Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-01
PARABLE OF THE S0WER
LESSON V, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, FEB. 3.
Text of the Lesson, Mark iv. 1O-2O---Com-
NIT Verses 2O-Golden Text, Mark
iv, 23-Commentary by the
Rev. ID. VI. Stearns.

phia
Jesus had at this time been well through
the land and his fame had spread abroad
everywhere. He had been in all the cities
and villages teaching in their synagogues,
and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom,
and healing every sickness and every disease
Matt tx, 35) He had ordained tho twelve
and sent them forth TO heal the sick and
preach that the kingdom of Heaven was at
hand Matt Y, Is; lie had proclaimed by
words and deeds that He was the anointod
One of God foretold by the prophets, Israefs
Messiah, tho Servant of Jehovah, Jehovah
Himself; but they would not receive Him,
His own townsmen OF Nazareth seek His life
and the Pharsees held council against
Him, how they might destroy Him luke iv,
30; Matt. xii ~.
10. and when He was alone they that
were about Him with the twelve, asked OF
Him the parable" Sitting in a 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 tarcs the mustard seed
and the heaven, AMI then sending the multi
tude away He went into the house Matt.
xiii. 1856 and now, being alone with His dis
cples, they ask him the meaning of this par
able.
II. "Unto You it is given to know the mys-
terry of the kingdom of God" Now the
kingdom rs revealed to David and the
prophets was no mystery, but fact plainly
stated over and over again, that son of
David should sit on Davids throne, the
Throne of the Lord at Jerusalem, rcigning in
Righteousness over the twelve tribes of Israel,
the whole nation knowing the Lord and re-
joicing in Messiah, their king, and all 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
mcnts were not mysteries, but simple truths
plainly stated. Neither was it mystery,
but the plain statement of Gabriel to Mary
that her son was the promised Son of David
to sit on Davids throne and reign over the
house OF Jacob forever luke i, 81, So. But
that the Messiah should come and the king
dom not come; that He should die and rise
again and return 10 Heaven without restor
ing all things of which the prophets had
spoken; that lie should have to come a second
time for this restoration; that Gentiles
should for time be put on a 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 OUT
process between Ills going away and return;
these were things kept secret from the foun-
dation Of the world Matt. xiii, 30; these are
some of the mysteries of the kingdom con-
tanned in these parallels, and referred to SO
often in the cpi5tles. CEph. i, 9, 10; iii, 4-6;
V, 80; Rom. i, %; II Thess ii, :, 8; Rev.
xvii, S; :, Z; l Cor. XIV, 81, etc.
l.. 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 flame no one but themselves for
their blindness, aud ignorance and hardness
of heart. Some one has said that a parable
is like the shell of nut which keeps the sweet
meat within for the dl.rent, but from the
irdOcnt who are too slothful TO diligently
seek it.
ID. known We not this PARALLEL How
then Will ye know all parallels" He seems
to wonder at their dulluess in not readily see
ing the meaning Of this first and, perhaps,
most simple Of all parallels
II. 1.-The Sovcr Soweth the Word" and
"The Seed is the Word of Cod luke viii,
H. 1t is incompatible seed which causes
tho ono who receives it into his heart to be
born again. i Peter, l. 2;N. 1t is tho seed
which abiding III tie believer keeps him
from SHINING against God, Il John Ill, o.;
Ps. cZi1, 1l.) 10 is mama from Heaven
to be gathered every morning and eaten
ofron every day. John viz 1t is milk
for babes and strong meat for those of
fui! age. OIeb. ', l2-14) 1t IS as fire
and a hammer. der, XIII, 2N; it is the
sword q the Spirit. (Eph. vi, ~ 1t is the
Joy ana rejoicing Of the believers heart
sweener than honey, better than thousands
Of gold or silver. der Ky, lG; Ps, cxix, ~,
1873
II. "And those are they by the wnyside,
where the word is sown." We lind that the
seed falls on four different kinds Of ground,
in each case with u different result. The
ground represents to us the human heart,
and il must be tie heart Of one who has heard
the word Of God so that We might be safe in
SAYING that Tho parable refers only TO church
EOers or thpse who at some time, il some
way, hear the GLAD tidlngs OF the love Of God
in Christ jesus. In these Wayside 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 the entrance Of the
Word that giyeth light. Us elk, 1907
IL These are they likewise which arc
sown on stony ground" Here is a joyful
hearing and receiving Of the Word: not only
cburchgoers, but attentive and Gppreciatiye
listeners, who ca.l tell good sermon wher
they hear it, and enjoy tie truth 10 "a certain
extent.
II. Have no root, endure but
tOf a time. - lie NOiR IS NOJ LlOfOugn, Dul
to, much on the surface; there Is no depth /,
them; they are too emotional They moke q
fine squirt for while and seem TO 20 ahead
of many; are often received into the churci
with great rejoicinGs and pointed out a!
wonderful trophies Of the Grace Of God
They themselves wonder at the more quiot
demeanor of others, and are astonshed that
the whole church is not Jealous as they are
they would pun real hfo into all the service.
and lift al Christians up 30 their proper
plane 1t is really inspiring to hear them
would to God that they might continue,
"When affection or persecution arlseth foi
the worlds cake, immediately they are Of
Tended" ''The race Is not TO the swift MOI
tho battle to the strong (Gccl. *, IL. They
had not been tried, and now, wen tried, they
can't stand it, for in time Of temptation o.
trial they fall away. They thought it would
be all sunshine, but it has proved different
they could not stand lire; their eyes were no
on the Master
Is 10 "SOWn among thorns \ tn