Passaic City record., 1900-05-19
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 20.

/. 1.-The same day." The day the SER
mon was preached that is recorded in the
preceding chapter. "The house." Peters
house, where he was accustomed to dwell
in Capernaum. "Sat by the seaside" By
the sea of Galilee. Jesus sat In the boat
with the multitude standing on the shore.
2. "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 focked
after Him as much as ever. Christ will be
gloriaed in spite of all opposition; He will
be followed.
8. 'In parallels" This was the first of
Christ's paraboic utterances. A parable
is an allegorcal relation or representation
of something real in life or nature, from
which moral is drawn for instruction.
Christ's parallels are comparison of spir-
itual things with natural in order that the
spiritual things may be better understood.
"A sower went forth so SOW" Whoever
soweth tie word of God in the hsarts OF
the people is represented by the sower in
the parable.s ~ Jesus Christ, who came
to SOW the good seed in this evil world. (2)
The apostles who scattered it over the
world. (3) All who go forth, in public or
In private, to teach or to preach the truths
of the word Of God. (4) All whose holy
example illustrates and impresses those
fields and not wait for the fields to come
to US.
4. "When he sowed." A sower would
sow in the proper season. 'Fell by the
wayside." There are four kinds of ground
mentioned. The first Is the wayside, where
no plow had broken it up. "The ordinary
reads 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 ut once devoured
by the fowls.
s. "Upon stony Places" Luke says
"upon rock" The rocks of Palestine
and Syria are mostly limestone, with many
fiat 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 a shelf of rock is like
hot-bed; the stone keeps the heat and
stimulates the growth.
6. "They withered away" Luke says
sit lacked moisture" The hot sun soon
dried up the little moisture md scorched
the grain.
7. 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 well prepared. Notice
of soil. In the first, the seed perishes
without even springirg up; In the second,
1t springs up, but withers 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 thirtyfold. The return of
hundred for one is not unheard OF in the
East. though always mentioned as some
thing extraordinary.
1S. "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 it was not
given to the multitudes 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
The truth OF the Gospel. All hear; God
soil represent fonr classes of individuals,
The wayside hearers are those who do not
understand because they do not pay proper
attention. Sin has so hardened the heart,
worldiness 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
a pleasant song to be heard and forgotten.
Evil habits, profanity, unclean thoughts
have tramped 1t solid. 1.-THE wicked one."
Mark says "Satan,' and Luke, "tne DEVIL
He Is always around watching his chance
may exist. 'Catcheth away Careless
triaing hearers are an easy prey to Satan
As the birds pick up the seed by the way.
side so the devil will rob us of the word
unless we take care to keep it.
20. with Joy receIveth it." The stony.
ground hearers go farther than the first.
class; they not only hear, but believe, and
receive the truth, and the seed springs up
They take upon themselves q profession oil
religion.
81. "Not root in himself" He did not
count the cost. Luke 14:25-33. ellis soul
is not deeply convinced OF its guilt and de-
pravitv." 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
tribulation or persecution ariseth." 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 real test comes
they fall away" Gle is offended" "He
Is stumbled He is not able to endure for
Christ.
%. "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
things to cause them to become unfruitful.
First, the care OF this world. Anxietiss
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; fill 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 life," and
Mark Il fourth, "the lusts OF other things"
These four weeds, allowed to grow, are
enough to choke the word and cause the
heart to become unfruitfu.
23. "Into the good ground" This was
ground thoroughly prepared. "Heareth
the word" VINO are they who brought
forth fruit to periection? l. 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
Gosnel g. They kepti Luke 8.15, They