The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-05-24
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 27.

subiecu Parables OF the Kingdom, Matt
xiii, 2d-33-Golden Text; Matt. kill,
3S-MemorY Verses. 81, 33-Commen-
tary on the Days Lesson.
"a. another parable" In all there are
rlfty-tbree parallels spoken by our Lord
recorded In the Gospels. "Thc kingdom
Of heaven" This expression sometimes
signifies real religion" but here IL has
reference to tho visible church OF Christ.
This parable explains Gods method OF
managing the affairs OF His church In this
world. In II Jesus shows that persons OF
various characters would profess to receive
the Gospel, and be accounted members OF
The Christian church; but that there would
DO final separation between them IN the
)ther world, however they might be blended
together iuthls. "Wbich sowed good seed"
Dlehn wheat, representing the truths of
he Gospel and also those who embrace
bose truths. In the parable OF the sower
Jesus said the seed was the word OF @ od In
his He said, The good seed Rre the chll-
lren OF the Kingdom. V. %. God sows
nothing but truth; His children are con
'erted through the trnth. "ln His Held"
lie that soweth the good seed II the Son OF
Wan. The leld is the world. vs.. 81, 3s.
Fbe world Is Ills" field. When Christ
'omes to take possession He will come to
AXE possession ot that which is His own.
25. "But while men slept" In the night,
Ghen evil.dsposed persons would try to
nuro the property OF their nelghhor-.
Nhen professors wrre lukcwurai and pns-
:Ors indolent Ellis enemy came" The
snemy that sowed them ia tho devil. V. 30.
Noticp that Jesus refers to him ns His"
,nemy The devil " not only the enemy OF
Christ but OF all who follow Christ. "Sowed
ares" Ltorally "darnc, >" the woed that
grows among .he wheat. It'had near re-
cmblance to tho stalks OF wheat Tho
"a ali IL g,f 3 t,-f f.t.. 4
also refcrs TO the state OF the Jewish people,
or they had become utterly degenerate
aud were about to bo destroyed. "Wont
Ills way" Although u friend in appear
lnce, this enemy is deceittul, viglant, se-
ret. He comes in "evil thoughts. unholy
iesires llattsring words, bad books, " and,
n fact, in II hundred ways.
&c. "And brought forth fruit" Their
zeal difference was seen when the fruit ap.
poared. Compare Matt 7:l6-20. rhete ia
great deal OF secret wlckcduess In the
hearls OF men, which Is long hid under u
,loak OF profession, but breaks out at last.
When the seeds begin to grow It is hard
20 distinguish them, but when II trying
lime comes. when fruit Is to be brought
forth, then 1t Is easy to discern between
the wheat and the tares.
27. "The servants OF the householder"
The faithful and vigiant ministers OF
Christ. "Said unto Him." They discov-
With grief to tell the Lord about 1. aud In
luire into the cause. "Whenco then hath
it taros." Only good seed was sown, and
wo may well ask how have these tares
come?
%. IAN enemy hath done this" A plain
answer to the great question concerning
the origin OF evil. God made mon, as HO
aid angels, Intelligent creatures, and con-
sequently free, either to choose good or
evll but He implanted no evil in the liu-
man soul. An enemy, with mans concur
renee, hath done this. Darnel In the
! church Is properly hypocrites and wicked
| persons which Satan Introduces into re
| liglous societies In order to destroy the
work OF God and thus further his own de-
signs. "Gather them up" rash zeal is
ss much to be feared rs lax discipline.
| 30. "But He said, Nay" Gods thoughts
| are not our thoughts; we oftentlmes act
very unwlsely when we do not apply to
| Christ for direction. Lest ye root up also
the wheat" The visible church will in
clude in 1t until the last day, many who are
! not true members. 70 separate them Is
not the part OF man. but Of the Judge.
30. Let both grow together" Both will
grow together, and 1t Is God only who
, knoweth the hearts OF mon and would be
able to separate therighteous from the un-
righteous and yet 1t is the duty OF the
! church to try, aud expel, unworthy men,
bers-those who are openly wicked, and
/ not suffer them to build upon false hope
by allowing them to remain within its
, pnles. Many texts prove this conclusively.
"By their fruits yo shall know them. -
! Matt. 7:2o. MOTTO from this also that Gods
| church Is n growing church. "Uutil the
/ harvest" The harvest Is the end OF the
world. V. 80. The judgment day; the time
| of summing up the accounts OF tho world.
! A final and complete separation shall cer-
tainiy be made ut that time. 81 shall say
, to tho reapers." The angels are the reap
! ers ". 39), but theyare under the direction
| OF Christ, into whose hands all things have
! been given. "In bundles" Some writer's
| think that there Ia an intimation hero that
! In eternity sinners will be put together
| "according to their sinful propenslties. "
! ITO burn them" The wicked will be pun
, lshed rs surely as the righteous will be re-
wnrded Tho tares shall he cast into "a
furnace OF fire; there shall be wailing and
| gnashing OF teeth" V. "a. The wicked
will be destroyed, but not annihilatOd.
| "Gather the wheat" The righteous will
! he gathered from all quarters OF the onrth,
! from all classes and conditions. Into
| My barn" Into heaven. What an assem-
bly, OF saints this will be!
81 "a grain OF mustard seed" Ono oil
| the smallest OF all seeds. This parable
represents the progress which the Gospel
would make The beginnings would be
small but 1t would Increase, and its inlH'
ence would become extensive and power
| ful. 1t also represents the growth OF the
| grace OF God In the heart.
so. 1.-The least OF all seeds" The king
| dom OF the Messiah made but a small ap.
pearance; Christ and His apostles, com
pared with the great and mighty OF the
| world, were like grain OF mustard seed
| They were the weak and foolish things that
were despisad and rejected OF men. "Whel
| 1t Is grown" There Is life and power IL
| the Gospel to sustain Itself and make rapld
advancement. The stone that Daniel saw
Is destined to Ill the whole earth. "Ant
| becometh tree" In that country the
mustard grows much larger than ia this
| aud sometimes springs up to the dlmen
slons of n small tree. Tho birds lodged II
| Its branches, and so the great Gospel tire,
will shelter all who come under its protec
| tlon.
| SO. "Another parable" With view still
| further to illustrate the progress OF the
| Gospel in tho world and OF the grace o
| God In the soul "Like unto leaven.'
Leaven is all pervadng and powerful
Though silent and hidden, 1t soon affect
the whole mnss. so would divine truta b.
In Its influence on individuals and commu
mites. "Three,measures." Intended to de
note the large quantity which the leaveI
has tn pervade. There Is no doubt refer
ence here to the fact that the Gospel ha
powee to transform the whole man-body
soul and spirit. "0t meal" The corn ha
been ground and prepared DO the leave
could change to its own nature that Wit
which 1t WAS mixed. In the same way ther
must ba preparation for Gospel truth.