The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-02-01
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly, by per-
mission Of b. S. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel.

hand (Matt. K, 1-s); He had proclaimed by
words and deeds that He was the anointed
One of God foretold by the prophets, Israel's
Messiah, the Servant of Jehovah, Jehovah
Himself; but they would not receive Him,
His own townsmen of Nazareth seek His life
and the Pharisees held council against
Him, how they might destroy Him luke iy,
90; Matt. XII, ~.
TO- "And when He was alone, they that
were about Him with the twelve, asked of
Him the parable" Sittingi In boat on the
sea OF Galilee, He had been teaching the
multitudes In parallels as they stood on the
shore. He had spoken the parallels of the
sower, the wheat and tares the mustard seed
and the leaven, and then sending the multi
tude away He went into the house (Matt.
xiii, 1866; and now, being alone with His dis
ciples, they ask him the meaning Of this par
able.
IL "Unto you it is given to know the mys-
terry Of the kingdom of God" Now the
kingdom as revealed to David and the
prophets was no mystery, but fact plainly
stated over and over again, that son of
David should sit on David's throne, the
Throne of the Lord at Jerusalem, reigning in
Righteousness over the twelve tribes of Israel,
the whole nation knowing the Lord and re-
joicing In Messiah, their king, and oil ma
tions of the earth looking to them, blessed
through them and sending or going up from
year to year to worship the Lord of Hosts at
Jerusalem; these and many similar state
ments We're not mysteries, but simple truths
plainly stated. Neither was 1t mystery,
but the plain statement of Gabriel to Mary
that her son was the promised Son Of David
to sit on David's throne and reign over the
house of Jacob forever duke l, 80, 3S). But
that the Messiah should come and the king
dom not come; that He should die and rise
again and return to Heaven without restor
ing all things of which the prophets had
spoken; that He should have to come second
time for this restoration; that Gentiles
should for time be put on level with Jews,
and people gathered out Of all nations for
His name; what would be the condition of
things on earth during this gathering outn
process between His going away and return;
these were things kept secret f'om the foun-
dation of the world tlIatt. xiii, 35); these are
some Of the mysteries of the kingdom con-
tained in these parallels, and referred to so
often in the epistles. Nph. j, 0, 10; iii, 4-6;
v, 80; Rom Ii, s5; II Thess. ii, 2, s; Rev.
xvii, s.; x, q; Cor. xv, 81, etc.
10. "Unto them that are without, all these
things are done in parallels, that seeing they
may see and not perceive; -" II they
persist in remaining without, notwithstand-
ing all the gracious invitations to enter in,
they can blame no one but themselves for
their blindness, and ignorance and hardness
Of heart Some one has said that q parable
is like the shell of q nut which keeps the sweet
meat within for the diligent, but from the
r1N10 k<. LII f,,N
seek 1t.
Is. "Known ye not this parablea How
then will ye know all parablesF' He seems
to wonder at their dullness in not readily see
ing the meaning Of this first and, perhaps,
most simple of all parallels.
IA. "The sower Soweth the Word" and
"The Seed is the Word of God" Guke viii,
11.) 1t is incorruptable seed which causes
the one who receives it into his heart to be
born again. q Peter, i, 2g. 1t is the seed
which abiding in the believer keeps him
from SHINING against God q John iii, o.;
Ps. cxix, 11) 1t is mama from Heaven
to be gathered every morning and eaten
often every day. John Wy 1t is milk
for babes and strong meat for those Of
full age (Heb. v, 12-14) 1t is as fire
and hammer. DER, xiii, 29); it is the
sword Of the Spirit. (Eph. vi, ny 1t is.the
joy and rejoicing of the believers heart
sweeter than honey, better than thousands
of gold or silver. Ger. XIV, 16; Ps. cxix, 722,
1881
10. "And these are they by the waysde,
where the word is sown." We find that the
seed falls on four different kinds Of ground,
in each case with different result The
ground represents to us the human heart,
and it must be the heart of one who has heard
tho word Of God SO that we might be safe in
saying that the parable refers only to church
goers or those who at some time, in some
way, hear the glad tidings of tho love Of God
in Christ Jesus. In these waysidc hearers
the ground or the heart being so hard the
seed only lies on the surface; and
this is not the intention Of the sower,
for it is only tho entrance Of the
Word that giveth light. (Ps. cxix, 1907
16. sThese are they likewise which are
sown on stony ground" Here is joyful
hearing and receiving Of the Word; not only
churchgoers, but attentive and appreciative
listeners, who can tell good sermon when
they hear it, and enjoy the truth to certain
extent.
!, II. "Have no root, endure but
for time" The work is not thorough, but
too much on the surface; there is no depth to
them; they are too emotional They make q
fine spurt for while and seem to go ahead
of many; are often received into the church
with great rejoicings and pointed out as
wonderful trophies Of the Grace Of God.
They themselves wonder at the more quiet
demeanor Of others, and are astonished that
the whole church is not Jealous as they are;
they would put real life into all the services
and lift all Christians up to their proper
plane. 1t is really inspiring to hear them;
would to God that they might continue.
"When affection or persecution ariseth for
the worlds sake, Immediately they are Of
fended.n "The race is not to the swift nor
the battle to the strong.n Eccl. tx, 1D. They
had not been tried, and now, when tried, they
can't stand it, for in time Of temptation or
trial they fall away. They thought it would
be all sunshine, but it has proved different;
! they could not stand fire; their eyes were not
on tho Master.
IS, 10. "Sown among thorns y the
cares of this world, the deceitfulness of
riches and the lusts of other things choke the
word, and it becometh unfruitfuLn Luke
says they bring no fruit to perfection. These
also seem to be members OF tho visible
church and to have made profession of
faith in Christ, for fruit is expected from
them, but it is not found.
20. ''Scwn on good ground, hear,
receive, bring forth fruit, thirty, sixty, al
hundred fold.n Luke says that this soil rep
the word, keeps it, and brings forth fruit
with patience.