The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-01-31
PARABLE OF THE soWeR.
International Sunday School Lessen foa
February 3, 1889.

GOLDEN TExT--n any man have ears to
hear let him hear.-Mark 4:29.
CENTRAL TRUTn-We should receive the
good seed Of Gods word in honest and
good hearts, and bring forth much fruit.
TrME-Autumn, A. ID. 2S. Several weeks
after tho last lesson.
PLAcR-On the shore Of the Sea Of Cali
lee, near Capernaum.
PARALLEL ACCOUNTS Of the whole parable,
Matt. 1910, 1929; Luke S:4-15. Jesus,
thirty-two years old, near the close Of the
second year Of His ministry
INTERVENING HIsToRY-Many important
events IN the life Of Christ occur during
the intervening weeks; as the call OF
Matthew; the choosing Of the apostles; the
sermon on the mount; healing the centuri-
on's servant.
INTRoDUCTToN-Jesu now enters upon o
new method of teaching. Great numbers
crowd to hear Him, but the opposition also
is increasing. One day in Capernaum
Jesus is charged with blasphemy, and His
family came to Him, probably to ask Him
to AIT in different way (see Mat. 12).
Then He goes out Of the city TO the lake
shore, and getting into o. boat, He teaches
the multitude who are on the shtre, and
speaks eight parallels. The parable Of the
sower Is told in the previous verses. Prob
kinds Of soil aud the results, pictured be-
fore their eyes.
HELPS OVER HARP PiAuEs--1U. AsEed of
Him the parable: tho Interpretation Of the
parable He had just spoken. H.. The mys-
terry: the things hitherto hidden, but now re.
vealed by Christ. The disciples were obe-
dent and tcaehable, aad therefore could
learn more Unto them that are withouS
without the circle OF Christ's followers, out
side Of the number who obeyed God. IL.
Seesng may see and not pcrcciUe. the truth
could not be given to thorn clearly because
they would have made a baduse Of IL, to tho
injury Of themselves and others. Even in
this case God wanted them. to see and be-
Nevc and be saved. Lest They should be con-
vsrtsd: not that Christ taught, in parallels
for this end; but they would not hear
and understand, lest they should be CON-
v8Dted. IA. The ssaer: Jesus. the apostles
and all who teach and preach Gods Word
TIE seed: Gods Word of truth The soil was
thehearts Of men. 10. ITaysids:-t trodden
paths or roads which ran near or through tho
grain fields. There were no fencesor hedges.
These hearers arc those whose hearts are
hardened by neglect and sin, so that truth
makes no impression, and tho wicked one,
represented by tho fowls, plucl1s away the
good seed Note that tho wicked one can
not takeaway the good seed unless we let
him. He can not destroy tho seed II the
soil is. good. 16. Stony ground: rocky; not
fields full OF stones, but thin layer OF soil
over fat rocks. The soil is warm in, the
sun, and the seeds spring up very soon, but
the soil soon becomes dry. Rese,us it NTH
0lddness.. these hearers are those easily
moved by excitement, and the feelings of
those around them, but they do not become
Christians at heart. Their principles and
character are not changed. II. Persecution
for the World's sake: as soon as any trials
some which test their principles, they fail.
18. zAo,uu' growing by the hedges Of, the
fields. These grow up faster than the grain,
and shut of the sun and absorb the richness
Of the ground. 10. Cares Of ths world: anx-
ieties about earthly things, too absorbing in
terest in them. Deceitf"lness Of riches: riches
deceive, in making people expect more from
them than they can give; In eluding pur-
suit, disappointing people continually. Choke
the cord; these things take up so much
time and attention that people neglect re-
hgion and goodness and Heaven.
CoMn1NTs-By the Sec Of Galilee great
multitudes gathered to hear Jesus preach.
As they pressed close upon Him, He got into
boat, and, pushing little way out, used
the boatas pulpit. From there He taught
them about the word Of God, and tho vari-
GUS ways in which men receive the truths
Of God. In the parable Of tho sower the
seed stauds for the word Of God; the vari-
GUS kinds Of soil represent human hearts in
various degrees Of receptivity, and the fruit
represents tho results OF that which was
sown. The seed. This is the word Of God.
Every time that we hear o sermon preached
that is based on the word of God, seed has
been sown in our hearts. Every reading Of
the Bible and every studying Of the lesson
in the GLASS Is sowing Of tho seed. Does
all seed sown bear fruita Alas no. Why
mott Because Of the soil in which IL, is
sown.. In our parable there are four kinds
Of soil spoken OF. Look at them in their or
der. az Hard down-trOddsn SOIL The hur-
rying feet Of thousand worldly thoughts
and evil practices have trodden tho tender
| soil into hardness On this the foil Of the
seed. makes no impression. 1t merely falls
on to-, not into the heart. The truth 10 lis
tened to IN istless way. A sentence here
| and thNre 10 caught, but swiftly the rush OF
| thieving thoughts catches away the truth,
and leaves no trace Of IL behind. Every
hearer has at some time been a. "wayside
hearer.n (2) Stony soil. Not bare rock
but earth with much stone intermingled
This kind Of soil represents, persons o1
"good impulses" but whose impulses never
carry them very far. They hear, and thinl
they will obey the truth. They perhaps
give good promise of amounting to some
thing They may 20 so far as to Join thu
church, and even for awhile become work
ers in the church. But presently they prove
to have no deep roots. Trouble may arise
which daunts them, and by and by they givt
up their professions and. 40 back to where
they were before. Promise there was Tor {
time in their lives, but 1t was followed b!
no fulfllment. (3) Thormy soil. In this. cast
there is plenty Of soil, but the thorns hav'
got the start Of the good seed Mammol
has already been busy in these hearts. Nov
comes the spirit and sows seed in that heart
It springs up, and promises we'll But al
the time, care, and lust for wealth, and de
sire for pleasure are there and grow apace
BY and by they outgrOw the good seed, an,
occupy more and more of the gro and, unit
at last the seed is choked and Gies away
leaving the heart with rank growth o
worldly desires and deeds. Money-making
theater-going, the dance-hail-how many
heart have these filed, to the exclusion Q
Gods truth and Of fruitage unto life ever
| ,1