The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-05-23
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 20.


1. 1.-THE. same day." The day the ser
mon was preached that is recorded In the
preceding chapter. "Tbe house," Peters
In Capernaum. sSat by the seaside" .,By
The sea-, OF Galilee. Jesus snt In the boat
With the multitude standing on the shore,
2. "Great multltudes,Yere gathered to.
gether." The Pharlsees had been labor.
Ing by base calumnies to drive the people
away from Jesus, but they still focked
after Him as much as ever. Christ will be
slorifed In spite OF all opposition; He will
90 followed. ,5S.af'.,s :.
s. "In parallels" This was the FIRST o,
Christ's parabollc utteranees. A parable
ls an allegorical relation or representation
Of something real In life or nature, from
which q moral is drawn for instruction.
chrlst's parallels are comparison of spIr.
!tual things with natural In order that the
spiritual things may be better understood.
"a sower went forth so SOW Whoever
soweth the word Of God In the hsarts oil
!he people is represented by the sower In
to SOW the good,seed In this evil world. (2)
The apostles who scattered 1t over the
world. ,(9 All who go forth, in public OF
in prlyateS to teach or to preach the truths
u the worasof God. (4l All whose, holy
example illustrstes and impresses those
truths. We must ego forth" and nd the
fields and not wait for the fields to come
% US. - g.. ,k:.
4. "when he sowed." A sower would
SOW In the proper season. "Fell by the
wayslde." There are four kinds of ground
mentioned. The frst Is the wayside, where
90 plow had broken 1t up. '"Ihe ordinary
roads or paths IN the East lead often along
.he edge OF the fields, which are uhen-
,losed." The seed that fell on this ground
was not covered, and was at once devoured
oy the fowls. - .
s. "Upon stony Places" Luke says
upon rock" The rocks OF Palestine
and Syria are mostly limestone, with mnuy
Dat stretches, covered with m inch or so
of soil. This Is the second kind of ground.
Forthwith they sprung up" A thin sur
! ,ace OF soil above a shelf OF rock is like a
:1ot-bed; the stone keeps the heat and
stimulates the growth.
8. "They withered away" Luke says
1T lacked moisture" The hot sun soon
irled up the little moisture and scorched
The grain.
Z. "Among thorns." The third kind Of
soil was good, and there was hope OF q har
vest, but the ground was filled with per-
| nicious seeds.
| 8. "Good ground" The fourth kind OF
soil was rich and we'll prepared. Notice
the graduation in respect to these four kinds
Of soil. In the first, tho seed perishes
without even springirg up; In the second,
] 1t springs up, but withers away; In the
third, It springs up aud bears fruit, but not
| to perfection; In the fourth, 1t yields
harvest OF perfect grain. "Some an hun.
dredfold." This represents the highest
degree OF fruitfulness. Other seeds only
hundred for one Is not unheafdsof in, the
East, though always montioned.as some
| thing extraordinary. zifSt
18. clear ye therefore," This form Of
| DISCOURSE seemed soTstFange to tue dis
ciples that they asked Him why He spoke
In purables. He replied that 1t was not
given to the nultitudes to understand the
mysteries of'His spiritual kingdom. but 1t
was given unto them. He therefore at
once proceeded to unfold the parable.
10. "Heareth the word OF the kingdom"
| speaks to every person. The four kinds OF
| soil ll-represent four classes OF individuals.
The wayside hearers ars those who do not
understand because they do not pay proper
attention. Sin has 80 hardened the heurt,
| worldliness has 80 deadened the feelings,
| sinful pleasures and desires have 80 dulled
the conscience that Gods truth Ihdbes no
| impression, more than q passing dream, OF
| pleasant song to be heard and forgotten.
Evil habits, profanity, unclean thoughts
| nave tramped 1t solid. "The wicked one"
Mark says "Satan," and Luke, "tne DEVIL
He Is always around watching his chance
20 destroy any influences for good thu
may exist. "Catcheth away" Careless
irlfing hearers are an easy prey to Satan
As the birds pick up the seed by the way
side 80 the devil will rob US Of the word
Unless we take care to keep it.
20. with Joy recelveth It." The stony
hAa fu fhnr f1,ot, tha 0yuf
| class; they not only hear, but believe, ant
receive the truth, and the seed springs up
They take upon themselves profession o
celiglon.
81. "Not root In himself" he did no;
,ount the cost. Luke 14:25-83. CHS SOU
Is not deeply convinced OF Its guilt and de
| gravity" His emotions ure touched, bu'
The truth has not entered into bis inne;
life. "Dureth for WHILE" While every
thing goes smoothly and he Is surrounded
by influences that hold him up. 'WheI
:rlbulation or persecution arlseth." Luke
says, "In the time OF temptation fal
! away" They have no power to resist any
| opposing influences. $50 long as they ar
| In the popular current and there Is moth
Ing to test their principles they appear ali
| right; but as soon as any real test comes
they fall away" "He Is offended" "Ht
is stumbled" He Is not able to endure TO,
Christ. ''.. ''''..
"a. "The care Of this world" The
:horny-ground hearers 90 farther thar
| sither OF those mentioned in the forme:
Instances. They had root IN themselye!
and were able to endure the trtbusatlons
prosecutions and temptations that came
lpon them; but still they allowed Other
things to cause them to become unfruitful
First, the care OF this world. Anxietlss
about worldly success; too great attention
% the abors OF daily life; the desire fol-
worldly goods and honors; the being
absorbed in things that are right in them
selves to degree that Is wrong. "Deceit.
tuness of riches" This Is tho second
| weed that chokes the word. Riches claim
| to be able to bestow blessings, nud honor
and happiness, but they cannot give one
| Of these things. They harden the henrt.
steal away all tho life OF God; all the soul
with pride, anger and love OF the world
and make men enemies to self-deniul and
| the cross OF Christ. Luke mentions third
weed, the pleasures OF this lifs," and
Mark fourth, ''the Iusts OF other things
These four weeds, allowed to grow, are
| enough to choke the word and cause the
heart to become unfruitiul.
%. "Into the good ground" This was
The word" Who are they who brought
forth fruit to pertection2 l. They heard
the word. They diligently attended to the
ministry OF the word. 2. They understood
1t. That is, they earnestly considered amt
| searched out the important truths OF the
Gospel. 8. They keptit. Luke S:l5. They
did not allow 1t to slipaway from them. 4
They brought forth fruit out OF an honest
| and good heart. A hsart that seeks and
Welcomes trnth AAsaft oleansed from SIN