Connecticut western news., 1890-04-23
PARABLE OF THE SOWER.
LESSON nv, SECOND QUARTER, iN- TERNATlONAL SERIES, APRIL 27.

TERNATloNAL SERIES, APRIL 27. Text of .he Lesson, Luke viii, 4-15-Com-
 init Verses 1a-15-Golden Text, Luke
 viii, 1s-Commentary by the Rev. D. M.
 Stearns.
 [Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per
 mission of H. S. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel-
 phia
 According to the first three verses of this chapter, after bringing joy and peace to the poor women in Simons house, He went through all the cities and villages showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, the kingdom foretold by all the prophets, when the Lord shall again choose Jerusalem, con- fort Zion and restore Israel, never to be plucked up or scattered again Czech. l. IT; ii, l0-12; Jer. xxiv, 6, D.; 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 foretold His death and resurrection and pointed them to coming judgment. They receive not His teaching, but determine to kill Him (Matt xiD.
 f. And when much people were gathered together, and were come to Him out of every city, He spake by a 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, SD; and it is still true that ''not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called" q Cor. i, 26.
 5-s. IA sower went out to sow his seed," etc. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" It 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.
 g. ''And His disciples asked Him, saying, What might this parable be7" The Holy Spirit interprets spiritual things to spiritual men q Cor. ii, 13, R. w., margin), and these men had rot yet received the Holy Spirit in 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 parables." By comparing Matt. xiii, 36; Mark iv, 10, we see that Jesus sent the multitudes away and went into the house, and that then He gave the explana- tion of this parable That He was in the house when He interpreted the parable ap- pears also from verses 19 and 20 of this chap ter. It has been said that parable is some what like a nut which keeps the kernel for the diligent, but from the indolent. Because they would not trouble themselves to see or hear He therefore so speaks that the unbe- lieving and indifferent may not seo nor hear. II. "Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God" Mark says: 1.-The sower soweth the word" The business of every Christian in this whole age is to be 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 have 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 life. perhaps is seldom absent on Sunday morning, but he is too weary in body to hear with profit, or, if not the business of the week so so crowds in upon him that while apparently he is listening to the sermon he is in his mind going over yesterdays business transactions anticipating those of tomorrow.
 Is. "They on the rock are they which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root" Here is another class of churchgoers, for observe that each kind of soil represents those who hear, so that this parable does not touch those who have never heard the gospel. It shall be far more toler- able for them Luke xii, 47, 4s) in that day. This is a nearer who pays attention, and actu- ally enjoys the public worship, or 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, no one opposing Such may probably make a profession of | faith in Christ, and for a time give joyful testimony, but soon there is anything to | be endured for the words sake (Mark iv, ID l immediately they are offended and fall away ! It was not saving faith, not an acceptance | of Jesus to suffer with Him cheerfully in view | of the reigning bye and bye, but only the re- ! ceiving of some gladsome truth about Him. l These, like the other, give us no solid en- 1 couragement.
 1 IA. And that which fell among thorns are they which, when they have heard, go forth and are choked." These hearers may 1 possibly be saved; the seed has taken root 1 we'll and there is quite a growth, but the | thing lacking here is fruit, ripe fruit, that which glorifies God. But can any one be saved who does not bear fruit, and who al lows cares, riches, pleasures and lusts of | other things to choke the word? We must | stand on the word of God, even though it
 may seem to some a dangerous place. 1 Cor. l iii, Ills, and v, 3-5 clearly indicate that
 there is the possibility of a salvation as by ! fire, an escaping as with the skin of one's
 teeth (Job. xix, 2O). But let no one in the
 least degree take advantage of such pos
 sibility, for such declarations as II shall be
 satisfied if just get in" indicate sad igno-
 rance of the love and purpose of God, and l perhaps the necessity of being born anew.
 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 Mark
 add 'some thirty, some sixty, and some an
 hundred fold" Thank God for such hearers.
 Even few like these are an inspiration to
 any pastor, and what a comfort they must be
 to the Lord Jesus and to the Holy Spirit. | IIcdu III IeleTeuCo CO Cuef1l SUCH WOFUS dS Luxe
 vi, g, 23; xix, 16-19; xii, 29, 90; II Pet. i,
 5-1l. II John viii, etc. The difference be-
 twea those and the others is that these have
 truly accepted Jesus (not simply tho truth
 about Him) and have firmly believed the
 truths concerning the kingdom and the glory
 to be revealed at His appearing. They are
 therefore, weaned from present things, are
 not seeking to convert this world in this dis
 pensation, but, believing this parable, are not
 discouraged if their labor seems largely in
 vain; content to have it turn out as He said l fo~ %l, Jic$i