The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-05-17
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 20.

Subject; The Parable Of the Sower, Matt.
kill, LIS; 1S-23-Golden Text: Luke
will, 11-Memory Verses, 2a, 23-Con.
inentary on the Days Lesson.
/. Tho Same day." Tho day the ser.
mon was preached that is recorded in tho
preceding chapter. "The house" Peters
house, whore he was accustomed to dwell
In Cupernaum. "Sat by the seaside" By
the sen Of Galllee. Jesus sat I'm the boat
With the multitude standing on tho shore.
z. Great multitudes were gathered to.
gether," The Pharisees had been labor.
Ing by base calumnies TO drive the people
away from Jesus, but they still iocked
after Him us much az ever Christ will be
glorined In spite OF all opposition; He will
be followed.
3. I'm parallels" This was the first OF
Chrlsts parabolc utterances A parable
Is an allegorical relation or representation
of something real in life or nature, from
which moral Is drawn for instruction.
Ohrlsts parallels are comparison OF spr-
itual things with natural in order that tho
spiritual things may be better understood
"A sower went forth 40 SOW" Whoever
soweth the word OF God In the sarts OF
the people Is represented by the sower In
the parable. Q) Jesus Christ. who cunIe
TO SOW the good seed in this evil world. CD
The apostles who scattered 1t over tho
world. (3) All who go FORTH in public or
in private, to teach or to preach the truths
of tho word Of God. (l) All whose holy
example illustrates md impresseS those
truths. We must "yo forth" and nud the
fields and not wait for the fields to come
tO MS.
4. "Whon he sowod." A sowor would
SOW IN the proper season. "Fell by tho
waysdo.' There are four kinds OF ground
mentioned. Tho nrst Is tho wayside, whore
no plow had broken il M, "'The ordinary
pr IA hu .l,.f
the edge of the fields. which are uncn-
closed.' Tho seed that fell on this ground
was not covered, and was at once devoured
by the fowls.
5. upon stony places" Luke says
upon n rock.' The rocks OF Palestine
aud Syria ARE mostly limestone, with many
hat stretches, covered with an inch or so
OF soil. This is the second kind Of ground.
Forthwith they sprGng mp" A thin sur
face OF soil above shelf OF rock Is like u
hot-bed; the stone keeps tho heat aud
stimulates the growth.
6. "They withered away Luke SAYS
at lncked moisture" The hot sun soon
dried up the little moisture and scorched
the grain.
Z. Among thorns.' The third kind OF
soil was good, and there was hope OF Il har-
vest, but the ground was filled with per-
niclous seeds.
8. Good ground" The fourth kind OF
the graduation in respect to these four kinds
OF soil. In the first, the seed perishes
without even springing up; in the second,
1t springs up, but wthers away; in the
third, 1t springs up and 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
bore sixty or thrtyiold. The return of a
hundred for one Is not unheard OF In tho
East, though always mentioned as some-
thing extraordinary.
18. Hear ye therefore," This form of
discourse seemed so strange to the dis
ciples that they asked Him why He spoke
In parallels. He replied that 1t was not
given TO the multitudes to understand the
mysteries OF His spiritual kingdom, but 1t
was given unto them. lie therefore at
once proceeded to unfold the parable.
10. "Heareth the word OF the kingdom. :"
The truth OF the Gospel. All hear; God
speaks to every person. The four kinds OF
soil represent four cassos OF individuals
The wayside hearers are those who do not
understand because they do not pay proper
attention. Sin has so hardened the henrt
worldliness has so deadened the feelings,
sinful pleasures and desires have so dulled
the conscience that Gods truth makes no
impression, more than u passing dream, or
n pleasant song to be heard and forgotten.
Evil habits, profanity, unclean thoughts
have tramped 1t solid. "The wicked one. :"
Mark says "Satan," and Luke, "the devil"
He is always around watching his chance
to destroy any influences for good that
may exist "Catcheth away" Careless,
trlflng hearers are an easy prey to Satan.
AS tho birds pick up the seed by the way
side so the devil will rob us OF the word,
unless we take care to keep II.
20. with Joy receiveth it." The stony
ground hearers go farther than the first
| ali thnU M m haur hui halt Il
receive the truth, and the seed springs up.
They take upon themselves profession Of
religion.
81. mot root in himself" He did not
count the cost. Luke 1869. "Hls soul
Is not deeply convinced OF its guilt and de-
pravity." His emotions are touched, but
The truth has not entered into his inner
life. "Dureth for while" While every
thing goes smoothly and he Is surrounded
by influences that hold him up. "When
trlbulntlon or persecution Rriseth." Luke
says, I'm 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 test their principles they appear all
right; but as soon as any reGl test comes
they fall away" HE is offended" "He
Christ. ~
20. 1.-THE care OF this world" The
thorny-ground hearers go farther than
either OF those mentioned In the former
instances. They had root In themselves
and were able to endure the tribulations,
prosecutions and temptations that came
upon them; but still they allowed other
things to cause them to become unfruitful
First, the care OF this world. Anxieties
about worldly success; too great attention
to the labors OF daily life; the desire for
worldly goods and honors; the being
absorbed In things that 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 the heart;
steal away all the life OF God; nll the soul
with pride, anger and love OF the world
and make men enemies to self. denial and
the cross OF Christ. Luke mentions Il third
weed, the "pleasures OF this llfe," and
Mark fourth, ''the lusts OF other things"
These four weeds, allowed to grow, are
enough to choke the word and cause the
heart to become unfrUltful.
23. Into the good ground" This was
ground thoroughly prepared. "Heareth
the word" Who are they who brought
forth fruit to perlection2 !. They heard
the word. They diligently attended to the
ministry OF the word. 2. They understood
1t. That is, they earnestly considered and
searched out the important truths OF the
Gospel, 8. They keptit. Luke s;16. They
did not allow 1t to slip away from them. 4.
They brought forth fruit out OF an honest
and good heart. A heart that seeks and
welcomes truth. heart clennsed from sin.