4:14–20 The “mystery” of the parable is not its moral teaching about the hardness of human hearts. The “mystery” is to be found in the paradox that the coming of God’s reign is to be identified with a fragile seed. The Son of Man who exercises all authority on earth (2:11, 27) appears as Jesus of Nazareth. The coming of the kingdom is not equally visible to everyone, although it is a kingdom of power. Those on the outside have unreceptive hearts. For those with ears to hear, the parable unveils the “mystery” of redemption, hidden in the person and work of Christ Himself (1:34 note).