The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-01-31
PARABLE OF THE SOWER.
LESSON v, FIRST QUARTER, IN
TEaNATioNAL SERIES, FEB. 8

TEaNAT,oNAL SERIES, FEB. 8
Fszt of the Lesson. Mark ~, Io-so-cem-
malt Verse so-Golden Tsxt, Mark iv.
ss-Cemmcntary by the Rev. ID. nj.
stesrns.
mission Of II. s. Hoksiaan. publiahsr. Phhadsl
phia.l
Jesus had at this time been well through
the land and his faros 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, S5); He hail ordained the twelve
and sent them forth to heal the sick and
preach that the kingdom Of Heaven was at
hand Matt <, l-s); TIs had proclaimed by
words aud 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 iv,
20; Matt. xii, l4).
10. And when he was alone, they that
were about Him with the twelve, asked Of
Him the parable" Sitting in n boat on the
ksa OF Galiiee, He had been teaching the
multitudes Ia parallels as they stood on the
shore. He had spoken the pa.ables of the
soser, the wheat and tares, the mustard see.i
and the ieaven. and then sanding the multi
tude away he went into the house Matt.
Xiii, i-s6j; and now, being alone with His dis
cipiss, 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" Vow tho
kingdom as revealed to David and the
prophets was no mystery, but fact plainly
stated over and over again, that u sou Of
David should sit on Dayid's throne, the
Throne Of tho Lord at Jerusalem, reigning in
righteousness over the twelve tribes of Israel,
the whole nation knowing the Lord and re-
toieing Ia Messiah. their king, and all M
lions of the earth looking TO them, blessed
through them and sending or going mp from
year TO Year 10 worship the Lord OF Hosts at
Jerusalem; these and many similar state
Inents We're not mysteries, but simple truths
plainly stated Neither was IL a mystery,
but the plain statement Of Gabriel TO Mary
that bsr son was the promised Son of David
10 sit on Dayid's throne and reign over the
bouse OF Jaeob forever n.uke j, 80, 33. But
that the Messiah should come and the king
dom not come; that He should dio and rise
again and return to Heaven without resi1,
Ing all things of which the prophets had
spoken; thut Hs should have to come u second
time for this restoration; TINT Gentiles
should fOy % time DO put on q Level with Jews,
szs6 people gathered out Of all nations f1P
His name; what would be the condition Of
things on earth during this gathering out"
PROCESS between His going away aud yeturn; :;
b ft.nr, tba
dation Of tho world Matt xiii, 35); these are
some OF ths mysteries OF the kingdom con
Iained Ia these parables, Rnd referred to 80
often iH the epistles. 1iph. /, y, 10; iii, &C;
y, "; Rom xl, e5: u Thess. il, 7, 8; hey
xvii, 3; K, IL Cor, xy, 81. etc.
~. unto them that are WITHOUT, all these
things are done Ia parallels. that seeing they
may rec and not perceive; -" II they
pstsist In remaining without, notwithstand-
ADg all tbs gracious invitations to enter i'll.
they can blame 40 one but themselves for
their blindness, and ignorance and hardness
OF heart. Some one has said tt.at n parable
Is like the shell of nut which keeps thS syeet
meat within for the diligent, but from the
Lndolent who arg too slothful to diligently
seek Gt-
10. known Sc aot this pGrablol How
then will ye know all paFablesT He seems
20 wonder at their dullness in not realty see
ing the meaning of this first and, perhaps,
most simple u all parallels.
ID "Tho sowep Eoweth the Word" and
THE Seed Is the WORD ~ God" luke viii,
IL Il IS incorruptable seed wjiick causes
Aba cile who receives it into his heart " 10
born again Il Potter, /, 23. II is the seed
which abiding IN the believer keeps him
from SHINING Rgaipst God. u John iii, .;
Ps cxix. III 1t is mamma from Heaven
20 be gathered every morning and eaten
often every day. (John viz 1t is milk
Cor babes and strong meat for those OF
full age. (Heb. v, l2Is) II is rs IA fire
and hammer. (Jer, xiii, e9; it Is tho
sword OF tho Spirit. Qsph. vi, III IL il tbs
Soy and rejoicing of the believers heart.
Swecter than honey, better than thousands
OF gold or silver. Jer. Nv, 10; Ps. cxix, ~
1851
~ s"And these are they by the waysids
where the word is sown.n We find that Tho
seed falls o. four different kinds of ground
In each c.so with different result, tn,
ground represents to us the human heart
and it must be the heart of one who has heaTC
Ahe word of God so that We might be safe II
saying thnt the parable refers only 10 churcl
goers or those who Mt some time, IN som,
way, hear tho glad tidings of the love of 4of
In Christ Jesus. In these waysids hearer
ths ground or the heart being so hard tn
sced only lies ON the surface; an,
khls Il not the intention of the sover
for IL Is only the entrance of tb'
Word that giveth light lPs. cxix, 1907
III "Tbcse are they likewise which al
sown on stony ground" Here is joyfu
bearing and receiving Of the Word; not onll
churchgoers, but attentive and appreciativ
listeners, who can tell a good sermon whel
they hear tt, and enjoy the truth TO a certain
extent
IL. Have no root, endure bu
tor timen The work is not thorough, bu
too much Oh the surface; there is no depth B
Eham; they are too emotional They make
fine squirt for a while and seem 10 20 ahea
Of many; are often received into the churc
with great rejoicings and pointed out q
wonderful trophies of the Grace Of Cod
They themselves wonder at the more Quis
derlaanor of others, and are astonished this
the whole church Is not sealous as they srs
they would put real life into all the seryics
aud lift all Christians up to their props
plane IL is really inspiring 70 hear then
would 10 God that they might continue.
when afiiction or persecution ariseth fo
the worlds sake, immediately they are o
Tended" Tho race is pot TO the swift nc
the battle to the strong" QEcol II, III. The
had not been tried, and now, when tried, the
can't stand it, for In time OF temptation c
trial they fall away. They thought II woul
bS sll sunshine, but it has proved different
they could not stand fire; their eyes were nc
on the Master.
49, 10 ''Sown among thorns tt
cares Of this world, the deceitfulness {
riches and the lusts of other things choke q
Nord, and it beconeth unfruitful" Lui
says they hiring no fruit to perfection Thss
also seem to be members OF the ytaa
church and 10 have made q profession
faith la Christ, for fruit Is expected frol
them, but 1t IL not found
~. "Sown on good ground, hea
receive, bring forth fruit, thirty, sixty. q
hundred fold" Luke says that this soil re
rese1,ts an honest and good heart which heA
tho word, keeps il, and brings forth fru
Hith patience.