The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-04-27
PARABLE OF
THE SOWER
Sunday s school Lesson for April %. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared Tor This Paper.

LESSON TEXT.-Mark 41-2O Memory
verse. 20.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"The Seed is the Word
OF God. Luke S:ll.
TIME-Autumn A. D. 2S. at close of
Christs second tour of Galilee. soon after
events of our last lesson.
PLACE.-On shore of Lake of Galilee,
probably near Capernaum.
SCRIPTURE REJERENCES.-Paral
passages on parable: Matt 1923 and
Luke S;4-l5. Word parable" as used in
Scriptures Eek 20:49; Mum. 23T; Psa.
7s:2; Mark 1928. Six occasions Of the use
OF the words, he that hath ears TO hear
etc. as spoken by Christ: Matt 1l:l5;
IL 49, Mark i9 4:23; 7:l6 (Auth. Ner); Luke
80, See also Rev. 81, IL. IL, 20 $50, 10, y;
1919 Compare also Matt. 1872; 25:29; Luke
Sis; 1926. References TO thorns. thistles,
and brers lisa. 55:1S Eek 2s "a; Hos. los,
Psa. 1Sl2; Prov 2i:Sl; Feel. 1866 Jer. 4:S;
1913 Matt. 7:l6; q :29; Cor. 1921
Comment aud Suggestive Thought.
Y. j. Again o.. by the sea-" JESUS
frequently taught by the Sea of Galilee.
VERY great multitude" out of every
city (Luke). Entered into a snip
(boaD . sea-" Seated himself, as
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 one
more All related to aspects OF
Christ's kingdom. or its growth.
Y. g. Behold" An exclamation &c
attract attention. quite possibly, also,
Jesus pointed to the adjoining hillside
where that of which he told was be ne
enacted "A sower 4. 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.
tram
" T. by the wayside." Upon the
trodden pathway running through or
by the side of the field The fowls
came and devoured it." Great fiocks OF
rock pigeons and crows dwell in the
hills and valleys surrounding the Sea
of Galilee.
" 5, 6. stony grounds" Places
where a thin layer of earth covered an
underlying slab of rock. This rock
becoming warm by the sun, 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 Z. Among thorns." Thorn-bcar
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 sun
light: their roots also rob the grain
roots of moisture, and perhaps Irvine
around and actually choke" it.
" s. Read this according to the Re-
vised rendering. "Thirtyfold. i. sixty
fold an hundredfold. 1t is not
uncommon that, from one grain OF
wheat sown upon the fertile soil OF
Palestine, heads bearing 30, 60 or even
100 grains are produced.
V. g. 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.
" TO- when alone -. the lively e. p"
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. II. Unto you is given" Be-
cause you are sincere in heart and re-
ceptive in 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. II. Seeing e.. not perceive" etc.
A free quotation from lisa. 6: g. 10, bet
| ter rendered in Matt. Il: Is; 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 sower 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
"hear the Word, Immediately receive
II 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.
V. Il. Have 10 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 selishness