Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-04-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL 20.

Subject, Tho Parable OF the Sewer.
Mark w., 1.2O-Golden Text. Luke
WILL, 1l-Memory Verse. 2O-Topic:
How to Hear the Word.
I. The parable Of the sower Tvs. l.
81. 1. Began again to teach" The
summer passed In q 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
oil the villages Of Galilee. 1.-THE sea
side" The Sea of Galllee. "Great
multitude" The Pharisees had been
laboring by base calumnies to drive
the people away from Jesus, but they
still focked after Him as much as ever
Christ will be glorified in spite of all
opposition; He will be followed. "a
ship" Jesus sat in boat which had
been prepared for Him. I'm the sea-"
The boat was in the sea. ION the
land" The multitude stood on the
shore.
2. "Taught-by parallels" A par
able is an allegorical relation or rep
resentation of something real in life
or nature, from which a moral is
drawn for instruction. Christ's par
ables are comparison OF spiritual
things with natural in order that the
spiritual things may be better under
stood. "In 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. 4. 1.-THE way side"
There are four kinds of ground men
toned. The first is the wayside where
no plow had broken 1t up.
5. "Stony ground" Luke says, up
on a rock" The rocks Of Palestine
and Syria are mostly limestones, with
many fiat stretches, covered with an
inch or so of soil. This is the second
kind Of ground. "Sprang up" A thin
is like n hotbed; the stone keeps the
heat and stimulates the growth. Dur
Ing the rainy season in Palestine the
growth would be rapid. 6. "Withered
away" Luke says 1T lacked moist
ure." The hot sun dried up the moist
IRE 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. s. Good
ground" The fourth kind of soil was
rich and well prepared. "Some all
hundred" This represents the highest
degree of faithfulness.
II. Why Christ taught in parallels
Tvs. 9-12y.
.. Hath ears" etc. This usually
follows an important statement init
mating that he who has the discern
ment to understand will 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.
II. Unto you" To you, disciples,
who inquire, and seek to know the
truth; to you who are within" in con-
trast to those who ere without" "To
know the mystery" The true disciple
has a knowledge of the mystery of
godliness mystery of the atone
ment and the great plan of salvation,
including repentance, faith, conversion.
r. THAT SEEING" etc. See lisa. go.
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.
III. The parable of the sower ex-
planned Tvs. 1920. 10. know We
not" etc. Jesus now proceeds to an
swer the second question (see note on
V. 10). II. 1.-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. 1.-THE seed is
the W, d Of God" duke GID. 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. Is. 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-bearlng Christians
If they would. Satan cometh." Mat.
thew says "the wicked one" and Luke
says "the devil"
II. 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 its right
e0usness. Endure but for a time"
While everything goes smoothly and |
they are surrounded by good infu-
ences.
is. Among thorns." The soil was
good, but was preoccupied. The thorny.
ground hearers 80 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? ].
Those who have heard and received the
word. g Those who keep 1t" luke
S:15); that is, obey the truth. 8. Those
WHO have pure hearts (Acts 16:9)-
hearts made free from sin (ROm, G:22),