Mark 4:1  “…He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea…”
Not unexpected.  Jesus mentions earlier that He might need to do this due to the amount of people and the fact they pressed Him so close just to touch Him.

2  “…He taught them many things by parables…”
I have a feeling we don’t have every parable that Jesus gave.  We’re told by John that everything that Jesus did and said wasn’t written down.  We have just what we need.  But it must have been something to stand there on the shore and listen to Jesus teach all day.  I’ve heard speakers who were so interesting that you lost track of time, but I’m sure listening to Jesus was far greater.

9  “…He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Challenge to seek the answer, and I think the assurance to find it if you search for it.

10  “But when He was alone…”
I think Peter is overlapping his timeline while remembering.  He’ll get back to telling more parables, but I think he may have wanted to note that he and the others wanted to hear and understand.

10  “…those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable”
More than just the twelve.  We forget there were more than twelve disciples, just twelve that were with Him all the time.

12  “…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”
Not that God doesn’t want to forgive our sin.  But it must be our choice.  Because of free will we have to decide for ourselves.  The truth was presented in the parables, but only those who truly wanted to know would seek it.  Parables aren’t that hard when you think about it.  It doesn’t take that much desire to figure out what is there.  But there has to be some, and unfortunately, some never care to find out.  Some never bother to ask.

13  “…Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand all the parables?”
Sounds like Jesus was saying they wouldn’t be able to understand anything if they couldn’t figure this one out.  But commentaries suggest, and it makes sense, that Jesus was setting them up to learn.  He goes directly to the interpretation.  If they will pay attention to this one, they should be able to understand those in the future.

14-20  Reaction to God’s word.  Some don’t listen and lose what they’re given.  Some like the sound of it, but don’t allow it to get into their hearts to really make a change.  When life happens, they fall apart.  Can usually tell by to whom a person runs when trouble happens.  Some hear and make the change, but never become fruitful because they allow things of the world to keep them from enjoying all God has for us.  I feel like this type are truly saved, but remain baby Christians all their life.  They don’t grow and are swayed by whatever the world throws at them.  Last group are the ones who listen, accept, and then forsake the world so that the word can cause them to grow and be fruitful.  It’s not enough to just get saved to gain Heaven.  Jesus wants us to have life and to have it more abundantly.  That means growing from the point of salvation.  Living and growing to become more like Him.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.