The Tupelo journal., 1906-04-27
PARABLE OF
II SOWER
SundaySchool Lesson Tor April 29.le06
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON TExT.-Mark 4:1-2O; Memory
verse, 20.
GOLDEN TExT.-'eThe Seed is the Word
of God.'-Luke Sill.
TIME.-Autumn A. D. %, at close of
Christ's second tour of Galilee, soon after
events of our last lesson.
PLACE.-On shore of Lake of Galilee,
probably near C~apernaum.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-Parallel
passages on parable: Matt. 1928 and
Luke SALE. Word parable as used in
/ Scripture: Eek. 20:49; Mum. 23:7; Pisa.
1872: Mark 1928. Six occasions of the use
of the words, The that hath ears to hear"
etc., as spoken by Christ: Matt. Ills;
1913; Mark 40; 4:23: 7:16 (Auth. Ver.); Luk
4:35. See also Rev. 2:7. II. II, 20; 3:6, 10, %;
1879. Compare also Matt. 1872; rs 20; Luke
Sis; 1926. References to thorns. thistles,
and briers. lisa. SIS :13; Eek. 2S:24; Hos. los;
Psa. 1872; Prov. 24:3l; Eccl. 7:6; Jer. 4:3;
1913; Matt. 7:16; 27:29; 2 Cor. 1877.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. /. Again by the sea-" JESUS
frequently taught by the Sea of Galilee.
Every great multitude" Out Of every
city" (Luke). Entered into a snip
(boat) -. sea-" Seated himself, as a
Jewish rabbi would have done, at the
prov of the boat, nearest the shore.
V. 2. MANY things by parallels"
Matthew records seven parallels spoken
on this occasion, and Mark adds n
more. All related to aspects Of
Christ's kingdom. or it's growth.
v. 3. Behold" An exclamation to
attract attention.; quite possibly, also,
Toc,,c nNinfad IN tho odjNinino hillside
where that of which he told was being
enacted. "A w to SOW" His
basket of seed slung under his left
arm, with steady, measured pace he
marched up and down his portion Of
the open field, jerking his handful of
corn before him at every step."-Tris-
tram.
V. 4. by the w~ayside." Upon the
trodden pathway running through or
by the side of the field. "The fowls
came and devoured it," Great flocks of
rock-pigeons and crow dwell in the
hills and valleys surrounding the Sea
OF Galilee.
v. 5, 6. STONY grounds" Places
where a thin layer of earth covered an
underlying slab of rock. This rock,
becoming warn by the SUM-, causes the
seeds which fall upon it to sprout
quickly, but also prevents their roots
from striking downward and finding
sustenance in the soil.
V. 7. Among thorns." Thorn-bcar-
ing plants, of which there are many
x,o,;o+;oo - DoIoctiro UCho1yoI IL
The thorns, being stronger, o over
top the grain and rob it of the sun
light; their roots also rob the grain
roots of moisture, and perhaps twine
around and actually choke" it.
v. 8. Read this according to the Re-
vised rendering. "Thirtyfold. sixty
fold an hundredfold." 1t is not
uncommon that, from one grain OF
wheat sown upon the fertile soil OF
Palestine, heads bearing 80, 60 or even
100 grains are produced.
v. 9. He that hath ears to hear,
let him hear" Jesus call to all His
hearers, inviting them to pay earnest
heed that they might understand and
truly profit from what they had heard.
v. 10. when alone the twelve"
When the crowd had dispersed after
all the parallels spoken on this occa-
sion had been given, a little company
truly DESTROYS of understanding, gath
cred about Jesus, and asked Him to
interpret them.
V. IL. Unto you is given" Be-
cause You are sincere in heart and re-
ceptive il mind. "The mystery of the
kingdom of God" The secret religious
rites of the Greeks were called "mys-
teries." The Gospel of Christ is a mys-
terry in that it can be clearly under
stood only by those whose hearts re-
ceive it.
V. Il. Seeing 49,. not perceive" etc.
A free quotation from lisa. 6: 9, 10, bet
ter rendered in Matt. 1913; where it is
clearly shown that the failure to see
is because of willfully shutting the
eyes-that is, hardening the heart.
v. IA. THE W soweth the word"
Jesus knows that His hearers will from
this understand that He, at the
time of speaking, is the Sewer. The
seed is the WORD of God" the proc
lamation of Gods love which He was
continually teaching by gracious words
and kindly deeds. The field, as a sub
sequent parable tells, is "the world"
v. Is. They by the wayside." They
whose hearts, like the wayside, have
been hardened by being made "a COM
mon road for every evil influence.
v. 16. The second class of hearers
shear the Word, Immediately receive
1t with gladness." Their emotions are
stirred; they are pleased, exhilarated,
made happy, and without any deep
thought, decide hastily that they will
be followers of Jesus. Prompt decision
is not condemned, but the lack of sin
cerity and deep purpose.
". II. Have no root in themselves"
Their hearts do not really take hold of
Jesus. They think themselves Chris
tians, because, at the moment, that
seems to be the most attractive life.
when tribulation or persecution
ariseth." The rock-bed of %selfishness
lies under these emotions.
Practical Points.
v. 3. 1t becomes us to hearken at
tentively to every message of God
Hab. FL.
v. 9. We are without C If the
Gospel message which comes to our
ears is not permitted to find lodgment
in our hearts.-Rom. l: 20, 81
v. IA. Jesus representatives upon