The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-05-16
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 20.


l.. 1.-THE same day." The day the ser
m on was preached that Is recorded in the
preceding chapter. "Tbe house." Peter!
house, where he was accustomed to dwell
In Capernaum. "Sat by the seaside" B,
the SEQ OF Galllee. Jesus sat In the boa
With the multitude standing on the shore
2. "Great multitudes were 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
gloriaed In spite OF all opposltion; He will
be followed.
8. "In parallels" This was the first oi
Chrlst's paraboltc utteranees. A para0le
is IN allegorical relation or representation
! OF something real in life or nature, from
which a moral is drawn for instruction.
| Chrlst's parallels are comparison Of spir.
ltuul things with natural In order that the
spiritual things may be better understood.
"a sower went forth 40 SOW" Whoever
soweth the word OF God In the hearts ol
the people Is represented by the sower In
the parable. (D Jesus Christ, who came
to sow the good seed in this evil world. (2)
The apostles who scattered 1t over the
world. (3) All who go forth, in public OF
In private, to teach or to preach the truths
of the word Of God. ~ All whose holy
truths. We must ego forth and fud the
fields and not walt for the fields to come
| to US. =. z
4. "when he sowed." a sower would
| SOW in the proper season. "FeIi by the
wayslde." There are fourkinds OF ground
mentioned. The first Is the Wayslde, where
no plow had broken 1t up. "Ihe ordinary
| roads or paths IN the East lead often along
the edge OF the fields. which are unen-
closed" The seed that fell on this ground
was not covered, and was at once devoured
by the fowls.
S. "Upon stony places" Luke says
upon a rock" sThe rocks of Palestine
and Syria arc mostly limestone, with many
hut stretches, covered with an inch or so
Of soil. This Is the second kind of ground.
Forthwith they sprung up" A thin sur
face OF soil above shelf OF rock Is like a
hot-bed; the stone keeps the heat and
stimulates the growth.
6. "They Iithered away" Luke says
sit lacked moisture" The hot sun soon
dried up the little moisture ind scorched
the grain.
7. "Among thorns." The third kind OF
soil was good, and there was hope OF har.
vest, but the ground was filled with per.
niclous seeds.
8. "Good ground" The fourth kind oil
soil was rich and we'll prepared. Notice
the graduation in respect to these four kinds
OF soil. In the first, the seed pertshes
without even springlrg up; In the second,
1t springs up, but withers away; In the
third, 1t springs up aud bears fruit, but not
to perfection; IN the fourth, 1t yields q
dredfold." This represents the highest
degree OF fruitfulness. Other seeds only
bore sixty or thirtyfold. The return Of a
hundred for one is not unheard ofgin the
East. though always mentioned as some
thing extraordinary. "1l@sts5
18. "Hear ye therefore" This form OF
discourse seemed 80 strange to the dis.
ciples thnt they asked Him why He spoke
In parallels. he replied that 1t was not
given to the nultitudes to understand the
mysteries OF His spiritual kingdom, but 1t
once proceeded to unfold the parable.
19. "Heareth the word Of the Kingdom
The truth Of the Gospel. All hear; God
speaks to every person. The four kinds OF
soil represent folr classes Of individuals
The wayside hearers are those who do not
understand because they do not pay proper
attention. Sin has 80 hardened the heurt,
worldlIness has so deadened the feelings.
sinful pleasures and desires have so dulled
the conscience that Gods truth makes nc
impression, more than passing dream, OF
Evil habits, profanity, .unclean thoughts
have tramped It solid. "The wicked one"
Mark says "Satan," and Luke, "tle devil
He Is always around watching his chance
to destroy any Influences for good that
may exist. "Catcheth away Careless.
trlfling hearers are On 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 1t.
20. with joy receIveth It." The stony.
ground hearers 20 farther than the first.
Glass; they not only hear, but believe and
receive the truth, and tho seed springs up.
They take upon themselves a profession oil
religion.
81. "Not root In himself" 10 did not
count the cost. Luke 1858. ellis soul
Is not deeply convinced OF Its guilt and de.
pravity." His emotions are touched, but
the truth has not entered into his innel
life. "Dureth for n WHILE" While every.
thing goes smoothly aud he 1s surrounded
by influences that hold him up. "When
trlbulation or persecution arlseth." Luke
says, "In the time OF temptation fall
away" They have no power to resist any
opposing influences. $50 long as they are
In the popular current and there Is moth.
ing to lest their principles they appear all
right; but as soon as any real test comes
they fall away" "He is offended" "He
Is stumbled" Ho Is not able to endure for
| Christ.
%. "The care Of this world" The
thorny-Ground hearers 60 farther than
either of those mentioned In the former
instances. They had root in themselves
and were ablo to endure the tribulations,
prosecutions and temptations that came
upon them; but still they allowed other
things to cause them to become unfruitfuI.
First, tho care Of this world. Anxietis5
about worldly success; too great attention
to the labors OF daily life; the desire Tor
worldly goods and honors; the being
absorbed In things thnt are right in them
selves to degree that is wrong. Deceit
fulness OF riches" This is the second
weed that chokes the word. Riches claim
to be able to bestow blessings, and honor,
and happiness, but they cannot give one
OF these things. They harden tue heart;
steal away all the life OF God; fill the soul
with pride, anger aud love OF the world,
and make men enemies to selt-denial and
the cross OF Christ. Luke mentions third
| weed, the pleasures OF this lite," and
Mark Il fourth, ':the lusts OF, other things"
These four weeds, allowed TO grow, ure
enough 10 choke the word and cause the
heart to become unfrUltful.
20. Unto the good ground" Thts was
ground thoroughly prepared. heareth
tho word" Who are they who brought
forth fruit to periection2 1. They heard
the word. They diligently attended to the
ministry OF the word. 2. They understood
It. That Is, they earnestly considered and
searched out tue importnnt truths OF the
Gospel. 8. They keptit. LII ke 8:l5. They
|, did not allow 1t to slip away from them. 4.
They brought forth fruit out OF IN honest
and good heart. Aheart that seeks and
welcomes truth. Aheart eleunsed from sln.