The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-04-27
PARABLE OF
THE SQWER
SundaySckool Lesson Ter April 49, 1905
Specially Prepared far This Paper.

IlMf-Autumn a. y. g. M close OF
Christ second tour OF Gallee. soon after
events ~ our last lesson.
PLACE q shore o. Lake OF Gallcc.
probably near capernaum.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Parallel
passages On parable. Matt. 1873 and
Luke e4-io. word parable" as used in
Scripture. Eek. 20.is, Mum. 237. Pisa.
T2. Mark 1928. SIX occasions OF the use
OF the words, he that hath ears 10 hear"
etc, as spoken hy Christ: Matt. lll5.
1913. Mark 40. 423. TIC CAuth. Ner.); Luke
1885. See also Rev. 20. u. Il. %. SO. u. p.
1873. Compare also Matt 1912, % %, Luke
Els. 1926 References 70 thorns, thistles.
and briers Isa. s5l3 Eek y - Hos. los:
lsa. lis.l2. Prov. 2i5i. Feel 7.5. Jer. 43,
1913. Matt. 7l6. q .2s. Cor. 1911
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Y. l. Again by the sea" jesus
frequently taught by the Sea of Gali'ee.
VERY great multitude" 'Out of every
city CLuke). Entered into a snip
fboaD . sea. Seated himself, as a
Jewish rabbi would have done. at the
Prov Of the boat. nearest the shore.
V. >. Many things by parallels
Matthew records seven parallels spoken
on this occasion. and Mark adds n
more. All related 10 aspects OF
Christ's kingdom. or its growth.
Y. 3. Behold" An exclamation 70
attract attention; quite possibly. also.
Jesus pointed TO the adjoining hillside,
whore 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 Gown his portion of
the open field. jerking his handful Of
corn before him al every step.'-Tris-
tram
Y. {. by the wayside." Upon the
trodGen pathway running through or
by the side of the field. The owls
came and deyOured IT," Great focks OF
rock-pigeons and crows 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 warm by the SUM-. auses he
seeds which fall upon It 10 sprout
quickly. Tut also prevents their roots
from striking downward and finding
sustenance in the soil.
V Z. Among thorns." Thorn-ocar-
ing plants. Of which there are many
varieties in Palestine. "Choked it"
The thorns, being stronger, soon over
top the grain and rob it of the sum
light: their roots also rob the grain
roots OF moisture. and perhaps twine
around and actually choke" II.
V. s. Read this according 10 the Re
vised rendering. "Thirtyfold. sixty
fold an hundredfold.' II is not
uncommon that. from n grain OF
wheat sown upon the fertile soil Of
Palestine. heads bearing 30. co or even
100 grains are produced.
V. 9. HE hat 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 pront 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 10
interpret them.
V. IL. Unto you is given" Be
cause yon are sincere in heart and re-
ceptive in mind. The mystery OF the
kingdom OF Cod" The secret religious
rites of the Greeks were called "mys-
t~eries." The Gospel of Christ is a mvs-
terry in that it can be clearly under
stood only by those whose hearts re-
ceive It..
v. II. seeing not perceive etc.
A free quotation from lisa. 8: 3. 10, bet
ter rendered in Matt. 1913; where 1t is
clearly shown that the failure TO see
is because OF willfully shutting the
eyes-tha. is. hardening the heart.
V. IA. THE sower soweth the word"
Jesus knows that His hearers will from
this understand hat He. nj 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
segment parable tells, is the world"
v. Is. They by the wayside." They
who's hearts. like the wayside. have
been hardened by being made "a com
mon road for every evil influence.
V. Is. The second class OF hearers
shear the Word. Immediately receive
Il with g~ladness.' Their emotions are
stirred: they are pleased. e%xhilarated.
made happy. and without any deep
thought. decide hastily that they will
be followers OF Jesus. Prompt decision
is o condemned. but the lack OF sin
cerity AMI deep purpose.
V. II. Have no root In themselves"
Their hearts do not really take hold OF
Jesus. They think themselves Chris
tians. because. at the moment, Ina.
seems to be the most attractive life.
when tribulation or persecution
ariseth." The rock-bed OF selfshness
lies under these emotions.
Practical Points.
V. 3. Ii becomes us to hearken at
tentively to every message of Cod
Hab. 81.
Ga.- -