Newark post., 1910-06-15
Sunday School Lesson
By K, s. Holmes

srSsStA0@&-@.6.&t-e-e
Lesson XII. june lN 1910.
THE PARABLE OF TIE SO%ER.
(Matt. I3: 10, 1922
A parable is an illustration. 1t is al
ways designed to teach some essential
truth. Many have tried this method
OF teaching. No one ever has ap-
preached the parallels OF Jesus ior di-
rectness, clearness, brevity, complete
ness The parallels OF Jesus are espec-
ially valuable for teachers who desire
TO learn how to illuminate truth
The Parable OF the Sower was with
out doubt drawn from observation.
The hearers had just seen what Jesus
described 1t was SO matter-ot-tact
that even his disciples failed to COM
prehend its import.
Why did Jesus speak this parable?
His controversy with the Pharisees
concerning the power by which he
cast out devils was just finished. The
effect OF his works and words on the
various classes OF people who had fol
lowed and listened as he wrought and
taught must have deeply impressed
him That he should shink OF himself
as a sower was natural. That he should
desire TO account Tor the attitude OF
masses toward him was even more
natural ''Unienced fields and foot
paths across them, tramped hard,
stony places, and spots full OF thorns,
thstles and brsmblss were common.
Every disciple would recognize at once
the picture made in the parable 1t
would seem that every one OF them
should have recognized its spiritual I'M
port. Not one oi them did He was
saying. DO not think every word !
speak will be received. Do not, on
the contrary, suppose that every word
| speak will be lost. NV words scatter
like seed carried by the wind. Many
hearers will not be benefited But
some will be. Some will bear abund-
ant fruit. | speak this parable that
you may not be discouraged because
the Ph&risees remain disbelievers.
/ There will be fruit an hundredfold gar
| nered from some fields.
The verses OF 10 OF chapter l.3 are
merely descriptive OF what every Cali
/ lean knew all about. They need no
explication. Ar.- lesson-help will ex-
plain the ply ysical features. Let us cen
ter our thought on the exphcation
which Jesus gave. vss. 1922.
THE LESSON.
vs.. 10. The ignorant hearers and
the devil The multitudes heard then
il They do now. Evangelists stir towns
to their circumference. But few com
Darativelv understand. Then cometh
the wicked one That is history. The
devil follows hard on the heels OF the
preacher. They are not partners: BY
no means. But after one has been busy
driving the devil out the latter takes
his turn. He catchcth aw5V the seed.
The one who does not understand /:
like bit of path. beaten hard by the
feet. The seed lies on its surface as II
kpight lie on plank. 1t cannot ettec
ntrance to the soil. The birds aligh
b the path and eat the seed. 1t doe:
hem good. But the devil does no
st the truth 1t would kill him as ;
evil. He catchcth it away. Oh th'
hard path" hearers How many the!
ire Hearing. they hear. and hear no
fright.
vs.. 20. "Shale." Gravel. Rocl
lowered with only a thin layer OF earth
-an seed grow on shale? Yes. Can
4 nature new grain, No. The hearer
bf VS.. 20 are ''card-sisuers at the grea
tevivai serN.es Ecstasy, JOY, dellgh
II hearing fills them. The seed sprouts
and the preacher thinks there will b.
pmany accessions 10 his church on pro
fessiun Of faith. They are an enthus
iastic company. They have accepte
i the gospel. They sing, "Oh, that wi
be glory for me. Every one has see
such people. Jesus did not overdraN
4 it. am not overdrawing IL
n vs.. 2I. What is the latter W I
these people: They have no root !
themselves They surely have no roc
in any one else. The germ sprouts
i 1t is in crevices OF the shale or unde