The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
~
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL 49,.

How to Hear the Word.
I. The parable Of the sower (vsNr11
81. 1. Began again to teach" Inc
summer passed in a succession Of ex@
elements and an unbroken recurrence
of exhausting toll; He seems to nav
spent the months in successive circuits3
from Capernaum as a centre, through
all the villages of Galilee. 1.-THE seq
SIDE" The Sea Of Galilee. "Greaq
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 evert
Christ will be glorifed in spite OF all
opposition; He will be followed. ~
ship" Jesus sat in q boat which had
been prepared for Him. I'm the seat
The boat vas in the sea. "On the,
land" -. multitude stood Oh the
shore.
2. "Taught-by parallels" A par
able is an a%llegorical relation or rep1
r~esentation of something real in life
or nature, from which q 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. I'm His doctrine" That is, IN
His teaching. 3. Behold . sower.'a
The animated introduction gives plaus.
Utility to the view that our Lord pointl
ed to some distant sower In sight scat,
tering his seed. 4. "The way side.ay
There are four kinds of, ground mem
toned. The first is the wayside where
no plow had broken it up.
5. "Stony ground" Luke says, "upi
on a rock" The rocks Of Palestine
and Syria are mostly limestones, WITH
many fat stretches, covered with N
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 a 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 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 q harvest
but the ground was filled with pernicjs
ious seeds. Thorny shrubs and plants
abound in Palestine. 8. 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). 81
9. 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 q short dig
lance from the multitude so IS to be
alone. Christ evidently spoke further
to the people on this same day.
II. unto you" To xou, disciples
who inquire, and seek to know the
truth; to you who are within" in COM
trast to those who are without" ITO
know the mystery" The true disciple
has a knowledge of the mystery Of
godi1ness'-the mystery Of the atonei
ment and the great plan Of salvatoni
including repentance, faith, conversions
II. That SEEING" etc. See lisa. 6:9J
He did not speak in parallels because
BE 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 ext
planned Tvs. 1920. Is. "Know /ye
not" etc. Jesus now proceeds to am
swer the second question (see note on
v. 1O. 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 we'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. 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 hearth
Evil habits, profanity, unclean
thoughts have tramped it solid. "WOrdS
is sown." In each case the seed was
good. "Have heard" All hear; God
speaks to every person; all might heed
and become fr%uit-bearing 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 son!
was not deeply convinced Of its right.
eousness. Endure but for a time"
While everything goes smoothly and
they are surrounded by good infu|1
ences.
IS. among thorns." The soil wasy
good, but was preoccupied. The thorny-
ground hearers 60 farther than either
of those mentioned in the former in>
stances. They had root in themselves
and were able to endure the tribula-
tions, prosecutions and temptations
that came upon them; but still they all
lowed other things to aus them to
become unfruitful. il
20. Good ground" Good and hon.0
est hearts. Bring forth fruit" Who
bring forth fruit to perfection? l. [
Those who have heard and received the :
word. =. Those who keep it" luke
S:15); that is. obey the truth. 8. Those
who have pure hearts (Acts 15:9)-
hearts made free from sin from. G:22l.
4. Those who bring forth fruit with
patience" duke SID.