The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-17
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson xII.-Second Quarter,
For June 10, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

4
Rev. D. NJ. stearns.
We step back quite bit in the orde,
OF events to take up this and the next
; two lessons on the Mysteries Of the
Kingdom" but perhaps it does not
matter much how we step If only we
step into the light and keep step with
our blessed Lord in His thoughts and
purposes. Although verses 10 to II
are not included In our lesson we
must look at them, as there we find
tine reason why He taught in parallels.
The rulers having determined to kill
Him (xti, Ia our lesson chapter opens
with the statement that the same day
He went out OF the house and sat by
the seaside. A simple statement of a
ract, but very suggestive of another
fact-that He was about to go out
from the house OF Israel and begin to
gather from the sea of nations another
people during this age who will reign
with Him In the next or kingdom
age Matt xxiii, 87-39; Acts XIV, 14-1s.
When the disciples asked Him why
he taught in parallels, His reply was,
Because 1t is given unto you to know
the mysteries of the kingdom Of heav-
en-, but to them it is not given" And
then be quoted from lisa. vi the proph-
ecy concerning this blindness. The
Kingdom OF God, or Of heaven, was
no mystery, for it was plainly revealed
in all the Old Testament. The suffer
ings and glory Of the Messiah were all
fully revealed, but that there should
be long period between the suffer
ings and the glory, that the kingdom
would be ut hand and then postponed
for whole age, this was not revealed
until by the Lord in these parallels.
and later to and by Paul. A concord
ance will enable any one to see that
the word mystery" is used of God
in Christ, Christ in His people. the
blindness of Israel. the resurrection of
the just, the development of iniuuity.
the end Of this age. This whole age
between the rejection of Christ and
His coming again in glory is the time
OF the mysteries of the kingdom which |
our Lord sets forth in these seven par
ables of this chapter. Mark and Luke |
each give the first one-the parable of |
the sower-the understanding of which |
seems all important, for our Lord said
when asked for its significance, Know
ye not this parable? And how, then,
will ye know all parablesy Mark iv)
From our next lesson we learn that |
the field is the world (verse 3s), and
we must bear in mind that it is n /
world lying in the wicked one and that /
he is the god OF it. 1t is an evil age
and ever growing worse as far as the
fear OF God is concerned q John v,
10; II Cor. iv, 4; Gal. i, 4; Rom. xii,
l, 2; II Tim. iii, Id. Alongside Of un-
paralleled progress on many lines there
Is unparalleled iniquity, unbelief, re-
lection OF the Bible as the word OF
God and Of the deity OF Christ and of
His atonement for sin. We are no.
where taught to expect any improve
ment in these matters during this age,
but we are faithfully to sow the seed
OF the word of God everywhere and
expect just what we are taught in this +,
parable. Some set their hearts on
certain results and say we must have ]
this or that. we must have fifty or
hundred conversions, we must have |
revival, the town must be taken for I
God, etc. Happier are those who are
IN harmony with the Lord and who
rest on His assurance that His word j.
will accomplish that which He pleases !
lisa. lv, III. 1t is incorruptible seed. q
The word of life, and He has promised q
to watch over 1t q Pet. 1. %; Acts v, {
20; Jer. /, II. r. W. The hearts OF men ]
ire the soil, and some are beaten so .
hard by the going to and fro OF the !,
,hings of this life that the seed can
scarce find entrance, and the devil is
always watching to catch it away lest .
hey should believe and be saved. d
Other hearts are hard within, rocky S
hearts, but with enough soft soil to re- G
'eive the seed. Such appear to enjoy q
he word; they say 1t does them good,
hey receive 1t gladly, but they are
EASILY offended, cannot stand any per-
|ecution.
In others the soil is good enough to r
row thorns and the seed does find a s
odging, and 1t grows. but the thorns 7
TOW so fast that there is no fruit. !
The cares and pleasures OF this life,
he deceitfulness Of riches, the lusts ]
II other things, choke the word, and )
10 fruit Is brought to perfection. In !
he first two kinds of soil there is no 8
Indication Of salvation. am inclined /
o believe that this third kind of soil b
indicates possibility Of salvation, but 2
aved as by FIRE q Cor. i'll, ii, 15). The
ourth kind OF soil Is good by the .
race OF God. There is an honest re- 8
eption OF the truth. They hear 1t h
md understand IL and keep 1t and S
,ring forth fruit with patience, even v
o thirty, sixty or a hundred fold. All o
through this age this is what we are 9
o expect and only this. 1t is ours to
ow the seed, the pure seed of the !, :,
word Of God, everywhere and at all I,
lines, with confidence In Him that b
lie viii accomplish His pleasure by 1t g
lways. Blessed is that servant whom Z
lis Lord when He cometh shall find Y
o doing. Who can estimate the honor e
( being laborer with God? who : :
you'd not fay, Here am /, send mer' :
sut we must be sure that we preach 4
My the preaching which He bids us, d
hat we carry only His message. a