The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-04-23
PARABLE OF THE sowER.
International Sunday School Lesson {
Anril n. lAQQ.

International Sunday School Lesson for |
April ~. 1890.
LESSON TExr-Luke S:4-i6
GOLDEN TExr-Takc heed, therefore, how 80 |
hear.--Lukc BIS
TIxE-Autumn Of A. D. q, . few weeks after |
the last lesson.
PLAcE-On the shore Of the Sea OF Gslilec, |
near Capernaum. Parallel accounts Of the |
whole parable Matt. 1919; Mark 4:f2o). |
Jesus nearly thirty two years old; near the close
Of tho second year of His public ministry.
INTERVENING HIsToRY-After the amounting |
Of Jesus feet and the parable at the Pharisco's
house, Jesus made another tour Of Galilee (S;1 |
81, accompanied by His disciples and some
noble women who were His helpers. Return. |
ing to Capernaum, He healed . blind and dumb
demoniac Matt. Is: s2-3O, and answered the
accusations of the Pharisees in reference to it.
Then His mother and brethren came to inter.
fore with him Mark 3:31,a5; Matt. l2:4e-5O).
Later the same day Matt. 13:1) He went out Of
the city to the seashore and began to teach In
parallels. Our lesson to-day is the first of the
eight parallels then spoken. The day on which
this parable ives src.sc: gas enc Of the most
busy and eventful recorded in the life Of Jesus.
az He saved . demoniac. (2) He answered the
insulting scribes from Jerusalem. 80 He re-
ccivcd tho Interruption of His family while
teaching. a. He left the city and went to the
scashore. (5) He began anew method Of teaching
by pasablcs, and spoke eight Of them. (6) He
went on vessel across the Sea of Galilee and
encountered terrible tempest which He
ExPLANAronY-The Circumstsnces in
Which the Parable Was Spoken. Yer a.
Matt. 1879. And uhen much people seere
gathered together. Jesus had gone out Of
the city of Capernaum, probably toward
the plain Of Gennesareth, on the south,
and was walking on the shore Of the
sea Of Galilee. He would escape from
the hindrances Of enemies, and of mis-
taken friends, and the narrow limits OF
the city, and come out into broader
fields, and purer air, and larger freedom
by the sea-. But multitudes followed
Him, andscrowded SO closely to hear
Him that He stepped into a fishing.boat
and put on a short distance from the
land, while the multitndes stood upon
the circular shores of the bay. which
rise up as they recede from the water,
thus forming great amphiteater
crowded with people, Of which Jesus in
the flshing-bQat, was the center.-P.
Wrscoms to Han out 81 erey CITY. The
interest in Jesus and His teaching, and
the hope Of the Inauguration Of the new
kingdom by wondrous. works, attracted
great crowds from all directions.
l. The Sower.--Ver. 8. A soscer ,sent
out to 500. Whosoever soweth the word
Of God IN the hearts of the people il
represented by the sower in the parable.
Hence the sower designates ny Jesus
Christ, who came forth from the Father
and from Heaven to SOW the good seed
in this evil world. III The apostles
who, taught by Jesus and under the in
fuence of the Spirit, scattered over the
then known world the truth of the
Kingdom of God. (3) All who 60 forth
to preach or to teach, in public or in
private, the truths of the word Of God.
III. The Seed.-Vers. s. ~. g.. TO soW
His seed. That is, the word OF God
Luke Sill, the spiritual truths which
! God has revealed to men in various
ways, but especially by His Son Jesus
Christ.-P. All spiritual life depends
on Divine seed sown in the heart by
the Divine Sewer.
III. The Soil. The soil for the good
seed is the heart Ut man, including his
memory, mind and will. The seed can
not grow without soil; but the life is in
the seed, not in the soil. The results
depend largely on the kind of soil in
which the seed is sown and the prepara-
ton made Cor receiving the seed.
Nv. The Care.-For a good harvest It is
absolutely necessary to have three
things--the best seed, the best soil and
the best care. If any one Of these fail
the harvest is lessened or destroyed.
God furnishes the good seed without
measure. The question Of the harvest,
therefore, depends on us, as to the kind
of hearts that receive the good seed and
the care we bestow upon it. <fa 81
The Wayside Hearers. --Vers s, 10.
Those in whom is no result from the
sowing. 5. And Gs he soued some tel b.
the uaysids The grain fields are rarely
fenced, though the landmarks are def.
mite and plain. There are little paths
leading through hither and thither,
some being the highways along which
the horsemen ride and asses carry theil
burdens. 1t was along such way as
this-a foot or so in width-that the
seed fell which the birds of the air i'm.
mediately devoured. Prof. Hall. ~.
7Aose By the soayssde are they fhat hear,
but ''understandeth it not" Matt
1919. They do not take it into their
heart and life, because they are preoc.
cupied with other things. Sin has &c
hardened the heart, worldliness has &c
deadened the feelings, sinful pleasures
and desires have so dulled the con
science, that Gods truth makes no i'm
preston, more than passing dream OF
pleasant song, to be heard and forgot
temp. ns t
The Rocky Ground Hearers. Vers. 8
Is. Those in whom at Hrst their
|, is . promise Of harvess, bril-
!. liant, but short-lived. Q. And som
fell Spon a rock. Covered with :,
|. thin, superficial coating Of. mold
The rocks of Palestine and Syria ar,
mostly limestone, with many IA
!; stretches covered with an inch or 90 o
soil.-Prof. Isaac Hall. Seed ON sucl
soil sprang up sooner than the rest, be
, cause the dry, underlying rock drew tn,
, heat OF the sun, and warmed the seet
into earlier life. As soon a. Y was sprun.
/ up Il xiaAered array. ID. ARE thsy vhicA
wlen they hear, receire tho ~ord srith joy
G Their emotions are touched, but tn,
word does not reach their moral nature
and their will and character are un