Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-04-25
PARABLE OF THE SOWER.
LESSON w. SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATlONAL SERIES, APRIL 27.

! Tent of the Lesson, Luke viii, 4-15-Com-
nit Verses 1e-15-Golden Text, Luke
viii, 1s-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
| compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per-
mission of II. S. Hoffman, publisher. 2hiadel.
| phia.
According to the first three verses of this
chapter, after bringing joy and ~ ce to the
poor women in Simon's house, fHe 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, COM
fort Zion and restore Israel, never to be
plucked up or scattered again (Zech. i, II; ii,
1912; Jer xiv, 6, n; that through them
He may establish His Messanic 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, 90 Capernaum, He
healed one possessed with "a 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.
xiii.
4. "And when much people were gathered
together. ard 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 50 that He
went into a ship and sat. and the whole null
titude stood on the sbore.n If the rulers
would not listen to Him the common people
heard Him gladly Mark xii. 81: and it is still
true that 'not many wise men after the flesh.
not many mighty. not many noble are
calledn Il Cor. j. 2GI
SIS "A sower went out to sow his seed. ~
etc. ,'Hethat hath ears To hear. LEFT him hear. 81
1t is a simple story of what NAV have been
taking place before the Saviour's ewes at that
moment On the hillside "A farmer NAV 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 rood ground rs the only
portion ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING He was in
the habit of using the most familiar things
with which to illustrate His teaching
9. "And His disciples asked Him, saving,
What might this parable be{n The Holy
Shirt internrats sniritual tbinos to snrituol
men II Cor ii IL r V mor@in and these
mon had NOT vet roceivad tho HoIv Shirt in
Iis frllraes therefore tbav understood NOT
this nar,hla
10 And He said ITnto Won if is given to
know the mysteries of the kingdom If God
hnt 70 others in n.rohlas u Rv connaring
Matt viii az. Mari, ~ 10 we 500 that .Iasus
sent the multitudos away and went into the
house and that tben uo gove tho exnl,na-
tiop IF tbis n.r,hIa TIT uo wos in Tho
house when He INTERRUPTED file narahle an.
nears also from verses 10 and % IF this chan.
tor II has hoo, said tbat a narab,e is soma-
what like n mt which keens the kernel for
the diligapt hut from tbe indolont Recouse
thew would NOT trouble themselves to see or
hear Ha tbernforo ca snaaks that tho nnhe.
lieving and Indifferent NAV NOT see nor hear
II 1Now the narable is this. The seed is
the Word Of God y Mark saws. ..Tbe sower
soweth fine words The business Of every