The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-23
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
APRIL 27.
Lesson Text: "The Parable of thes
Sower," Luke viii, 4-15-Golden
Text: Luke viii, 18-
Commentary.

| plucked up or scattered again (Zech. j., II;
| H., 1912; Jer. xiv, 6, q; that through them
He may establish His Messianic kingdom in
all the world. He was accompanied by the
twelve and certain women whom He had
| healed and who now ministered unto Him.
Returning, probably, to Capernaum, He
| healed one possessed with blind and dumb
| demon. This drew forth from the Pharisees
the accusation that He was possessed by the
| devil, and thus did these mighty works.
! Jesus, in reply, warned them of the sin that
| can never be forgiven, whether committed
In this age or the age to come He also fore
told His death and resurrection and pointed
them to coming Judgment. They receive
not His teaching, but determine to kill Him
Matt. xii).
4. "And when much people were gathered
together, and were come to Him out Of every
city, He spake by parable" Matthew says:
"The same day went Jesus out Of the house
and sat by the seaside; and great multitudes
were gathered together unto Him so that He
went into ship and sat, and the whole null
titude stood on the shore."- If the rulers
would not listen to Him the common people,
heard Him gladly Mark xii, 81 land it is still
true that mot many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble are
called" q Cor. j., 26. In Matthew this par,
able is one Of series Of seven spoken at one;
stands alone. 1t is the only parable spoken
at this time which is recorded by each Of the
three. The others had, no doubt, particuS
lar reference to the respective objects which
Matthew and Mark had in view in writing
their gospels, while this one alone is sufficient
for Luke's purpose. It is a foundation para
BILE, and describes the treatment which the
glad tidings of the kingdom will receive dur
ing the whole Of this dispensation, the period
Of Christs rejection, until he come again to
bring the kingdom.
etc. HE that hath ears to hear, let him hear
1t is simple story Of what may have been
taking place before the Saviour's eyes at that
moment. On the hillside farmer may have
been actually sowing his seed, some falling
on the beaten path, some on thin soil beneath
which was a great rock; some where the
thorns had already preoccupied the ground;
and some on good ground. The Saviour an.
ticipates the harvest, and speaks Of that
which fell on the good ground as the only
portion accomplishing anything. He was in
the habit Of using the most familiar things
with which to illustrate His teaching. a
candle, a woman baking, woman seeking q
lost piece of silver, shepherd seeking lost
sheep, good or bad foundation for house,
children playing, hen and chickens, door,
a vine, each and all afforded Him topic
from which He taught concerning things,
eternal.
9. "And His disciples asked Him. saying,
What might this parable be| The Holy
Spirit interprets spiritual things to spiritual
men q Cor. IL, 13, R. ", margin), and these
His fullness, therefore they understood not
this parable.
10. "And He said, Unto you it is given
to know the mysteries Of the kingdom OF
God; but to others in parallels" BY COM
pairing Matt. xiii, SO; Mark w., 10, we see
that Jesus sent the multitudes away and
went into the house, and that then He gave
the explanation of this parable. That He wasA
in the house when He interpreted the parable
appears also from verses 19 and 20 OF thus
chapter.
II. snow the parable is this: The seed Is
the Word of God" Mark says: "The sower
soweth the word" The business of every
Christian in this whole age is to be a vessel
in the hand of the great Sower with which /
He may scatter the seed Of the word.
12. ''Those by the way side are they that
hear: then cometh the devil" We ehave now
four kinds of soil on which the word falls and
will fall till the kingdom comes. There is
the hard beaten heart Of the so-called gospel
hardened. he has gone to church all his NE,
perhaps is seldom absent on Sunday morning,
but he is too weary in body to hear WIN
profit. or, if not the business Of the week so
crowds in upon him that while apparently
he is listening to the sermon he is in his mind
going over Yesterdays business transactions
or anticipating those of tomorrow. Occa-,
lionally something that is said or sung or ut
sered in prayer seems to take hold OF him. put
test he should believe and be saved the deVh
Quickly takes it away. If he is called upon
for subscription for the work perhaps ne
gives cheerfulIy and literally. Thus ne taxes
credit to himself for his righteousness wnicn
consists of being regularly in his place IN
church las to his body and giving hoerany
of his means, but all the while. ne is losO
man, and O step from time into eternity
wouid place him with the lost rich man Oh
whom Jesus told. And who cares where his
soul goes if the church only gets his money?
Do you care, and how much?
13. ''They ON the rock are they when,
when they hear, receive tue word with Joy;
and these have no root Hero is another
class of churchgoers, for observe that eacn
kind OF soil represents those who hear, SO
that this parable does not touch those VINO s
have never heard the gospel Ii shall
be far more tolerable for them Luxe
xii. AZ. 4s) in that day. This is nearer
ITho % pays attention, and actually enjoys
the public worship, o. to talk OF the
things of God, when it does not cost much!
that is when the weather is fine and there
are no difficulties in the way. none opposing:
Such NAV probably make q profession g
faith in Christ, and for time give Joytu
Testimony. but as soon as there IS anything
TO be endured for the words sake MARX
iy.. IN Immediately they are offended ana
fall away. These. like the other. give us no
solid encouragement.
they which when they have heard, go forth
and are chokedn These hearers may pos
sibly be saved: the see has taken root we'll
and there is quite a growth, but the tnlng
lacking here is fruit, ripe fruit. that Wmen
gIorfies God. But can any one be saved VINO
does not bear fruit, and who allows care,
riches pleasures and lusts of other Things 70
choke the word? We must stand on the word
of God, even though it may seem TO some
dangerous place. -
15 But that on the good ground are they,
which in an honest and good heart, having
heard the word, keep it. and bring forth
fruit with patience" Matthew and Marx
add sssome thirty, some sixty, and some an
hundred fold" Thank God for such hearers.
Even few like these are an Inspiration 70
any pastor, and what comfort .ney
must be to the Lord Jesus anu ~
the Holy Spirit. The. difference net%eea sa
those and the others is that these nave
truly accepted Jesus mot simply the trutn
abont HIM and have firmly believed the
truths concerning the kingdom and tho glory
to be revealed at His appearing. They are.
therefore weaned from present thlngs, are
NOT seeking to convert this world IN TINS ols.
nensation' but. believing this parable, are net
discouraged if their labor seems largely in
vain. coStent to have it turn out as He said
for fa.ni the re'lp present sure that in His time
and way the kingdom will come-Lesso'1
Helper.