The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-04-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL %.

SuJects The Parable OF the Sowers
Mark iv., 1-2O--Golden Text Luke
Will. 1t-Memory Verse. 2o-Topic:
How to Hear the Word.
I. The parable Of the sower US. l.
81. /. Began again to teach" The
summer passed in a succession Of ex-
elements and an unbroken recurrence
of exhausting toll; He seems to have
spent the months in successive circuits,
from Capernaum as centre, through
all the villages of Galilee. sThe sea
side.n The Sea OF Galilee sGreat
multitude" The Pharisees had been
laboring by base calumnies to drive
the people away from Jesus, but they
still hocked after Him as much as ever.
Christ will be glorifed in spite of all
opposition; He will be followed. "a
ship" Jesus sat in boat which had
been prepared for Him. "In the sea y
The boat was in the sea. "On the
land" The multitude stood on the
shore.
2. "Taught-by parallels" A par
able is an categorical relation or rep
resentation Of something real in life
or nature, from which a moral is
drawn for instruction. Christs par
ables are a comparison of spiritual
things with natural in order that the
spiritual things may be better under
stood. SIN His doctrine" That is, in
His teaching 3. "Behold-a sower.''
The animated Introduction gives plaus-
Utility to the view that our Lord point
ed to some distant sower in sight scat
tering his seed f. "The way side"
There are four kinds of ground men
toned. The first is the wayslde where
no plow had broken it up.
5. STONY ground Luke says, cup
on a rock" The rocks of Palestine
and Syria are mostly limestones, with
many fat stretches, covered with an
inch or so of soil. This is the second
kind of ground ''Sprang up A thin
surface Of soil above a shelf of rock
is like hotbed; the stone keeps the
heat and stimulates the growth. Dur
ing the rainy season in Palestine the
growth would be rapid. G. "Withered
away. Luke says ut lacked moist
ure." The hot sun dried up the moist
ure and scorched the grain Z. Among
thorns." The third kind of soil was
good, and there was hope Of harvest,
but the ground was filled with pernic-
ious seeds. Thorny shrubs and plants
abound in Palestine. g. Good
ground" The fourth kind of soil was
rich and well prepared. Some an
hundred This represents the highest
degree of faithfulness.
II. Why Christ taught in parallels
Tvs. 9-12).
8. Hath ears" etc. This usually
follows an important statement inti-
mating that he who has the discern
ment to understand win find the deeper
meaning. 10. "When-alone" Either
this explanation to the disciples was
made later, or he withdrew a short dis
lance from the multitude so Is to be
alone. Christ evidently spoke further
to the people on this same day.
IL. Unto you" To you, disciples,
who inquire and seek to know the
truth; to you who are within in CON
trast to those who are without" "To
know the mystery The true disciple
has knowledge of the mystery of
goodness the mystery of the atone
ment and the great plan of salvation,
including repentance faith, conversion.
II. THAT seeing" etc. See lisa. SO.
he did not speak in parallels because
He did not wish them to know the
truth and see the light, but because
they were in darkness and closed their
eyes to the light.
Ill The parable of the sowar ex-
planned Tvs 1920. 49, know We
not etc. Jesus now proceeds to an
swer the second question (see note on
v. 10). IA. THE sower. Consider
the sower, the seed, the soil. /. Who
ever preacheth the word of God to
the people Is the sower; Jesus Christ,
the apostles, every true minister Of the
gospel, all whose holy example illus
trates and impresses gospel truths.
"Soweth the word 2. ",The seed is
the ID of God" Nuke SID. The
soil is the heart of man. The seed can
not grow without soil; but the life is
in the seed, not in the soil The re-
suits, however, depend largely upon
the kind Of soil in which the seed is
sown. 10. by the way side" The
four kinds of soil represent four classes
of individuals. The wayside hearers
are those who do not understand be-
cause they do not pay proper atten-
ton. Sin has hardened the heart.
Evil habits, profanity, unclean
thoughts have tramped it solid. WORD
is sown." In each case the seed was
good. "Have heard" All hear; God
speaks to every person; all might heed
and become fruit-bearing Christians
IL they would. Satan cometh." Mat
thew says ''the wicked one" and Luke
says "the devil"
IT, Have no root He did not
count the cost duke 14:25-33). His
emotions were touched, but his soul
was not deeply convinced of it's right
eousness. Endure but for a time"
While everything goes smoothly and
they are surrounded by good infiu-
ences
49, Among thorns." The soil was
good, but was preoccupied. The thorny-
ground hearers go farther than either
of those mentioned in the former in
stances. They had root in themselves
and were able to endure the tribula-
TONS prosecutions and temptations
that came upon them; but still they al
lowed other things to cause them to
become unfruitful
20. Good ground" Good and hon
est hearts. Bring forth fruit" Who
bring forth fruit to perfection? l..
Those who have heard and received the
word. 2. Those who keep it, Quke
$40; that is, obey the truth. g. Those
who have pure hearts (Acts 15:9)--