isaiah 6:9, 10 reveals something of the nature of the Markan gospel.

Conclusion
Mark 4:10-12 as redactional composition encompasses everything 'gospel' and 'parable'.It includes outsiders and insiders that translocate from one group to another, depending on the understanding of the mystery of God's kingdom.The insider grasps the mystery of God's kingdom and with that the parables become gospel, but as soon as this stage has been reached, the insider becomes confused and divorces his understanding of these matters by which he becomes an outsider.The inclusion of 'the Twelve' (Mk. 4:10) and the allusion to Isaiah 6:9-10 (Mk.4:12) reinforces the assumption that this composition extends far beyond the parable context in Mark 4:1-34.In fact, Mark 4:10-12 is the key to unlock the Markan gospel and at the same time, locking it allowing studies such as these to continue.The inclusion of 'the Twelve' as concept and the allusion to Isaiah 6:9-10 as part of the parable theory composition not only governs Mark 4:1-34 as parable context, but it transforms Mark 4:1-34 as pivotal for understanding the mission of Jesus through parables, of which the Markan gospel is the parable par excellence.
4:11a)and the second person personal pronoun ὑμῖν (Mk.4:11b) originally refer back to the αὐτὸν οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν; but with the redactional rendition of 'the Twelve', they are also included.He introduces a parallelism between Mark 4:11a and Mark 4:11b by means of a scheme, from where he develops the assumption that the use of πάντα in Mark 4:34 refers to those things expounded to the disciples. 18e scholars suggest 'all things' include the proclamation of Jesus up until that time and further.19Pesch(1976:239)is of the opinion that the ἵνα Mark 4:11 17Mark 4:11 is significant in that the mystery of God's kingdom is shared with ὑμῖν, which probably refers back to αὐτὸν οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν and 'the Twelve.'Thestructure of the verse unfolds as follows:καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς•and He said to them: ὑμῖν τὸ μυστήριον δέδοται τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ• you have been given the mystery of God's kingdom; ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὰ πάντα γίνεται, but for those outside, everything remains in parables,The theological significant concepts introduced in this verse are τὸ μυστήριον δέδοται τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ and παραβολαῖς coupled with ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω.The pertinent question is to whom does ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω as well as ὑμῖν refer and what is the conceptual relationship between the 'mystery of God's kingdom' and 'parables'.Finally, one should also determine as to what τὰ πάντα entails.Baird (1957:202)suggests that τὰ πάντα parallels τὸ μυστήριον and not ἐν παραβολαῖς.18.Marcus draws the attention to δέδοται (divine passive) that limits the 'mystery of God's kingdom' to something that has already appeared in the gospel.The 'mystery of God's kingdom' is given in parables and through the parable of the sower, in this particular context, 66.He further points out the limitations of Baird's schematization, and adds that the dative introduces bothMk 4:11a [ὑμῖν]and Mk possibility that Mark 4:11 could have been a Vorform des Wortes interpreting parables, and because of this Mark 4:11 should not be viewed as an answer to the question raised inMk 4:10.Pesch (1976:238) confirms Haacker's assumption and adds '… eine urkirchliche Entstehung des Logions an.'20 Gnilka (1978:163)builds on this line of thought by arguing that if τὸ μυστήριον and ἐν παραβολαῖς are indeed regarded as being parallel then ἐν παραβολαῖς is to be understood as 'riddle'.21InthewordsofHaufe(1972:414-415):‚das Logion Mk 4,11f ist eine vormarkinische, aber nachösterliche Gemeindebildung ... das Logion hat ursprünglich mit den Gleichnisreden Jesu weder im vorösterlichen noch im nachösterliche Sinne irgendetwas zu tun.'   Focant (1997:150-151)addresses the issues by drawing a parallel between Mark 4:10-12 and Mark 3:20-35, not only to place emphasis on the two groups present in Mk 4:11, but also to illuminate Mark's understanding of the two groups.
1986:159) argues that 'hearing' in Mark 4:12a and 12b speaks of both the 'outsiders' comprehension of the parables on a superficial level and of their failure to penetrate beyond the realm of appearance to that true insight.The term βλέποντες (Mk.4:12b) should also be viewed in relation to βλέπωσιν in Mk 4:3, which refers to the crowd to which Jesus started teaching (Mk.4:1-2); the same would apply for ἀκούοντες ἀκούωσιν in Mark 4:9.Thus, for the pre-Markan tradition, regarding the parable of the seeds or soil (Mk 4:3-8), everyone located at the sea of Galilee is called to listen (listening in terms of συνιῶσιν, not just 'hearing').The latter is further strengthened by ἠδύναντο ἀκούειν(Mk.4:33)in that it refers to how they responded to the call made in Mark 4:3 and Mark 4:9.The reference to 'hearing' in Mark 4:33 will also imply a larger group or crowd.Finally, one cannot begin to interpret these verbs in Mark 4:12 without consulting Mark 4:21-25.The phrase ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω (Mark 4:23) is a replica of the phrase we find in Mark 4:9 and βλέπετε τί ἀκούετε (Mark 4:24) also recalls the notions offered by the allusion to Isa 6:9-10 in Mk 4:12, to mind.To conclude: what the words in Mark 4:12 (Is.6:9, 10) want to convey is the 'normal' act of seeing and hearing as opposed to a deeper level of grasping, understanding and perceiving.This of course fits in perfectly with parables, mystery of the Kingdom and the followers or disciples.